In a previous installment, we explored the unexpected relationships between sports cars, supercars, and luxury vehicles that share parts with much more common and affordable models. This may seem counterintuitive, but factors like corporate mergers and cost-saving strategies make these connections more prevalent than you might think. Now, we’re back with Part Two, featuring more unlikely pairings that are sure to intrigue any auto enthusiast.
Here are ten sports cars, supercars, and luxury vehicles that surprisingly borrow parts from their more affordable counterparts. The cars are listed in no particular order.
1. 2002 Invicta S1
Taillights: Volkswagen Passat B5.5
The Invicta S1, a British sports car, marked the revival of a brand with a long history, dating back to the 1920s and 30s. The name was brought back in the early 2000s to introduce a new, modern sports car. This rare vehicle, produced until 2012, shares its taillights with the B5.5 Volkswagen Passat. The taillights are swapped around and turned on their sides.
2. 1998 Callaway C12
Taillights: Opel/Vauxhall Tigra
The Callaway C12 is a modified version of the fifth-generation Chevrolet Corvette (C5), built by Callaway Cars, a company specializing in high-performance upgrades. The C12 enhances most of the Corvette’s bodywork but retains the original roof, door handles, and interior elements. Despite its American origins, the C12’s taillights draw inspiration from Europe, borrowing from the first-generation Opel/Vauxhall Tigra, a small sports coupe not sold in North America.
3. 1992 Jaguar XJ220
Side mirrors: Citroën CX
The Jaguar XJ220, once the world’s fastest legal road car, was a limited production supercar made from 1992 to 1994. The XJ220 borrowed its side mirrors from the Citroën CX, a large French executive car produced from 1974 to 1991. The mirrors from the CX’s “Series 2” generation were also used by several other British sports cars of the era.
4. 2000+ Morgan Aero 8/AeroMax
Headlights: VW New Beetle/Mini Cooper; Taillights: Lancia Thesis
The Morgan AeroMax, which shares its chassis with the Aero 8, took a unique approach to styling and component sourcing. The first Aero 8 models used headlights from the Volkswagen New Beetle, giving the car a familiar, cross-eyed appearance. This look was later updated with headlights from the second (R56/R57) generation of the Mini Cooper. The taillights of the AeroMax are sourced from the Lancia Thesis, a full-size model. The Thesis also provided taillights for other Morgans, including the Aero Supersports.
5. 1997 Nissan R390
Headlights: Nissan 300ZX/Lamborghini Diablo
The Nissan R390, a race car with a single road-legal counterpart, was built for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Enthusiasts might recognize the angular headlights, which were borrowed from Lamborghini’s iconic Diablo, a supercar from the 90s that also shared headlights with another Nissan model, the 300ZX.
6. 1996-2006 TVR Cerbera
Taillights: Mk3 Ford Fiesta
The TVR Cerbera, like other models from the brand which was known for both exhilarating fun and questionable reliability, was introduced in 1993. The Cerbera was the first TVR to sport a 2+2 seating layout and an in-house-built engine. While many of its features were innovative, its taillights came from a much more commonplace and reliable car: the Mk3 Ford Fiesta produced from 1989 to 1997.
7. 2003-2005 MG XPower SV
Headlights: Fiat Punto
The MG XPower SV, a unique sports car that’s not widely known, was based on the Qvale Mangusta, which in turn was based on the De Tomaso Bigua. Equipped with a Ford Modular V8 engine (or a Roush-tuned version in the SV-R), it sourced its headlights from the second-generation Fiat Punto, a small hatchback. The MG XPower SV also shared its taillights with the Fiat Coupe.
8. 1976-1992 Lotus Esprit
Door handles: Morris Marina
While we’ve discussed the Lotus Esprit sharing parts in a previous article, including the S2’s Rover SD1 taillights and the X180’s Toyota Corolla Levin AE86, we’re going back to the earliest S1 examples. These models share their door handles with the Morris Marina.
9. 1999+ Pagani Zonda
HVAC controls: Rover 45
The Pagani Zonda, a supercar icon, features one component sourced from a more ordinary car. Its HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) controls are shared with the Rover 45, a small family car produced in the UK.
10. 2008+ Ferrari California
Touchscreen: Chrysler
The Ferrari California, a grand tourer, borrowed its touchscreen display from the Chrysler Sebring, using the MyGig infotainment system.
These examples show the surprising connections between luxury cars and their more affordable counterparts. While it might seem odd, these choices often represent clever cost-saving measures or the result of collaborative design and manufacturing processes within larger automotive groups.
