You'll Never Guess What This Mustang Replica Really Is

But look a little closer, and something seems slightly off with this Mustang wannabe. That is because this convincing replica, spotted roaming the streets somewhere in Europe (likely Spain, based on license plates), began its life as a humble Hyundai Tiburon coupe.

Transforming the affordable Korean coupe into a dead ringer for Ford’s iconic pony car clearly required an immense amount of time, effort, and custom fabrication. Based on photos circulating online for several years, it appears every single exterior body panel from the original Hyundai Tiburon was replaced or heavily modified. The builder crafted a completely new front end featuring a blacked-out grille very reminiscent of the Mustang GT, complete with Mustang-style headlights and even a pair of auxiliary driving lights often seen on customized Mustangs. Flared wheel arches at the front and rear mimic the Mustang’s stance, complemented by new five-spoke wheels that fit the aesthetic. The attention to detail extends to the Mustang badging on the door sills.

This Mustang Could Scare Off Boy Racers - Until They Hear The Engine

While the exterior transformation is dramatic, underneath the Mustang's costume lies the chassis and, likely, the powertrain of a second-generation Hyundai Tiburon. The specific donor car is believed to be the top-trim model equipped with Hyundai's 2.7-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine. In stock form, this engine produced around 172 horsepower and was paired with either a manual or automatic transmission driving the front wheels. In contrast, a genuine Mustang is rear-wheel-drive.

The Tiburon, sold from the mid-1990s through the late 2000s, was Hyundai's attempt at a sporty, affordable coupe. While pleasant enough to drive, it never offered the performance levels of other sports or muscle cars like the Mustang it now imitates. Its 172 hp falls significantly short of even the base V6 Mustang of the S197 generation, which initially offered around 210 hp and later received a major upgrade to over 300 hp. From these pictures alone, there is no way to tell if the builder performed any engine swaps or installed significant performance upgrades, but we highly doubt it.

Pulling Off the Illusion (Almost) Perfectly
Considering the vastly different origins and proportions of the Hyundai Tiburon and the Ford Mustang, the builder achieved a surprisingly convincing result, especially from the front three-quarter view. The custom bodywork effectively captures the S197 Mustang's key design cues. However, the illusion is not perfect. The underlying Tiburon platform means that the proportions cannot perfectly match those of a Mustang. The most noticeable discrepancies are typically at the rear, where the replica appears to have a shorter rear overhang compared to the genuine article, and the shape of the tailgate and rear window area differs from the Mustang's fastback profile.

Still, one must admire the dedication required to replace every exterior panel and fabricate custom pieces to achieve such a close resemblance. To non-enthusiasts, or even to enthusiasts giving it only a passing glance, this Tiburon could easily pass as the Ford it emulates. It stands as a curious example of modification culture, transforming an often-overlooked coupe into an homage to an American icon.