Image Credit: Mecum.Ferrari 250 GTOs are among the most valuable cars on the planet, which means most enthusiasts will never get anywhere near owning one. This 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF offers a very different route to the same visual inspiration, combining Ferrari-style coachwork with one of the most accessible modern sports cars around.The custom roadster is scheduled to cross the block at Mecum's Nashville auction on September 24, 2026. It began life as a 2017 MX-5 Miata RF Club before receiving an extensive transformation by Darrin Wood of Modern Custom Classics in Northern Alabama.This is not a simple fiberglass body kit bolted onto a stock Mazda. Mecum says the car features a hand-formed carbon-fiber body, including custom front and rear clips, quarter panels, door skins, and a bespoke trunk lid.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe finished design clearly takes inspiration from the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO, with a low nose, sculpted fenders, side vents, and quad round taillights. It is not a perfect replica, but that may actually be part of its appeal.The Bodywork Is Mostly CustomImage Credit: Mecum.The Miata's original proportions still influence the final shape, particularly around the windshield, roofline, and cabin. Even so, the extensive carbon-fiber bodywork gives it a dramatically different character from a standard ND-generation MX-5.The long front fenders and low nose attempt to capture some of the visual drama of Ferrari's early-1960s racer. At the rear, twin round lamps on each side and a reshaped tail continue the tribute without pretending the car is a genuine Ferrari.Mecum says the build was documented through more than a dozen stages covering fabrication, bodywork, paint, and final assembly. The car is finished in Deep Race Red, helping reinforce the Italian-inspired theme without copying the original too literally.Underneath, It's Still a MiataMechanically, the car remains much closer to Mazda than Maranello. Power comes from the factory 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G inline-four, paired with a six-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive.AdvertisementAdvertisementA Borla exhaust is one of the few listed mechanical changes. There is no exotic V12 soundtrack here, but the lighter, simpler Miata drivetrain should make the car far easier to maintain and enjoy regularly than the machine that inspired its shape.That also means it retains the fundamental qualities that make the MX-5 so popular. It is compact, relatively light, manual, rear-wheel drive, and engineered to be enjoyable at normal road speeds.It Still Has Modern Comfort and Safety FeaturesImage Credit: Mecum.One of the most interesting parts of the build is how much of the donor car remains functional. The factory power-retractable hardtop is still operational, giving this 250 GTO-inspired creation an everyday practicality that the original Ferrari could never offer.The stock interior and instrumentation also remain, including air conditioning, navigation, Bluetooth, a backup camera, and Mazda's original gauge cluster and switchgear. Factory airbags, ABS, traction control, and stability control have also been retained.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat combination makes this custom far easier to live with than many old-school replicas. It looks like a vintage exotic from a distance, yet you still get modern climate control, safety systems, and a roof that folds away at the press of a button.It Doesn't Try Too Hard to Be a Real GTOThe proportions make it obvious that this is not an authentic Ferrari 250 GTO, and that honesty works in its favor. The roofline is taller, the rear is shorter, and the overall stance is unmistakably influenced by the Miata underneath.That does not stop it from being attractive in its own right. The combination of carbon-fiber coachwork, new 17-inch wheels, fresh tires, and classic-inspired detailing gives the car enough personality to stand on its own.For some buyers, that may be preferable to a replica attempting to fool onlookers. This one wears its inspiration openly while preserving the usability and character of the Mazda platform.It Could Be an Interesting Alternative to a Replica FerrariImage Credit: Mecum.Mecum has not published an estimate in the provided listing, so it is difficult to predict where bidding will land. The amount of custom fabrication involved means it is unlikely to trade like an ordinary 2017 Miata, but it also exists in a very different universe from a genuine 250 GTO.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat is precisely what makes it interesting. A real 250 GTO is effectively unobtainable for almost everyone, while this custom could potentially deliver some of the visual theater without the astronomical value, maintenance concerns, or fear of actually driving it.It may not have a Ferrari badge, a V12, or perfect 1960s proportions, yet it does have one major advantage: you could actually use it. For someone who wants classic Italian-inspired styling wrapped around modern Japanese reliability and Miata simplicity, this unusual coachbuilt roadster makes a surprisingly convincing case.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.