John Cena’s Fake Lamborghini: An Epic 20-Year Journey to Bring It to Life

John Cena, known worldwide for his successful careers in pro wrestling and acting, made a surprising purchase in 2003—a Lamborghini kit car. Despite his wealth and the ability to easily afford the real deal, Cena opted for a replica. What followed was a 20-year saga of setbacks, frustration, and eventual triumph as he worked to get the car running.

A Risky Purchase: Cena’s Lamborghini Replica Became a 20-Year Challenge

Cena recently recounted the story on the “Club Shay Shay” show with Shannon Sharpe, where he admitted that the decision to buy a fake Lamborghini was his worst purchase. Back in 2003, Cena found a company that could build the replica and was initially thrilled with the idea. “They put a V12 in it, and I thought, ‘Man, it’s the same thing. It looks pretty good,’” Cena shared with Sharpe.

The car was fitted with a BMW V12 engine, likely sourced from models like the 850CSi or 750iL, indicating that this was no cheap knockoff. However, the trouble began almost immediately. After two years of waiting, the car finally arrived, but it was far from roadworthy. “It doesn’t go into gear,” Cena explained. “The motor was held together with the timing of two Chevy V6s, so everything is confused, nothing runs.”

Instead of abandoning the project, Cena decided to press on. Over the next two decades, he sent the car to ten different shops, each trying to make the car drivable. It wasn’t until just a week ago that Cena finally received the keys to a functioning vehicle. “I will tell you, it looks great,” he proudly told Sharpe.

From Setbacks to Success

The cost of getting the Lamborghini replica up and running after 20 years? Roughly the price of one and a half brand-new roadsters. According to Sam Hard of Hard Up Garage, Cena’s replica is modeled after a Diablo VT Roadster, originally priced at $273,000 in 1997. This means Cena likely spent around $409,000 over two decades to get the car on the road.

Despite the absurdity of the situation, Cena now laughs about the experience. Reflecting on the journey, he admits it taught him valuable life lessons. Whether out of sentimentality or sheer determination, Cena’s persistence paid off, and his faux Diablo finally saw the light of day.