Ferrari: Incredibly, it's now possible to buy a Ferrari engine on... Aliexpress!

When it comes to FerrariThe first thing that comes to mind is exclusivity, Italian passion and stratospheric prices. And yet.., a Chinese seller recently put a Ferrari engine up for sale on AliExpress, the "Asian Amazon", at a price of around 44,000 euros. Is this an opportunity or a potential scam?

A little digging on AliExpress reveals that an F136 engine (a 4.3-liter naturally-aspirated V8 that powers the Ferrari California, among others) is on offer for just over 44,000 euros, including shipping.

Obviously, even if the price seems attractive for an engine stamped with the famous Ferrari logo, it's hard to imagine an enthusiast sending almost 44,000 euros to a complete stranger on the other side of the world. The seller, clearly aware of the reluctance, even offers potential buyers the chance to travel to China to check the authenticity of the block before pulling out the checkbook. A nice gesture, to be sure, but one that won't dispel all doubts as to the exact provenance of the engine or its actual condition.

Another engine, more expensive... and more suspicious

For those dreaming of even more power, the same vendor has listed another 4.5-liter Ferrari V8 for around 68,000 euros. Presented as a block from both a 458 and a 488, which is technically impossible (the 488 adopts a twin-turbo F154 V8 and not the 458's naturally-aspirated F136), this discrepancy in description only adds to the doubt surrounding this announcement.

Safer" alternatives

Contrary to what one might expect from Chinese e-commerce, these Ferrari engines are no cheaper than what can be found elsewhere. On eBay, you can find 458 engines for under 50,000 euros.

What's more, in the event of a problem, it will always be easier to settle a dispute with a local or European seller than to embark on a complicated international procedure.

So, business or scam? Everyone will have to make up their own minds. One thing's for sure, this advert is enough to make you dream or smile: who could have imagined finding a "made in Maranello" block in the long list of items for sale on the Chinese e-commerce giant? That's the charm, or madness, of the Internet: you can buy anything...