Astonished police in Italy have seized a fake Ferrari that was actually a Toyota illicitly transformed to identically resemble the iconic sports car.

Officers from the Guardia di Finanza in Asti, Piedmont Region, said in a statement dated 23rd November that they had seized the heavily-modified motor during a patrol.

Police were carrying out the patrol to combat illicit trafficking in the city, local media reported.

Following checks, eagle-eyed officers realised the ‘Ferrari’ was actually a much cheaper Toyota MR 2 Coupe worth EUR 7,000 (GBP 6,000).

Images show how its bodywork had been completely transformed to resemble the iconic Ferrari F430 worth EUR 200,000 (GBP 172,000).

The vehicle had been transformed right down to the rims, brake calipers, bonnet, boot, wheel arches, and steering wheel, not to mention the iconic Prancing Horse logo.

The parts were all but indistinguishable from the original sports car, which was produced from 2004 to 2009.

After the 26-year-old local driver was stopped, experts confirmed that the car was, indeed, a forgery.

Police seized the vehicle and reported its owner to the Asti Public Prosecutor’s Office for using registered trademarks without authorisation.