‘Best hot hatchback EVER’ with glitzy gold-plated wheels & speed-demon powertrain hits auction for eye-watering cost

DRIVERS have the chance to get their hands on the "best hot hatchback ever", featuring gold-plated wheels and a supercar engine.

The bizarre custom car is a pint-sized version of an iconic classic with a legendary TV connection.

Back in 1984, genius engineer (or mad scientist) Franco Sbarro took a Ferrari 308, chopped it up and stuck bits back together to create something completely new.

The 308 was an icon of its era, having famously been driven by Tom Selleck as the titular character in '80s drama phenomenon Magnum P.I.

But Sbaroo saw much more potential in the car and took it in a bizarre direction.

By shortening the frame and placing a specially-designed fibreglass body on top, he introduced the fabled Super Eight.

Effectively a 308 in hatchback form, it still retained the legendary supercar's ferocious V8 engine despite its size.

The little car, which is about the same size as the Renault Clio from the same time, boasts a whopping 240 horsepower.

That gave it a top speed of an incredible 124 mph.

In contrast to its very typical rear end, it retained the Ferrario bonnet and front grille, as well as its characteristic bright red paintwork.

This is complimented nicely by the 15-inch spoked and gold-plated wheels that come as standard.

Inside, the whole cabin is decked out in plush dark caramel leather and uniquely designed to match the car's titchy proportions.

This particular example has just 19,000 miles on the clock and looks to be in immaculate condition.

It's now up for sale through auction site from its home in Paris.

The listing states: "This 1984 Sbarro Super Eight is a one-off hatchback designed by Swiss builder Franco Sbarro with backing from industrialist Bernd Grohe, to whom it was delivered after being displayed at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show.

"The car is said to have been purchased by its next owner from the Sbarro Museum and later spent time in a Swiss collection before being purchased by its current owner four years ago."

However, it's got quite the price tag attached to it, with the current bid standing at almost £63,000.

But if you do fancy a go at topping that, you'll have to be quick as there are only six days left to run on the auction.