What brand of replica is this?

The trophy-shop VIN plate doesn't say much. Perhaps more than a 6" square of the car?

Looks like the CMC order invoice # stamped on the plate.  Same number was on the Certificate of Origin provided by CMC.  CMC used a gold colored plate with similar 5 character invoice # on them.  My late 1988 came with one like this.  I guess yours could be an earlier car or someone replicated the gold one.

On models (Classic) with a front hood handle,  it came with a CMC crest -

This was from a previously listed cmc on BAT for reference

Ok

More

Cast 1 piece hibachi engine grille - is also a CMC (or FF) give-away!

MGMagic still has some CMC/FF Speedster parts.  They have the original ID plates for ALL But the Speedsters!  I asked once about them and they confirmed.

Accessories - Page 5 - MG Magic, Classic Motor Parts (mgmagicclassicmotorparts.com)

Any ideas?

Id say it’s a CMC.

Yup.  Definitely CMC or FiberFab (their predecessor from whom they bought the tooling).  Looks like a well done build.

Actually, the tooling came from IM (~1978).  CMC bought FF later in 1983.  FF originated in 1964.  FF had a long list of replicas and kit cars --- to the point where they couldn't be profitable to produce and sell in small #.  They were difficult to build.  Numerous chassis/engines were supported too.  CMC scrapped most of the molds or simply stopped their production by FF.  Check out FF  Aztec/Avenger/Jamaican/Scarab/Jet-a-bout/Centurian/Valkyrie/Bonito/MiGi/SSK, ya-da-ya-da ...

From Fiberfab - Wikipedia

Fiberfab was purchased by competing kit car maker Classic Motor Carriages and registered as Fiberfab International Inc. on 27 May 1983.^[14][15] CMC acquired all of the Fiberfab kits and molds except the Valkyrie, and stored them behind their Miami manufacturing facility unused until they were eventually scrapped.^[16][1]

The Fiberfab Speedster 356 was a re-badged version of the CMC Classic Speedster, while the Californian was the fender-flared CMC Speedster C. The body was inspired by the Speedster variant of the Porsche 356. CMC acquired the design when they bought the rights to the Intermeccanica Speedster.^[14] These were built from the mid to late 1980s.^[47]F

FF was not without its turmoil.  Their CEO Bud Goodwin was a true car guy (racing cars).  He married a young "trophy" wife by name of Jamaica.

In 1967, Goodwin was arrested on suspicion of murder in the shooting death of his 28-year-old second wife and Fiberfab executive, Jamaica Karen Goodwin (née Elwood).^[5][7] He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to twelve months imprisonment. He died of a heart attack while serving his sentence on 26 December 1968.^[8]

Another good reference Fiberfab Inc. (fiberclassics.org)

CMC definitely. Looks like the holes behind the horn grilles are not cut?

I ended up buying a VS.

The VS is silver with red interior --- vs the CMC in re-sale red.

Here