A Very Rare 1960 Bizzarini P 538 Spyder / Photos, Specs
In 1964, an engineer named Giotto Bizzarini started the automobile company, Società Prototipi Bizzarrini and then a short time later, Bizzarini S.p.A. Several stylish automobiles were built by the company until 1969 when production ceased. Bizzarini's story is interesting. While he worked on designs and engineering for both Ferrari and Lamborghini, he never gained the stature that these companies attained. With this being said, Giotto Bizzarini is credited with several advanced design concepts.
Giotto Bizzarini / Test Driver and Engineer
A graduate of the University of Pisa and a member of a wealthy family from Tuscany, Giotto Bizzarini had a solid career with automobiles, being a test driver and then an automobile engineer. Bizzarini test drove for Alfa Romeo and later Ferrari and worked together with Iso and Lamborghini. This covered a big part of the Italian auto industry. With Ferrari, Giotto helped design the mid body engine car that moved the engine behind the front axle.
Giotto Bizzarini, the Business Owner
After much tension at Ferrari primarily between Enzo Ferrari and the design / racing teams, Bizzarini left and founded the engineering firm of Societa Autostar. Bizzarini was known as one of the "five engineers that left Ferrari". This represented a significant brain drain from Ferrari. With Societa Autostar Biozzarini would bid out his engineering services to automakers big and small. This engineering firm would work on such projects as designing an engine for Lamborghini's new GT cars.
Moving on with his career, Bizzarini started in the auto building business by founding Società Prototipi Bizzarrini in 1964 and then changing the name to Bizzarini S.p.A. in 1966.
The Bizzarini Spyder
The Bizzarini Spyder featured in this article was the only one built with a Lamborghini V-12 engine. This particular car has won many awards.It is an exact reproduction of the Le Mans race car.
Only three of these Spyders were built and the other two were powered by a Chevrolet Corvette 5.3 liter V-8. The Chevy V-8's did quite well at Le Mans with a class victory. These two seat Spyder models were built as prototypes. The prototypes were the basis for two production models. This 1st production Spyder was built in late 1967 from the body builder Stile Italia along with supervision from Bizzarini.
The Bizzarini car frame was unique. It not only held the car together but was also used to send water from the radiator under the front hood to the engine in the rear. The car's body was made with aluminum and fiberglass which was strong yet lightweight.
The car's 4.0 liter engine delivered 420 HP and a top speed attained of 170 MPH. This performance was aided by Six 2 barrel Weber carburetors. This engine was somewhat similar to the one used in the Lamborghini Miura. Suspension for this car is four wheel independent. Brakes are disc all around. Wheelbase was 95.6 inches.
The car featured here has won many awards. Among these were... Best In Show, Best In Class, People's Choice, Grand Marshall, Designers Choice and Best Finish. This red Bizzarini was seen at Top Concours d' Elegance from Meadowbrook, Eyes on the Classics, Pebble Beach, Concourso Italiano, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Keels and Wheels and LeBelle Macchine d' Italia. These were not the only events but they should give you a good idea of how special this car is.
You may also enjoy the following Muscle Car Journal articles on the links below...
1973 Dino 246 GTS built by Ferrari
A Turbo-Charged 355 T-Bucket
1989 Lamborghini Countach
An excellent book on the subject of Giotto Bizzarini and his automobiles is Bizzarini : A Technician Devoted to Motor-Racing by Winston Goodfellow.
1969 Bizzarini Closure
Without a doubt, Giotto Bizzarini designed and engineered some terrific cars. They sold well but the profits didn't follow. Money was short and the company had to go into receivership in 1968. By 1969 production was brought to a halt and the doors were closed.
Rare Car Prices
Bizzarini's are rare. The model featured in this article in one of only three produced. Bizzarini's received a lot of attention as seen in the opening scene of the Steve McQueen movie Bullitt.
Research indicates that a Bizzarini GT 5300 sold at auction for $570,000. Another car, a Bizzarini Strada 5300 was advertised for $500,000 but it's unclear if that was the asking or sale price.
(Article and photos copyright Muscle Car Journal)
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| Bizzarini Spyder |
A graduate of the University of Pisa and a member of a wealthy family from Tuscany, Giotto Bizzarini had a solid career with automobiles, being a test driver and then an automobile engineer. Bizzarini test drove for Alfa Romeo and later Ferrari and worked together with Iso and Lamborghini. This covered a big part of the Italian auto industry. With Ferrari, Giotto helped design the mid body engine car that moved the engine behind the front axle.
Giotto Bizzarini, the Business Owner
After much tension at Ferrari primarily between Enzo Ferrari and the design / racing teams, Bizzarini left and founded the engineering firm of Societa Autostar. Bizzarini was known as one of the "five engineers that left Ferrari". This represented a significant brain drain from Ferrari. With Societa Autostar Biozzarini would bid out his engineering services to automakers big and small. This engineering firm would work on such projects as designing an engine for Lamborghini's new GT cars.
The Bizzarini Spyder
The Bizzarini Spyder featured in this article was the only one built with a Lamborghini V-12 engine. This particular car has won many awards.It is an exact reproduction of the Le Mans race car.
Only three of these Spyders were built and the other two were powered by a Chevrolet Corvette 5.3 liter V-8. The Chevy V-8's did quite well at Le Mans with a class victory. These two seat Spyder models were built as prototypes. The prototypes were the basis for two production models. This 1st production Spyder was built in late 1967 from the body builder Stile Italia along with supervision from Bizzarini.
The Bizzarini car frame was unique. It not only held the car together but was also used to send water from the radiator under the front hood to the engine in the rear. The car's body was made with aluminum and fiberglass which was strong yet lightweight.
The car's 4.0 liter engine delivered 420 HP and a top speed attained of 170 MPH. This performance was aided by Six 2 barrel Weber carburetors. This engine was somewhat similar to the one used in the Lamborghini Miura. Suspension for this car is four wheel independent. Brakes are disc all around. Wheelbase was 95.6 inches.The car featured here has won many awards. Among these were... Best In Show, Best In Class, People's Choice, Grand Marshall, Designers Choice and Best Finish. This red Bizzarini was seen at Top Concours d' Elegance from Meadowbrook, Eyes on the Classics, Pebble Beach, Concourso Italiano, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Keels and Wheels and LeBelle Macchine d' Italia. These were not the only events but they should give you a good idea of how special this car is.
You may also enjoy the following Muscle Car Journal articles on the links below...
1973 Dino 246 GTS built by Ferrari
A Turbo-Charged 355 T-Bucket
1989 Lamborghini Countach
An excellent book on the subject of Giotto Bizzarini and his automobiles is Bizzarini : A Technician Devoted to Motor-Racing by Winston Goodfellow.
1969 Bizzarini Closure
Rare Car Prices
Bizzarini's are rare. The model featured in this article in one of only three produced. Bizzarini's received a lot of attention as seen in the opening scene of the Steve McQueen movie Bullitt.
Research indicates that a Bizzarini GT 5300 sold at auction for $570,000. Another car, a Bizzarini Strada 5300 was advertised for $500,000 but it's unclear if that was the asking or sale price.
(Article and photos copyright Muscle Car Journal)
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