BIZZARRINI-LAMBORGHINI TARGA
Up for auction is a very unique “one off” creation. This is a Bizzarrini targa that was built on a Lamborghini 400GT chassis in Livorno Italy by Giancarlo Reali.
The Bizzarrini factory shut down in 1969 due to bankruptcy. As a result, many of the remaining parts including body shells were auctioned off. One of the former workers for Bizzarrini obtained many of these parts and some of the body shells. This particular car is the handy work of one of those former employees who was in charge of the coachwork, Sig. Giancarlo Reali. Reali has continued to build Bizzarrinis in his shop which is near the original Bizzarrini factory in Livorno. In fact, many Bizzarrinis in existence were produced after the closing of the factory that are considered to be “original” Bizzarrinis (of which I have all of these chassis #’s). Reali continued his relationship with Giotto Bizzarrini through the years and they collaborated on many projects including this car.
Work began on this car several years ago in Realis shop with some help from Giotto. For whatever mysterious reason, work on the car came to a halt after the body was mated to the Lambo chassis. The unfinished shell sat for many years in Realis shop until its discovery by Jack Koobs de Hartog, author and expert on Bizzarrinis, and was offered to me to purchase and finish. Upon purchasing the car, I hired Sig. Reali to complete the car with some minor changes. During the course of over a two year period, he completed the car in his shop in Livorno which is fully documented (including work prior to my purchase).
The body is one of the fiber bodies that was remaining from the factory and would have been a GT America if it were completed at the Bizzarrini factory. Due to the bankruptcy, Bizzarrini was no longer able to produce cars under his own name. Therefore this body was ingeniously mated to a 400GT. The beauty of this is the fact that Giotto designed the Lambo V12, and therefore you can consider this car to be “full Bizzarrini”. The original Bizzarrinis (minus one or two P538’s) all had Corvette 327’s. Therefore this car is the only front engine Bizzarrini targa built. There were only three original Bizzarrini Spyders built at the factory and in my opinion are among the most beautiful cars in existence. All of these cars reside here in the USA and have 327’s. This car is unlike the spyders in many respects so it therefore truly stands alone.
This car is of course hand built and therefore has “hand built” qualities about it if you will. The car was missing its original bonnet and the “new” one was designed by me (I am an architect). The long V12 required more clearance than what a 327 would have required and thus we have the very aggressive scoop unlike any Bizzarrini. The entire drivetrain and mechanicals are Lambo. The interior has a series 1 style dash and the gauges are Lambo.
The car does need some additional sorting-out to be fully road-worthy and there are some checking here and there in the paint/body. I can go over these items with a serious bidder.
With a little bit of prejudice, I believe the Bizzarrini is without exception one of the most unique and beautiful of Italian supercars. This is a rare opportunity as the talent in Italy who built (and continue to do so) these cars are somewhat of a dying breed. Giotto himself is well in his 80’s and I had the rare opportunity to meet him and see his shop. You can “classify” this car in whatever way you want, but the bottom line is it is a real Bizza, built on a real Lambo with the best V12, and built by the remaining talent from the original factory and is a delight to behold. This car will make a wonderful road-rally or even a vintage corsa racer or even a show cruiser if someone wishes to take it to the next level.
Thanks for your interest and please email or call 828.768.6807 with questions. Visual inspections for serious bidders can be arranged and are encouraged. I retain the right to end the auction early.
For pictures of the car without the top, please go here;
http://www.fountainsofthegreatdeep.com/bizzarrini.htm