Tag Archives: Bizzarrini

1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada – REVISIT

July 24, 2014 Graham

Considered by many to be one of the prettiest GT cars ever made, the Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada I wrote up in April is back up on eBay. With bidding at $200,000 but the reserve still on, there's a long way to go until this car hits market value. That market value is still substantially below what equivalent Ferraris and Lamborghinis cost these days though, so this could be one of the more reasonable classic Italian top tier GT cars you can buy. Of course, you have to win the auction first....

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada on Ebay

The below post appeared on our site originally on April 2, 2014:

The other day, I wrote up an Iso A3C; a neat and fairly rare race car from the mid 1960s that marked a period where Iso and ex-Ferrari designer Bizzarrini worked together to create the beautiful and fast race car; however, shortly after the Grifo-based A3C launched its race career, Bizzarrini and Renzo Rivolta parted ways. The result was that Bizzarrini continued to build road-going versions of the A3C, now dubbed the Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada, for a few years. While more plentiful than the A3C, they're certainly not a car you come by every day - which is why it's an extra-special treat to see one pop up on Ebay:

Year: 1968
Model: 5300GT Strada
Engine: 5.4 liter V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: Not Listed
Price: No Reserve Auction

Bizzarrini 5300 Strada, 1968
restored by Salvatore Diomante, the factory manager who never stop taking care of the Iso and Bizzarrini
350 CV, documented, alloy body
The cars who have won awards at Pebble Beach are Diomante restorations
0 km since restoration
Contact me if real interest

I have to say, it takes a large set of attachments to post such a car - likely worth close to seven figures - for sale as a no reserve auction on Ebay; my guess, though, is that if bidding doesn't go the way of the seller it will get ended early. Fully restored, this car appears to be lovely and is somewhat unusual in silver color, but there aren't many photos to document the current condition. Despite that, it's a rare car to see at all so it's certainly worth taking a look at. While probably out of the price range of anyone reading this, these cars are pretty well priced considering their history and especially when compared to similar vintage Ferraris. They're arguably as beautiful as some of their creator's other creations for the prancing horse!

-Carter

Bizzarrini, Classic

1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada

April 9, 2014 Graham

Just last week, I looked at an extremely rare Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada that popped up on Ebay. Pictures weren't great, but as I said in that post it's not a car you see every day. Yet here we are, less than a week later, with another one of these Italian-American combinations! It's not that I was particularly wrong, just consider us very lucky to be able to see these very special cars come up for sale - even if you need to be a millionaire to consider one:

Year: 1968
Model: 5300 GT Strada
Engine: 5.4 liter V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 25,000 mi
Price: No Reserve Auction

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada

Bizzarrini 5300 Strada
Alloy Body , V8 Corvette 400 CV
Fully restored, for real collectors
Please call me if real interest, 011 33 613 916 500
We take care of shipping

Giotto Bizzarrini was born in Livorno, Italy in 1926. His father was a rich landowner who came from a family with strong roots in Tuscany and the city of Livorno. His grandfather, also named Giotto Bizzarrini, was a biologist who had worked with Guglielmo Marconi on his inventions, especially the radio, following which one of the Livorno Library sections was named The Bizzarrini Library.

1959 GT Boano

Bizzarrini graduated as an engineer in the University of Pisa in 1953. He taught briefly before joining Alfa Romeo in 1954. He worked for Alfa Romeo from 1954 to 1957. He began working for Ferrari in 1957, eventually becoming controller of experimental, Sports and GT car development. He worked at Ferrari as a developer, designer, skilled test driver, and chief engineer for five years. His developments there included the Ferrari 250 TR, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB (Short Wheelbase Berlinetta or Berlinetta Passo Corto), and the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO.

Bizzarrini was fired by Ferrari during the "palace revolt" of 1961. He became part of Automobili Turismo e Sport (ATS)), a company started by the ex-Ferrari engineers to build a Formula 1 single seater and a GT sport car, the A.T.S. Serenissima.

One of ATS's financial backers, Count Giovanni Volpi, owner of Scuderia Serenissima, hired Bizzarrini to upgrade a Ferrari 250 GT SWB, with chassis number #2819GT to GTO specifications. This resulted in the Ferrari 250 GT SWB Drogo also known as the "Breadvan".

Bizzarrini's engineering company, Societa Autostar, was commissioned to design a V-12 engine for a GT car to be built by another dissatisfied Ferrari customer, Ferruccio Lamborghini. Lamborghini considered the resulting engine to be too highly strung, and ordered that it be detuned.

As with the last advertisement, information and pictures aren't great, and this one is also being offered at no reserve; my guess is that the sellers are just looking to post an ad to get attention and pull potential buyers in that way. I just have a hard time believing that there are that many people who are actively attempting to buy million-dollar cars off Ebay, but perhaps that's also a function of my lack of a million dollars. Still, this car is just beautiful; the French blue is a nice if unorthodox color for this car and it really stands out. While we're not likely to see another Bizzarrini next week, it's nice to be able to bask in the glow of two in a short period of time - so enjoy!

-Carter

Iso

1965 Iso A3C

March 31, 2014 Graham

When it comes to classic sports cars from the 1960s, there are plenty to choose from. From England, big Grand Tourers like the Jaguar E-Type and Aston Martin DBs established a trend of luxurious inline-6 motors. From Germany, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL was still a classic though it was an older design. But the Italians had many to choose from; Fiat, Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini were all producing memorable GT cars. There were also boutique designers and producers such as Iso and Bizzarrini, who combined forces to produce one of the greatest GT racing cars of all time; the A3C. While the Ferrari 250 is arguably the best recognized, most successful and most valuable in its many configurations, the few Iso A3Cs that were produced are no slouches:

Year: 1965
Model: A3C
Engine: 5.4 liter V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: "63" mi
Price: Not Listed

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1965 Iso A3C

Iso A3C

1965 Competition, completely restored , absolute top condition.

Not much information is offered, but then if you're in this market you likely know what you're looking at. While a top condition Bizzarrini 5300GT would bring around $700,000 these days, the A3C is a more expensive beast entirely. The combination of ex-Ferrari styling and American muscle proved very successful at Le Mans, with the A3Cs winning its class in 1964 and 1965. Drop dead gorgeous looks and that history mean this is a truly valuable car - likely well in excess of a million dollars in current condition. That's well shy of Ferrari 250 prices, but this car is easily as special as those Ferraris and represents a rare opportunity to own one of the most unique pieces of Italian GT racing history.

-Carter

Uncategorized

1966 Bizzarrini 5300 GT

February 6, 2013 Graham

The Bizzarrini is one of the most obscure and mythical Italian vehicles ever produced. For a country that is known for its exotic machinery, that certainly is saying something. The 5300 GT was another one of those Italo-American collaborations, with fanciful bodywork and a Corvette V8 underhood. Rarely do we see these cars for sale but this 5300 GT up for auction in California is perhaps one of the best ones out there.

1966 Bizzarrini 5300 GT

This is a very rare and special Bizzarrini GT 5300 Strada – it is highly original with only three owners from new. This 1966 Bizzarrini GT 5300 has won numerous awards: it was the Bizzarrini Class Winner at The Quail, A Motor Sport Gathering in August 2012 and it won the Owner’s Choice Award at The Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance in August 2011. This Bizzarrini GT 5300 has also received many other awards over the years.

This is one of the finest and most authentic Bizzarrini GT 5300 Stradas in existence. Bizzarrinis of this character rarely come up for public sale. This Bizzarrini GT 5300 has the desirable series 1 door handles and series 1 dashboard. The car has never had any body damage, has never been raced and is in outstanding condition. The engine and transmission are original.

This Bizzarrini is in spectacular condition and runs perfectly. It is ready for show or a 1,000-mile drive. It is one of the finest and most authentic Bizzarrini GT 5300 Stradas in existence. The Bizzarrini GT 5300 provides a ticket to an exclusive club – with approximately 115 of all types produced and an estimate of less than 100 still in existence, a Bizzarrini GT 5300 is always a rare car at any classic car event.

Make: Bizzarrini
Model: GT 5300 Strada
Year: 1966
Chassis number: IA3*0256
Exterior: Alloy body painted silver
Interior: Black suede leather
Engine: Corvette 327 cid with 4 Weber carburetors
Odometer: 47,209 kilometers (29,334 miles)
Number made: Approximately 115 of all types
Multiple Award Winner

Bizzarrinis are not easy cars to value, due to their scarcity and that few exchange hands on a regular basis. With an opening bid of $700,000 and the reserve not yet met, only serious collectors need apply. With the history of awards this car has won and original drivetrain in tact, this is certainly a car for someone who wants to stand out at the concours. While it may be hard to source certain trim and suspension items for this car, at least the drivetrain will be relatively reliable and easy to service, given its humble GM origins.

-Paul