 Ferrari
250 GTO:
The Ferrari 250 GTO which Bizzarrini worked on before leaving Ferrari
was probably his first major successful design. His idea was to
combine the chassis from the 250GT SWB and the V12 engine from the
250 Testa Rossa. The design of the body is entirely based on Bizzarrini’s
imagination. This car was designed exclusively for racing and is
considered to be among the greatest sports cars of all time. Sports
Car International named the Ferrari GTO, the top sports car of all
time.
A3C:
1964 was a momentous year for Bizzarrini. Bizzarrini’s A3C
Corsa was designed exclusively for the important 1964 Le Mans 24
hours race keeping in focus not only the speed and acceleration
that would be required but also the endurance levels. The car finished
14th position overall and was the first in its class. His A3C models
competed creditably with major manufacturers in a large number of
races like the Paris 1000kms and Ettore Betoja 3 Hour Trophy at
Monza usually finishing among the top spots.
5300 GT S/C:
The Bizzarrini 5300 GT that he built after breaking away from the
Iso was unique in the sense that it was offered in two variants
in the market, the GT Strada and the GT Corsa, also with cross-over
features if desired by the customer. These models evolved from their
original A3C GT Strada design to become smaller and sleeker with
push button handles.
5300 SI Spyder:
The 1966 Geneva Motorshow hosted Bizzarrini’s 5300 SI Spyder
with a number of distinct features. With an all-alloy body, body
molded seats, retractable head lights and a multifunction roof design
which allowed the car to become a Coupe or a convertible, the car
was a major success.
VGM Motors, an automobile manufacturer founded in April 2002 in
Siziano, Italy debuted a Bizzarrini car at the March 2005 Geneva
Motor Show. The company holding the rights to the Bizzarrini name
designed a modern version of Bizzarrini GT Strada and called it
the Bizzarrini GTS 4.4 V. Fitted with an Alpina-Bizzarrini engine,
the car is capable of speeds of over 360km/hr.
The name still lives on:
Biarrini’s name still lives on as an important footnote in
any literature on car racing, remembered still by dazzled fans and
amazed engineers. His passion and drive to excel in his chosen field
made him stand out even among legendary figures of the industry.
Giotto Bizzarrini’s car designs were based on the application
of his engineering skills, knowledge of aerodynamics, and car aesthetics.
His passion for the automobile, its speed and performance, his rigid
work ethic and more importantly his wild Tuscan heritage resulted
in the creation of fantastic car designs. Bizzarrini’s name
is etched deeply not only in the Italian automobile history annals
but also in the all-time history of car design and racing. |
