This is the out-of-this-world, one-off 1968 Bizzarrini Manta by ItalDesign, one of the very first projects ever completed by the design and engineering company owned by Italian automobile designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro. In early 1968, a company known as Studi Italiani Realizzazione Prototipi S.p.A. was founded by the famous Italian designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro, and his partner, Aldo Mantovani. Later, in Febuary of that same year, the company would have the name changed to ItalDesign. For the companies first ever creation, Giugiaro would seek to acquire the perfect basis for this ambitious project. The suitable base car for his new show car would be the Bizzarini P538, which was built in 4 total units in period by Italian automobile engineer, Giotto Bizzarrini, and his company, Bizzarrini. The P538 was a racing car, designed to compete in some of the world’s greatest events, and in order to develop and create the ‘Manta’, Giorgetto Giugiaro asked his long-time friend Giotto Bizzarrini to use chassis number P-538-003 for his first ever independent project since creating ItalDesign. Specifically, this chassis was raced in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it was driven by Edgar Berney and André Wicky, but unfortunately never finished the race due to mechanical issues. After the car’s short racing career came to an end, chassis 003 was now in the hands of Giugiaro, and the task to turn a forgotten racing chassis into a jaw-dropping show car was given a deadline of just 40 days, due to the upcoming Turin Motor Show, where Giugiaro wished to debut his inaugural project. Despite the time constraint, the car was presented in Turin finished in a striking Acid Green color with Orange accents. The Manta is equipped with a number of unique features not seen on the original P538 such as a ‘venetian blind’ system, a three-seat configuration, and overall, a completely new design!
How many made? 1 of 1.
Engine: 5,359 CC OHV Chevrolet V-8 Engine - 350-400hp
Debut: 1968 Turin Motor Show
Top Speed: 196mph (claimed)
0-60: 3.8 seconds (claimed)
Photo Credit: @dtrockstar1, @lambolog
Research: @rarecarsonly