This is the one-off 1991/1993 Bizzarrini BZ-2001 Prototipo. Bizzarrini was an Italian automotive manufacturer which was founded by Italian automobile engineer, Giotto Bizzarrini in 1964. While headquartered in Livorno, Italy, the short-lived manufacturer produced some incredibly notable models while in business, including the 5300 Strada, the 1900 GT Europa, and the P538 S, all with extremely limited production. Bizzarrini as a company declared for bankruptcy in 1969, however, Giotto Bizzarrini continued to work on numerous ideas and projects for a number of years after this, and the BZ-2001 Prototipo was one of those special cars. In 1990, an investor by the name of Barry Watkins and his partner Luis Romo (who became project manager for the BZ-2001 project) formed a company known as World SuperCars, Inc. as a way to create a new interesting supercar using the Ferrari Testarossa’s V12 engine amongst various other components, and a design completed by none other than Bizzarrini. The team collaborated to create a car unlike anyone had ever seen before with a Bizzarrini badge, known as the BZ-2001. By August of 1991, a full-scale clay model had already been completed, the despite not being fully completed, the BZ-2001 made it’s first public appearance during a Barrett-Jackson auction in January of 1993. This fully carbon fiber-bodied one-off features notable design elements and impressive performance-oriented characteristics such as an Alcon brake system, high-performance Goodyear tires, a light-weight carbon clutch and flywheel package from Tilton industries and much more. Original plans incorporated a limited production run of the BZ-2001 with a cost of about $250,000 per unit. Due to numerous reasons include a lack of investors, interest, and a failed test drive conducted by autoweek where the hood of the car reportedly flew off, the BZ-2001 simply never advanced further than one singular prototype in period.
How many made? 1 of 1
Engine: 4.9-liter Ferrari flat twelve-cylinder engine - 385 hp
Debut: 1993 Barrett Jackson Auction
Top Speed: 180mph + (claimed)
0-60mph: N/A
Photo Credit: @jobjoris
Research: @rarecarsonly