1968 Bizzarrini: A Remarkable Offering by RM Sotheby's

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【Summary】RM Sotheby's is auctioning a rare 1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada Alloy, a benchmark car from the 1960s Italian auto industry. The car was designed by Giotto Bizzarrini, who was fired by Enzo Ferrari and went on to create remarkable cars for Iso Rivolta. The Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada featured a front-mid-mounted Chevrolet V-8 engine and had scintillating performance and handling. Approximately 115 examples were produced before Bizzarrini's company declared bankruptcy in 1969.

FutureCar Staff Aug 15, 2023 9:17 AM PT

1968 Bizzarrini: A Remarkable Offering by RM Sotheby's

The 1960s was a remarkable era for car design, particularly in Italy. It was a time and place unlike any other in automotive history. During this period, the Italian auto industry saw the rise of numerous manufacturers, ranging from small garage operations to giant companies like FIAT. The era also saw the emergence of several new automakers whose names ended in "i," leading to the term "Etceterrini" to affectionately refer to anything that wasn't Maserati, Ferrari, or Lamborghini.

Lamborghini's factory was established in 1963, thanks to the impressive V-12 engine commissioned by Ferruccio Lamborghini from engineer Giotto Bizzarrini. Bizzarrini, who had previously been fired by Enzo Ferrari despite his contributions to the iconic 250 GTO, embarked on another project. Successful industrialist Renzo Rivolta enlisted Bizzarrini to create the original Rivolta GT, as well as two exceptional cars that debuted at the 1963 Turin Motor Show: the Iso Grifo A3/L and A3/C. Both cars, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, showcased the epitome of automotive design with their elegant and purposeful forms.

Iso produced the Grifo, a luxury GT that enjoyed success from 1965 to 1974, powered by various Chevrolet and Ford V-8 engines. The brilliance of Iso's approach was utilizing reliable and affordable American V-8 engines instead of developing a unique engine. Bizzarrini's own company, established in 1964, built the A3/C for Iso. Unlike its GT sibling, the A3/C was a pure sports car designed to dominate the track, achieving impressive victories at Le Mans and reaching speeds of nearly 190 mph.

The Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada featured a lightweight semi-monocoque aluminum body riveted to a platform chassis, housing a front-mid-mounted Chevrolet 327 ci V-8 engine. Bizzarrini drew inspiration from his work on the Ferrari 250 GTO, aiming to improve upon it. The result was a car that delivered exhilarating performance and exceptional handling, producing between 350 hp and 420 hp depending on the tune and carburetion.

After parting ways with Iso, Bizzarrini continued producing the A3/C under his own name, creating the Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada and 5300 GT America. Approximately 115 examples of both models were produced between 1965 and early 1969. However, pricing the cars lower than the "Big Three" Italian manufacturers proved to be an unprofitable strategy, leading to Bizzarrini's company declaring bankruptcy in 1969.

This particular 1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada Alloy, chassis No. IA3 0323, is one of the last 86 alloy-bodied examples built. It was originally delivered to California and remained there until 2017. The car has undergone a sympathetic restoration, with over $130,000 invested since late 2021. It features new paint and interior in the original colors, along with air conditioning and Campagnolo center-lock forged magnesium wheels. This rare gem is expected to fetch up to $1 million at the RM Sotheby's auction during Monterey Car Week.

For more photos of this 1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada Alloy, click here.