Bizzarrini 1900GT Europa
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Car producer : |
Bizzarrini |
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Model: |
1900GT Europa |
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Year: |
1967-1969 |
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Type: |
Coupe |
Bizzarrini also managed a scaled-down 5300 GT project. Designed for GM-Opel, it was based on Opel 1900 platform. Bizzarrini's proposal was more aggressive and good looking. It was a baby-looking 5300 GT. The production Opel GT was designed by factory stylists and was less aggressive but still beautiful. Bizzarrini then decided to build the car himself. Around 17 prototypes were completed. The car is officially named as the Bizzarrini 1900 GT Europa. One of these cars has a barchetta body. Some cars are powered by 1300 and 1600 four cylinder engines sourced from GM, Alfa Romeo and FIAT. There is even a highly developed racing version with SPICA fuel injection system.
The Europa was a small GT car produced by Bizzarrini between 1966 and 1969. Originally powered by a 1481 cc Fiat straight-4 engine, the car officially became the Europa with the introduction of an 1897 cc Opel powerplant. About 20 examples were built, with all but five using the Opel engine.
P538 P538S
The P538 or P538S was a rear mid-engined race car launched in late 1965 or early 1966 by Scuderia Bizzarrini of Livorno, Italy. At least two P538s were built with Chevrolet Corvette 327-cu.in. V-8s, and two more with 4.0- and 3.5-liter Lamborghini V12 engines. Five-speed manual transaxles were used, with gearing specific to the race for which each car was constructed. Braking was via inboard four wheel disc brakes, with a fully independent suspension. The body was made of fiberglass over a tubular steel chassis.
The first V-8 powered car debuted at Le Mans in 1966, with Swiss drivers Edgar Berney and Andre Wicky, but records indicate that the team retired after three hours with a cooling problem. A second team in a production-based Bizzarrini A3/C, driven by Sam Posey and Massimo Natili, was disqualified after a pit lane violation, possibly while returning with serious frame damage.
American Ferrari driver Mike Gammino then commissioned a Lamborghini 4.0-liter V-12 powered car, which he raced once. Bizzarrini attempted to build a second, 3.5-liter V-12 car for Le Mans, but was unable to complete it before bankruptcy.
Officially three or four chassis were originally built in period, destined to race in USA by Mike Gammino and Le Mans. Today, not less than a dozen (or more) chassis are in existence today, some of these fakes claiming to be the real cars raced in Le Mans. At least two of these replicas are Lamborghini V12 powered. These V12 powered cars were truly the long waited Bizzarrini dream: his own engine and own chassis.
Bizzarrini also managed a scaled-down 5300 GT project. Designed for GM-Opel, it was based on Opel 1900 platform. Bizzarrini's proposal was more aggressive and good looking. It was a baby-looking 5300 GT. The production Opel GT was designed by factory stylists and was less aggressive but still beautiful. Bizzarrini then decided to build the car himself. Around 17 prototypes were completed. The car is officially named as the Bizzarrini 1900 GT Europa. One of these cars has a barchetta body. Some cars are powered by 1300 and 1600 four cylinder engines sourced from GM, Alfa Romeo and FIAT. There is even a highly developed racing version with SPICA fuel injection system.
The Europa was a small GT car produced by Bizzarrini between 1966 and 1969. Originally powered by a 1481 cc Fiat straight-4 engine, the car officially became the Europa with the introduction of an 1897 cc Opel powerplant. About 20 examples were built, with all but five using the Opel engine.
P538 P538S
The P538 or P538S was a rear mid-engined race car launched in late 1965 or early 1966 by Scuderia Bizzarrini of Livorno, Italy. At least two P538s were built with Chevrolet Corvette 327-cu.in. V-8s, and two more with 4.0- and 3.5-liter Lamborghini V12 engines. Five-speed manual transaxles were used, with gearing specific to the race for which each car was constructed. Braking was via inboard four wheel disc brakes, with a fully independent suspension. The body was made of fiberglass over a tubular steel chassis.
The first V-8 powered car debuted at Le Mans in 1966, with Swiss drivers Edgar Berney and Andre Wicky, but records indicate that the team retired after three hours with a cooling problem. A second team in a production-based Bizzarrini A3/C, driven by Sam Posey and Massimo Natili, was disqualified after a pit lane violation, possibly while returning with serious frame damage.
American Ferrari driver Mike Gammino then commissioned a Lamborghini 4.0-liter V-12 powered car, which he raced once. Bizzarrini attempted to build a second, 3.5-liter V-12 car for Le Mans, but was unable to complete it before bankruptcy.
Officially three or four chassis were originally built in period, destined to race in USA by Mike Gammino and Le Mans. Today, not less than a dozen (or more) chassis are in existence today, some of these fakes claiming to be the real cars raced in Le Mans. At least two of these replicas are Lamborghini V12 powered. These V12 powered cars were truly the long waited Bizzarrini dream: his own engine and own chassis.
