by Mike –
After American Motors dropped the AMX/3 development Giotto Bizzarrini wanted to turn this special super car design into a real product bearing the Bizzarrini badge.
Sciabola is an Italian word meaning saber in English. This was the name Giotto Bizzarrini selected for the planned super car model that came out of the work he did with American Motors on the AMX/3.
Perhaps saber was selected because of the sharp shape of the front of the AMX/3 or maybe Sciabola is just a cool name that fits a really cool super car.
The AMX/3 is as much a Bizzarrini as any of the models that bear the Bizzarrini badge. The way the AMX/3 was created is similar to how the Bizzarrini GT 5300 was created.
The AMX/3 development was funded by American Motors, styled by Richard Teague of AMC, powered by an American Motors engine and was branded AMC.
The Bizzarrini GT 5300 was funded by Iso, styled by Giugiaro of Bertone and powered by Chevrolet as were other Isos at the time. Initially it was branded an Iso and changed to the Bizzarrini brand later when Giotto Bizzarrini and Renzo Rivolta, owner of Iso, decide to part ways.
Giotto Bizzarrini did both the Bizzarrini GT 5300 and the AMX/3 chassis design and engineering. The AMX/3 bodies were built by Diomante and initially Drogo built the GT 5300 bodies.
Shown here is a brochure for the Bizzarrini Sciabola. Once a brochure is made that means Giotto was serious. It is too bad he could not pull this off and make a hundred or so like he did with the GT 5300.
Here is something you only see once every 15-20 years – an AMX/3 by Bizzarrini for sale. There are only six AMX/3s and this is the only one for sale!
Click on the images for a larger view.
My thanks to Walter Kirtland for the brochure images.
Sell your classic car on My Car Quest – click here.
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