by Mike –
For the first time that I remember Mecum is quoting the price estimate range for cars at their Monterey auction.
They have two Bizzarrinis for sale and both have a very healthy price estimate. I believe if the estimates published by Mecum are reached both of these cars would set a world record price for each model.
1970 Bizzarrini P538 For Sale
Estimate: $800,000 – $900,000
Mecum says,
– Chassis No. P538B04 commissioned by Frenchman Jacques Lavost with copy of french papers
– Chassis built by Bizzarrini in the late 1960s at Bizzarrini’s home in Gabbro near Livorno documented in Auto Italiana
– Finition and test started in the mid 1970’s at Salvatore Diomonte’s shop
– Single frame built with square tubes and radiators next to the engine instead in the front
– Build completed in 1978
– Built with a different front air-intake
– Side intakes in the doors instead of rear wings
– Two triangular-section headrests with matching roll-bars
– Rebuilt engine and transmission in 2013
– 327 CI V-8 Chevrolet engine
– Weber carburetors on a Campagnolo manifold
– Exhaust changed to 180 crossover
– Italian ASI certifications
– Referenced in the book, Bizzarrini The Genius Behind Ferrari’s Success
1965 Iso Grifo A3/C Bizzarrini
Estimate: $1,800,000 – $2,200,000
Mecum says,
– Giotto Bizzarrini built 20 Iso Grifo A3C race cars with the rare Drogo riveted alloy body
– Lightweight aluminum Drogo riveted body designed and built by Carrozzeria Sport Cars Modena
– Completed in late 1964 and delivered new to Auto Becker in Germany in January 1965
– Owned by race car driver Pierre de Sibenthal from the 1970s until the 1980s
– Sold to a new owner in the late 1980s in Italy
– 5.3L engine with 400 HP
– 2012-2013 comprehensive ground-up restoration by Autocostruzioni Torino, Italy
– 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
– Documented and backed by certificate of conformity
I wrote about this Iso Grifo A3/C Bizzarrini for sale before. I had questioned the statement “Documented and backed by certificate of conformity” because I am not aware of any organization that has the authority to certify an Iso or a Bizzarrini. I asked the appropriate Mecum representative about this and their answer was not illuminating.
I saw this car at Pebble Beach last year and it does look impressive. I am not familiar with the history of this particular example except that it has been restored by Salvatore Diomante – the Diomante logo is on top of the intake manifold.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
In earlier times I struggled to acquire Campagnolo components for my bicycle. Of course, by the time I was able to amass most of a “grouppo”, the manufacturers from the “other side of the globe” had competition that operated so much better, were more sophisticated, etc. But they had a blue sheen, instead of Campagnolo’s yellow sheen. Now, I knew that the Pantera at least had Campagnolo wheels, but I didn’t know they also produced intake manifolds. Seems one of Tuillo’s motivations were to drive the world crazy with bling. Part of operating my bicycle sometimes involved covering the components with “patina”. I was always able, though, to clean the patina off and relubricate them. Even now they gleam…