by Mike –
We recently posted a history summary of the stunning Bizzarrini Manta by ItalDesign.
The Bizzarrini Manta was the first car designed by the great car designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro, after he started his own design firm, ItalDesign in 1968.
Giorgetto Giugiaro and Bizzarrini Manta
My friends, Ron and Diane Spindler, bought the Manta when it was under restoration in 2005 and finished bringing it back to life. Over the next few years they re-introduced this special design concept to the world by taking it to and receiving accolades and awards from: Pebble Beach, Villa d’Este, Goodwood, Amelia Island, Palos Verdes, Concorso Italiano plus others. The Manta was also on display for sometime at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
Bizzarrini Manta at the Petersen Automotive Museum
It is not widely known that the Manta was at first a roller, no engine. It was a design concept and not originally intended to be driven. Ron told me one time that it was not a great driving car, one reason was because of the driving position – he was tilted back too far to be comfortable.
Later a Corvette 327 engine was added. The Bizzarrini Manta is one of the first of the “wedge” designs that became a trend in the 1970’s. It may also be a leading indicator of what Giugiaro would later do with his designs for the DeLorean, Lotus Esprit, Maserati Boomerang concept, Lamborghini Gallardo and others.
Ron Spindler working on the Bizzarrini Manta with help from a grandson at Palos Verdes in 2009
I was recently looking through my files and I found the ItalDesign brochure from 1998 celebrating the 30th anniversary of the company and the Bizzarrini Manta. I scanned the brochure and it is in the slide show below.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
Bizzarrini Manta by ItalDesign Brochure – 1998
A fabulous car, owned as you said by Ron and Diane Spindler two wonderful people. They did a lot to put Bizzarrini out in the public eye and make it the popular car that it is today.