by Wallace Wyss –
The new design is refreshingly similar to the original, not the targa but the body shape.
The update of the interior is thankfully of the series II Bizzarrini not the originals with the deep holes for the gauges, like mouse holes.
Aperta translates to “open”. In a TV interview Fabrizio Giugiaro, the son of Giorgetto who designed the original Bizzarrini GT 5300, which the Aperta is based on, resisted the word “targa” which he credits to Porsche. “Lusso” is a word Ferrrari used to mean “luxury”.
FRONT VIEW Alas they recognized a flaw of the original design, in that it didn’t have a front spoiler and had a bit of nose lift. So they added one, body color. I would make that an option, not standard, and make it grey. Those chin spoilers remind me of Corvettes in the Sixties as owners who tried to race them discovered nose lift.
The chrome borders around the plexiglass headlight bubbles seems about 1/8th of an inch too narrow. Broader chrome rims are more satisfying to me.
SIDE VIEW It’s good that they don’t have a roof support bar down the middle of the cockpit like the ’68 and later Corvettes. I like the old fashioned chrome door handle. Keeping the rear window glass instead of folding see through plastic like the one Iso Grifo Targa was a good idea. The brushed aluminum surface finish and shape of the roof rollover hoop looks too much like it was lifted from a Porsche 911 targa. Maybe body color would be better?
REAR VIEW Very much in character with the original. Glad they stuck to the smaller taillights instead of the big ones on one of the three original Spiders. I always suspected they were Corvair taillights.
Missing are the chrome air grates above the rear deck kid. True they look like they were stolen from a factory floor but they were part of the original and to leave them out reduces the mystique that the Bizzarrini is back.
INTERIOR It looks modern as far as fabrics and coloring and I am thankful they did not do the early Bizzarrini interior as I mentioned before. I like all the toggles in a row. To hell with that modern trend of putting switchgear into a screen–what if the screen fails? The wood steering wheel is another bring back that scores a hit. The dashboard wood is maple.
The gear knob is crafted in Italian tortoiseshell inlaid with gold to create the Bizzarrini logo. The owner of this car specified the materials as each car is bespoke.
ENGINE They did the legend right by again having the engine behind the front axle centerline for ideal weight distribution. I was disappointed they only had a 327 when a 350 could look similar and carry the same fuel injection. The press release says they designed it “to look, to the eye, as though carburetors are fitted”. At first glance it looks like four side draught Webers but it has port fuel injection.
I welcome the Tremec TKX five-speed manual and limited-slip differential that will help it do 175 mph. I hope for racetrack use they make the carburetor manifold and carburetors available.
IN SUM I have been waiting for over half a century for a Bizzarrini to come back in a form I would like. I would say this is 98% of the way there. Of course they are building them to individual owner’s preferences (what the English call “bespoke”) so maybe some will resemble the originals more than others.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR A fine artist, Wyss will be depicting the new generation in oil on canvas and offering canvas prints to the cognoscenti. For a list of his Bizzarrini art write photojournalistpro2@gmail.com
Photos compliments of Bizzarrini.
wonder what chassis number they are planned to use .
What I know is that when it’s a new build car/chassis number you never get a road legal title because the emission, safety systems , and other rules for new build cars.
Simon
The Real Story: Why the Spyder S.I. Was Never a Bertone Project
1. Giotto Bizzarrini never instructed Bertone to build an open car that we know of.
This is the core truth. Bizzarrini collaborated with Bertone on certain projects, but he never commissioned Giorgetto Giugiaro or Bertone to design or construct an open‑top version of the 5300 GT.
Instead, Ing. Giotto Bizzarrini directly instructed Stile Italia (S.I.) in Torino — led by former Bertone designer — to create the Spyder. The body construction and mold work were executed by Sibona & Basano, the ex‑Ghia craftsmen known for their aluminum expertise. based on a 5300 Strada or GT America Chassis
This is why the Spyder carries the (S.I.) badge & (S.B) Sibona & Basano badge and Bizzarrini Badge not Bertone’s.
2. Fabrizio Giugiaro’s reaction confirms the misunderstanding
Your memory from Eyes on Design/ Classic in the 1990s is priceless:
Fabrizio and Giugiaro were there as Bertone was being featured for design works.
Fabrizio was excited to see your red 1968 Spyder S.I. and asked to sit in it.
Initially, Giugiaro seemed to imply some connection — likely because many people assumed all Bizzarrinis were Bertone‑related.
But once they saw the Stile Italia badge, the misunderstanding evaporated.
Fabrizio took many photos of your Spyder — because it was the first time he had ever seen one in person.
This moment alone proves how rare and misunderstood the Spyder lineage was
I wrote F Giugiaro to see if he can change the remarks in the Harry’s
Garage driving impression of the Aperta. I know what Fabrizio meant but it didn’t come out right. The driving impression is good, that British show host, Harry, has just the right attitude. It’s posted in several places on the net
(By the way in the picture here they are posing with one of the 1966 ones, owned by Mark, in the center)
Video: Bizzarrini 5300 Aperta Lusso – Harry’s Garage
2 days ago · Bizzarrini 5300 Aperta Lusso review. Carbon body, targa roof, 400bhp V8, 175mph, modern air conditioning & CarPlay. La Dolce Vita…
Wallace , Thank you I know what you meant it was me in the middle with my 1968 Red Bizzarrini Spyder S.I . I would hope Bizzarrini design & Fabrizio and Harry’s Garage would make reference that Ing.Giotto Bizzarrini did have 3-open spyder’s. attached is the Silver 1966 Bizzarrini 5300 Spyder S.I (Prototype) and the red 1968 Bizzarrini 5300 Spyder S.I .
Diomante convert a coupe to Targa specs too, all aluminium , also the Targa roof from aluminium,
Simon
In the Harry’s Garage video Mr. Giugiaro said his father wanted to use the band over the roof of the Iso Grifo prototype (that he designed) to style the targa roof of a Bizzarrini spider and so that is why it is on the Aperta Lusso.
Photos of all 3 Bizzarrini Spyders (plus all Bizzarrinis at Pebble Beach that year) can be seen here – https://mycarquest.com/2020/08/the-bizzarrini-class-at-pebble-beach-was-awesome-in-2016.html
That is correct Diomante showed me the rendering of Strada Targa version in 2012. Diomante had confirm he may be offering a limited production. If i remember correctly.
Diomante rendering 2012!
another photo of a finished Strada Targa
Diomante was the high standard specialist in restoring Bizzarrini’s.
Into a Bizzarrini restored by Diomante it has plenty of space for a tall driver.
Simon