1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada For Sale EUR 550.000

Seller Description

- Rare Bizzarrini with 100% French past
- Car with known history
- Property of a marque enthusiast for the last 45 years
- Indisputable authenticity
- Same owner since 1970

Giotto Bizzarrini, the defector from Ferrari, where he had been one of the most outstanding engineers, became involved in the short-lived ATS adventure in Formula 1, before setting up the engineering firm Autostar. The company was notably responsible for designing the first V12 Lamborghini engine that was used in the 350 GT. Bizzarrini went on to collaborate with Renzo Rivolta in designing the ISO A3C, the origin of the future Bizzarrini 5300 GT. A chassis worthy of the best GT cars of the day, and an American (Chevrolet Corvette) V8 front-positioned engine were the ingredients that came together to produce a formidable machine as efficient as it was stunning to look at.

This car was sold new in May 1968 in France to Mr. Jalut, who sold pinball machines, pool tables and jukeboxes. He loved the design of the Bizzarrini, and so decided to part with his Maserati. The car still carries the registration 306 W 02 (provisional), that can be seen in photos taken at the Concours d'Élégance in Le Touquet, where the car was shown two months after he bought it. It was finally registered 1 NK 02 on 14 August 1968 and it is amusing to note that the authorities at that time were obviously not used to registering this type of car, as there were three typing errors : only one "z" and one "r", Bizarini instead of Bizzarrini, and " Srada " (missing the "t"), for the model.

The car was sold a year later to the company Inter Franco Suisse, registered in Paris 9930 VP 75, and later sold through Société Sport Service Roger Loyer to a Mr. Pages from Saint-Cloud. He only kept the car a few months before finally being sold in May 1970, again through Roger Loyer, to a young marque enthusiast from Paris, then aged 28 years. It was registered 2062 WL 75 and retains this number today. At that time, it had covered approximately 25,000 km. Today the odometer reads 109,905.
There are few collectors who can say they have covered close to 85,000 km in a Bizzarrini and during this time, the car enjoyed an agreeable life, making frequent trips to Italy. Although the owner has confided to us that he has managed to scare himself a few times in the car, he has never had any trouble with it. Taking advantage of these trips to Italy, he had the car maintained by Diomante, with whom he developed a good relationship. This was the
same business that was responsible for restoring the car in 1991, a project that included new paintwork, wiring and carpets. A file including photos and invoices is available. The car is fitted with its original engine. The interior is magnificently preserved and the original leather displays a superb patina. An amusing detail, it is equipped with a " musicassette ". The Michelin XWX tyres are new.
At the start of the 1970s, the car's passionate owner decided to make the acquaintance of Giotto Bizzarrini, the marque founder, which required him to carry out some research. His investigation led him to Livorno and a boat builder called Catarsi who was a friend of the automobile manufacturer. Catarsi gave him the details for Giotto's parents, who welcomed the Frenchman, naturally with his 5300 GT too, and Mrs Bizzarrini senior put him in touch with her son and this was the start of a friendly relationship between the carmaker and the owner of this car that continues to this day.

Contact Auction House for more information's: Classic Driver