Dottore Ingegnere Giotto Bizzarini had successful stints at Alfa Romeo, Iso, Ferrari, and a Lamborghini V12 engine on his resume before setting a company to create cars bearing his own name. Established in Livorno, Prototipo Bizzarini opened for business in 1965. Like many before him, Bizzarini's dreams were severely constrained by economic realities, and his operations ground to a halt after just four years. But the few cars that bore his name are still celebrated as exceptional examples of 1960s sports car design.
This 1966 Bizzarrini 5300 SI Spyder is a Prototipo, designed by Stile Italia and is a unique creation. Just after completing its restoration, it was on display at the 2004 Concorso d'Italia and the Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegnace. The restoration had been given top priority and complete motivation to complete before these events, as Giotto Bizzarrini was the celebrated individual and were given their own class.
The 5300 SI Spyder was on display at the 1966 Geneva Motorshow and 104 production road-going cars would soon follow. Only three examples were fitted with the Spyder body. This two-seat sports car prototype was essentially a targa top, its sleek aluminum body embracing a 327 cubic-inch Chevy V8 engine rated at 420 horsepower. The Geneva show car was given an all-alloy body, retractable head lights, and seats that were incorporated directly into the body. Two more cars were created in 1967 and 1968 by Turin's Stile Italia (SI), and both had minor differences to the Geneva Show Car.
The Chevrolet V8 engine with its four Weber 45 DCOE Carburetors produced an impressive amount of horsepower. The car has a four-speed manual gearbox and weighs just over 1200 kg.
The prototype was the basis for two production versions, but Signor Bizzarini retained possession of the original. When his company went out of business, the prototype went to Bizzarini's attorney, who stored it in an underground garage in Pisa, Italy. There it sat for 35 years until it was discovered, acquired, and restored by Plymouth, Michigan Bizzarini aficionado Mark Sassak.Also photographed at :