1970 Lombardi Grand Prix Information and History

After World War I, Carlo Francesco 'Francis' Lombardi opened a business called Carrozzeria Lombardi. Carrozzeria, Italian meaning coachbuilder, is an individual or company that bodies carriages or automobiles. The name in German is Karosserie. These skills were needed during the early part of the 1900's to fabricate enclosures for rolling chassis. The materials used were mostly wooden or metal. As the evolution of automobile production evolved, manufacturers brought the design and development in-house, making individual coachbuilders a dying breed.

During the 1950's, Carrozzeria Lombardi made a living by building and selling a series of cars based on Fiat chassis such as the 850. His most beautiful and sporty creation was the Lombardi Grand Prix, with production beginning in 1968. The Grand Prix was built atop the Fiat 850's chassis and borrowed many of its mechanics including the rear-engined configuration. When introduced, they featured the 850's 843 cc, four-cylinder engine producing 34 horsepower. The American versions, dubbed the OTAS 820 Grand Prix, were smaller and given an 817-cc engine capable of producing 52 horsepower.

Most of the mechanics were borrowed from the Fiat. A four-speed synchromesh gearbox and front transverse leaf spring and rear trailing arms and coil springs suspension were courtesy of the Fiat 850. Zero to sixty for the 1450 pound vehicle took around sixteen seconds. Stopping power was provided by front disc and rear drum brakes.

The vehicle sat very low to the ground, only 5.5-linchs high. It was a very small vehicle, only 42 inches high. The famed Ford GT 40 race car that won numerous victories at Le Mans sat only 40 inches tall, thus the '40' in the name GT40. With the Grand Prix only being two inches taller, it is a very small vehicle. Passengers over six-feet tall would be uncomfortable and possibly have a difficult time negotiating their body into the car. But with its low profile it had a low center of gravity which gave it excellent performance and handling.

A purpose built Grand Prix was created for track use and smuggled into the United States for its new owner Harry Neuman of Maryland. The Grand Prix featured an over-bored engine which increased the capacity of the engine to 1013 cc and the horsepower output to 75.

Production came to a close in 1972 after a few hundred examples were produced. After the Grand Prix came the FL1, a mid-engined two-seater. Unfortunately, the FL1 would ultimately be the demise of the company, and Lombardi was out of business in 1976.

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Coupe
Chassis Num: 100GB1575721

This 1970 Lombardi Grand Prix is built to European Specifications. Regular versions of the 1970 Lombardi, with their 843cc engine, were capable of a 16-second zero-to-sixty time. This vehicle can reach sixty mph around 11 seconds.

This car has a 5.5-inch ground clearance, weighs 1450 pounds, and is only 42-inches tall.

This car was originally powered by a 982cc four-cylinder engine tuned by Fiat tuner Giannini. The engine now displaces 1013cc, has twin-barrel Weber carburetors, and produces 75 horsepower. This is a big increase over the factory version which had 34-horsepower.

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