1966 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Coupe

Thanks to his test-driving and engineering skills, Giotto Bizzarrini was hired by Enzo Ferrari in 1957. Here he first fine-tuned existing models and eventually was given the responsibility to develop a new line of GT racers. However, while in the midst of developing the 250GTO, Bizzarrini, together with a number of other key people left the company in the infamous 'palace revolution' of 1961. Together, the defectors formed ATS to rival Ferrari in both sportscar and single-seater racing, but due to conflicting opinions, Bizzarrini quickly left the new concern. He then worked as a consultant for Count Volpi for whom he created the 'Breadvan' Ferrari and for Ferruccio Lamborghini for whom he designed the V12 engine that would power Lamborghini sports cars for decades to come.

In 1962, he teamed up with Renzo Rivolta, who was turning his Iso company into a manufacturer of sports cars. Bizzarrini's first job was to help develop a sophisticated platform chassis for the 'Iso Rivolta' 2+2 coupe. He was then commissioned to turn the Iso Grifo two-seater into a race-winning machine. Pretty much independent from Iso, he conceived the exceptionally low A3/C that was an Iso Grifo in name only. Both cars shared a shortened Rivolta platform chassis and also the double-wishbone front suspension and the DeDion axle. Comparing the finished products, it was hard to imagine both cars shared the same underpinnings.

In the summer of 1965, the relationship between the two titans quickly deteriorated. While Rivolta wanted the Grifo put into series production, Bizzarini thought the car required further development. The two ideas conflicted and eventually all ties were severed. Bizzarrini was now fully independent and while Iso continued to deliver parts, he was not allowed to use the Grifo name. From then on the cars were marketed as the Bizzarrini 5300 GT. The racing cars received the 'Corsa' moniker and the road cars were badged 'Strada'. Not much later, the Strada was joined by the 'America' model, which sported a fiberglass body and a double wishbone rear suspension.

Production of the 5300 GT lasted until well into 1968, and a total of 115 examples were produced. In those years, Bizzarrini produced three 5300 GTs with a Targa body and a small run of the smaller-engined '1900 GT Europa'. The company's racing efforts were focused on the mid-engined P538 from 1966 onwards. There was no replacement for the 5300 GT and in 1972 Bizzarrini was forced to close his factory. He returned to his consulting and has since only produced a number of one-off prototypes.

This 1967 Bizzarrini Strada 5300 Coupé was offered for sale at the 2008 Russo & Steele Auction held in Monterey, California. Finished in silver with a black suede interior, this 5300 Strada represents the ultimate in period Italian automotive styling with the bulletproof reliability and proven performance of the Chevrolet small-block. Under the hood, finned Corvette valve covers and a quartet of Weber DCOEs represent the business-end of this take-no-prisoners Gran Touring coupé, while inside the low-slung doors, the interior is finished in fine black suede, cloth, and carpet set off only by a few instruments and a beautiful wood steering wheel.

This silver metallic car with black leather Series One interior has spent all of its life in Europe, only coming to the United States in January of this year. This aluminum-bodied car is a Strada model, as opposed to the competition-oriented Corsa, and is equipped with a 365-horsepower V8 Chevrolet engine.

Source - Russo & Steele