BIZZARRINI – THE BIZARRE STORY OF A GENIUS ENGINEER
The year was 1957 when a certain Giotto Bizzarrini drove a Fiat 500 Marchietta, modified by him, from Livorno to Modena to introduce himself to Ferrari as a test driver. The Commendatore refused! Instead, he hired the young Bizzarrini as Chief Engineer of his racing department.
Giotto Bizzarrini had gasoline in his blood. Probably liters of it. He was a gifted tinkerer. Enzo Ferrari recognized this talent at their very first meeting in 1957 and made the young Bizzarrini not only chief engineer but also head of development and designer. Through his work, he influenced Ferrari like no one else at that time. He was instrumental in developing the 250 Testa Rossa and the 250 GT SWB.
However, a masterpiece was the most famous Ferrari of all time: the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO. Giotto Bizzarrini was perhaps the most brilliant technician at the Reds from Maranello at the time, but he was never a diplomat. After a palace revolution – which he helped organize – he left Ferrari in 1961 and founded his own manufactory, Bizzarrini Automobili.
He then developed for others, like tractor manufacturer Ferruccio Lamborghini. For him, he developed the first Lamborghini V-12 cylinder engine, the centerpiece of the 350 GT. Bizzarrini once again set standards. The engine was the heart of all Lamborghinis until the 1980s. He also designed models for the Milanese industrialist Renzo Rivolta, including the Bizzarrini Grifo A3/C, a GT race car with an American V8 engine and an extremely lightweight aluminum body.
Following the example of the Ferrari 250 GTO, the wheelbase was shortened and the engine was moved as low and as far back as possible. Although this made extreme physical demands on the driver, the handling was probably among the most perfect available on the road at that time.
So perfect that this car became first in its class at Le Mans in 1965. The drivers reached a revolutionary 306 km/h and thundered around the circuit at an average speed of 169 km/h. After the race, Giotto Bizzarrini himself got into the winning car, drove 1250 kilometers back to Livorno, and sold the winning car the next day.
After Le Mans, Bizzarrini and Renzo Rivolta parted ways. Bizzarrini developed the 5300 GT Corsa from the A3/C in order to participate in further races. This was financed by the street version, the 5300 GT Strada. In total, he built eight different Bizzarrini models in the 1960s. Arguably the most famous model was created in 1969.
None other than Giorgio Giugiaro asked Bizzarrini for support in founding his own company. Based on the 5300 GT, Giugiaro created what was arguably the most futuristic body the world had ever seen up to that point and presented his design studio, ItalDesign, with the three-seater Bizzarrini Manta at the Turin Motor Show.
Unfortunately, Bizzarrini was not a born entrepreneur when it came to self-promotion and marketing his own brand; he always worked behind the scenes for years. Only a very few know that he co-developed the famous GT for Opel. The famous BMW M1 was also technically conceived by Bizzarrini. In total, over 30 sports cars from his pen emerged during the golden era of Gran Turismo, and over 180 Bizzarrinis were produced in his own manufactory.
As a Doctor of Engineering – a title he earned as a student at the University of Pisa – his company evolved over the years into a consulting firm for the automotive industry. From time to time, various prototypes were created, such as the Bizzarrini Ghepardo in 2006. Today, the 91-year-old Godfather of Gran Turismo lives a secluded life in Livorno.
He sold his company a few years ago. In 2016, Bizzarrini Automobili made a comeback at Le Mans with Scuderia Bizzarrini. A statement was to be made. The only privately owned sports car manufacturer with Le Mans history is alive – and how! A completely new supercar is currently under development. And based on the Manta, one of the most exciting electric hypercars of our time may emerge. The wonderful story of Giotto Bizzarrini will live on.
Photos: Bizzarrini Archive
Author: Diethelm Horbach
