Rare Rides: A Very Rare Bizzarrini Strada From 1967

If the Bizzarrini name seems familiar, it’s because we previously learned about one of the very last designs to wear the name: the BZ 2001. In contrast to that failed Nineties project, today’s Rare Ride was Bizzarrini’s most successful commercial offering.

It’s the Strada, from 1967.

While Giotto Bizzarrini did some of the design work for the BZ 2001, in the 1960s he ran a fully functioning car company that bore his name. With a background in racing cars, Bizzarrini was chief engineer at Ferrari by the time he was 32. Shortly thereafter he was fired from Ferrari, and started working for Iso Rivolta as a designer. However, after finishing a few designs, he ended up in an important disagreement.

Company owner Renzo Rivolta wanted to build luxurious GT cars. Mr. Bizzarrini saw things differently, and wanted to stay with his passion and develop race cars. Irreconcilable differences ended their relationship, and Bizzarrini founded his new car company in 1964.

Staying focused on his personal interests, Bizzarrini’s company spent most its time developing and building race cars. It funded its ventures by making road-going versions of said race cars for the well-heeled. The most well-known of Bizzarrini’s very small product line was the Strada.

Bertone was hired to design the car’s incredibly low-slung aluminum body, which boasted an overall height of just 44.1 inches. Developed with a front-mid engine layout, the Strada was powered by a small-block 327 V8 (5.4L) borrowed from a Corvette. In standard consumer guise it made between 365 and 385 horsepower, but power jumped to an even 400 horses in the Corsa. Top speed was 174 miles an hour in early versions.

The Strada entered production in 1964, in time for racing at Le Mans in 1965. After a respectable ninth place overall finish that year, Bizzarrini continued to make refinements to his flagship car. Eventually, the Corvette 327 was swapped in favor of the big block Chevrolet 427 (7.0L). No word on how many of those exist.

There were three versions of Strada: coupe, targa, and the race-ready Corsa. In a total production of 133 cars, just two were targas. A one-off convertible was also produced but remained a prototype. The Strada remained in production through 1968, joined by a couple other Bizzarrini models with much lower production figures. By 1969, however, the small company found itself bankrupt, never to be revived.

Mr. Bizzarrini lives on today.

Today’s Rare Ride was subject to a three-year restoration in Germany, which altered the standard engine to Corsa spec for 400 horsepower. With 32 miles since its restoration, it’s priced upon request.

[Images: seller]