Bizzarrini Manta

The Bizzarrini Manta was unveiled at the 1968 Turin Motor Show, marking the first creation of Italdesign, founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro and Aldo Mantovani only weeks earlier. Completed in just forty days, the car represented a synthesis of Italian engineering and avant-garde design. Built on a modified tubular chassis from the Bizzarrini P538, developed by Giotto Bizzarrini, it was equipped with a mid-mounted Chevrolet 5.4-liter V8 engine producing approximately 400 horsepower. Power was delivered through a five-speed ZF manual gearbox to the rear wheels, allowing the Manta to reach a top speed of around 330 km/h. The design of the Manta introduced new aerodynamic and architectural concepts that would shape sports car design for decades. The one-box body was characterized by a sharply raked 15-degree windscreen and a continuous wedge profile, eliminating the traditional distinction between hood, roof, and tail. The bodywork, executed in lightweight aluminum over a steel tubular frame, measured roughly 4,100 mm in length and just over 1,000 mm in height. Suspension featured independent double wishbones on all four corners, with disc brakes and inboard-mounted rear assemblies. The cockpit layout was configured with a central driver’s seat flanked by two offset passenger seats. This arrangement, made possible by the wide chassis and mid-engine placement, offered a symmetrical driving experience similar to that later seen in the McLaren F1. The interior design featured exposed metal detailing, brushed steel sill grids, and a “venetian blind” style rear window system that allowed the driver to control rearward visibility. Originally finished in acid green, the Manta was later repainted metallic grey before being restored to its original color. It remains the only example ever produced. In 2008, Italdesign revisited its design principles with the Quaranta concept, a modern homage to the Manta’s pioneering integration of engineering and form.