Bizzarrini 5300 GT. Stunningly unknown

The supercar of which the self-satisfied Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati became secretly nervous. Justly.

Talented

That latent threat came from within: the talented engineer Giotto Bizzarrini was high on the Ferrari payroll from 1957 to 1961. After his studies at the University of Pisa, the promising technician gained his first experience at Alfa Romeo, after which he was brought in by Enzo Ferrari's dream factory. The 250 GTO, which has now become a priceless art, was his main project here. Smaller projects have been devised and cobbled together. But in 1961, due to a difference of opinion, Giotto could no longer go through one door with Enzo himself. Then you don't have much to look for in the stables of the prancing horse. Through a short stopover at Lamborghini (revenge on your ex with her best friend) he came into contact with Rizo Rivolta, with whom he developed the Iso Grifo. The man gradually had a nice CV to submit.

Hardcore

But Rivolta and Bizzarrini also did not fall in love with banns. The ideas varied quite a bit about what a supercar should be. Or can. Rivolta mainly saw a highway-consuming Grand Tourer. Bizzarrini dreamed of a Corsa: a pure racer for the wealthy guts. The final Iso Grifo, signed by Giugiaro, was presented in both variants: the hardcore Grifo A3 / C and the much more comfortable A3 / L 2 + 2. But Bizzarrini's race hunger was not satisfied yet. The A3 / C was of course his favorite version, but it was still too soft, too neat. In Maik de Boer. He further developed and constructed a two-seater street racer, redrawn by Giugiaro. Thus the world was finally improved with the arrival of the 5300 GT. At least it became a lot nicer on our planet.

Trustworthy

After the death of Rizo Rivolta in 1965, Bizzarrini, after considerable loyalty, acquired the rights and patents of the Iso brand. His long cherished dream now became reality: from now on, the essentially beautiful 5300 GT rolled out like Bizzarrini. It was now a supercar brand. Typically Italian, just like its competitors. But with one big difference: in addition to being unrealistically beautiful, the Strada was also unbelievably reliable, compared to its rather delicate and hypersensitive competitors. They were equipped with beautiful but delicate technology. That had to be pampered and everything had to be okay to keep the extremely beautiful whole. Not the 5300 GT. Under his stunningly beautiful bodywork, fantastic technology was hidden. Certainly not in a futuristic or innovative sense, but the mounted American eight-cylinder 5,4 liter with 365 hp was cheap, powerful, easy to implement, easy to maintain and above all reliable. Very different from his iconic countrymen, who were only prepared to perform fully if they were completely pampered and were spared any deprivation. Those Italian prodigies grew old and poor when they were not carried on their hands.

Race capacities

The Bizzarrini 5300 GT could take a beating and had an almost non-Italian endurance. Moreover, Giotto had put together all his talents fabulously well. The Corvette engine was exceptionally far back in the front. The distributor hood, for example, could only be reached through a hatch in the dashboard. This placement was a nightmare for the mechanic, a hell for thermophobic drivers, but a blessing for weight distribution. It was almost perfect. Assisted by the independent wheel suspension, a De Dion rear axle and the placement of the tanks in the middle of the short chassis, this resulted in a phenomenal road holding and provided the 5300 GT with true racing capabilities. It brought the brutal Bizzarrini almost effortlessly to a top speed of 235 km / h and well within 7 seconds the 100 km / h was reached. Nobody had to be ashamed of it and 133 lucky ones did not. So many were built between 1965 and 1968 and just as many times Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati held their breath. Another customer who became king in Livorno ...