Chassis No. IA30289
Engine No. 97890AV0823HD

In May 2023, automotive enthusiasts worldwide mourned the loss of Giotto Bizzarrini, a transformative figure in Italian the automotive industry responsible for some of the most influential engines and cars of the 1960s. Initially working with Alfa Romeo and then Ferrari, he played a pivotal role in the creation of the fabled Ferrari 250 GTO, a follow-up to his work on the 250 GT SWB. Despite his significant contributions, Bizzarrini's career at Ferrari ended during Ferrari's “Night of the Long Knives,” which saw Bizzarrini found Società Autostar in 1962 where he continued to innovate. Notably, the firm developed a dual overhead-cam V12 engine for Ferruccio Lamborghini which Sant'Agata would continue to produce for five decades.

Bizzarrini's influence didn't stop there. Iso Autoveicoli Chairman Renzo Rivolta duly enlisted Bizzarrini to design luxury GTs, including the Iso Grifo, which laid the groundwork for the cars that would soon bear his name. Bizzarrini's engine expertise wasn't required, as the company decided to follow the trend set by De Tomaso of combining an American V8 with Italian design. Bizzarrini instead concentrated on developing the cars' advanced pressed-steel chassis, de Dion rear suspension, double-wishbone front suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes. This resulted in the creation of the street-oriented A3/L (Lusso or luxury) and the race-focused A3/C (Corsa or race) versions, with the aluminum-bodied Iso A3/C racer in particular serving as the foundation for the Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada.

Produced under his own company, Prototipi Bizzarrini, the 5300 GT Strada (Street) retained the ultra-wide, low-slung design of the A3/C Grifo originally penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone and featured a front-mid-mounted Corvette-sourced 'small block' engine producing 365 CV. Placed as far back over the front axle as possible for near-perfect weight distribution, it was paired with a BorgWarner four-speed manual transmission and a limited slip differential. Lightweight competition variants of the 5300 GT Strada proved highly competitive, claiming second in class at the Nürburgring 1000 Kms and 14th overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1964; however, financial difficulties would prevent Bizzarrini from mounting the full-scale assault on Le Mans that he had envisioned. In 1969, Bizzarrini was forced to declare bankruptcy after producing just 133 cars in total.

This 1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada is currently presented in yellow over a black leather interior. It was first registered on 6 June 1968 and passed through a small handful of local owners as detailed in its included Italian registration records. In the 1990s, this example appeared on the radar of the late marque expert Jack Koobs de Hartog, who chronicled its provenance in his book, Bizzarrini: The Genius Behind Ferrari's Success. At the time, the car was finished in yellow over a tan Luppi leather interior. According to de Hartog, this car was registered to Luciano Mancini in Pisa at this point, who commissioned a full restoration to show car quality by Carrozzeria Auto Sport in Modena.

The consignor acquired this stunning Bizzarrini in 2014, although the car had sustained some damage to the coachwork around that time. It was subsequently entrusted to legendary Italian restoration experts Carrozzeria Zanasi in 2016 for a photo-documented restoration. This included a comprehensive work on the Bizzarrini's cosmetics including the front and side grilles, windshield and rear glass replacement, and chrome restoration. The transmission and numbers-matching engine were restored, and the suspension was inspected. Zanasi retrimmed the interior in black leather, pairing its long-term and eye-catching finish with a thoughtfully contrasted cockpit. The car's lights and steering wheel, which were not original, were also replaced.

This 1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada is offered today following a decade of current ownership in France. It is furnished with a robust history file highlighted by an album of photos from its skilled restoration from Zanasi and a copy of its entry in Jack Koobs de Hartog's authoritative registry. Rare, elegant, and restored under the care of Enzo Ferrari's preferred atelier, this 5300 GT Strada is a highly compelling example of one of the most celebrated marriages of Italian design and American performance.

Documents: French Certificat d'Immatriculation