1970 Intermeccanica Italia Roadster
Just a few weeks ago , we found a rare hardtop version of the Intermeccanica Italia and here we have a Intermeccanica Italia Roadster found in Marina Del Rey, California. Â These are beautiful cars that are gaining more attention. Â I have spotted these cars at high end restoration shops lately. Maybe its their time in the spotlight.
Contact: (390) 391-2376
Price $129,999 USD
Intermeccanica was established in 1959 by chemical engineer Frank Reisner and his wife, Paula, and their cars combined Italian artistry with an American powertrain. The Reisners were ardent car enthusiasts who loved sports cars and racing. They traveled to Europe and settled in Torino, Italy, where they opened their company and began manufacturing aftermarket speed kits. Their dream was to build beautiful performance cars. In 1967, after a series of name, ownership, and engineering changes within the company, the Reisners began production of the stunning Italia Spyder. The first Italias were exported to the United States in 1968. The cars were unlike anything else on the market and quickly gained the attention of discerning American car lovers. However, with limited production and a hefty price tag of $8,500, only the well-off could afford them. To many aficionados, the Intermeccanica Italia Spyder was an automotive masterpiece. The car?s ?prancing bull? badging was a gracious nod to Torinos coat of arms. Its styling, which was classic Italian with vintage Ferrari undertones, was elegant. Its performance was equally impressive; as it could reach 0? to 60-mph in 6.2 seconds and had a top speed of 155-mph, which was attained through a powerful and proven Ford V-8 engine. This particular Intermeccanica Italia Spyder is to be a largely correct example and is reported to retain its original engine, transmission, body and chassis. The Italia is powered by a 351-cid (Shelby Cobra) Windsor V-8 engine with the a four-speed manual transmission. The car has never been restored and has been in the same family ownership for 17 years. While the vehicle retains a new tan leather interior, the engine has been rebuilt within the last 6,000 miles and it recently received full body work and fresh paint. Other components original to the car include all lights, Jaeger gauges and switches. New wire wheels. The brakes have been fully rebuilt and is equipped with a new master cylinder. The car is equipped with air conditioning. The Italia?s steel body was hand-formed, and its chassis was made from tubular steel and is fully reinforced.
more info on Intermeccanica Italia’s From www.intermeccanica.org
A new project was started with Jack Griffith of Long Island, N.Y. for a larger production all steel car with more financing. Ex-BRM chassis designer John Crosthwaite, working as a consultant for Jack Griffith (and later for Frank Reisner on the Italia), designed the chassis for the Robert Cumberford shaped car called the Griffith GT. A Griffith was shown with a Plymouth 4.5-litre V8 engine at the 1966 New York Motor Show.
Tooling was built and production started. Around fourteen cars were shipped, when Jack Griffith’s company closed. A new customer, Steve Wilder, decided to take over the project, called the cars Omega and had them assembled by Holman and Moody in North Carolina. A total of 33 of these were delivered to the US.
It became obvious at this stage that the only way to pursue the construction of cars was if the cars left Italy fully assembled and running. In cooperation with an Italian bank, Credito Italiano, Intermeccanica found a distributor in Genser Forman of New Jersey, and finally production and sales reached the 100 to 120 cars per year level. These cars were Ford V8 powered, with Ford running gear.
Intermeccanica Italia Spyder The distribution was occasionally changed, but up until 1970 about 500 cars were built, first called Torino and later Italia. (Ford had the name ‘Torino’ registered). The Italia was eventually produced as both a coupe and a very successful convertible
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