Time Machine: 1968 Bizzarrini Manta by ItalDesign - AllCarIndex

Time Machine: 1968 Bizzarrini Manta by ItalDesign

Mar 02, 2021

A research prototype produced in 1968 in a record-breaking time of 40 days so that it could be presented at the Turin Motor Show for that year. Built on a tubular frame chassis designed by Giotto Bizzarrini and a Chevrolet V8 engine, ike Manta marks Giugiaro's debut as an independent designer and is one of the forerunners of the single box car, with its constant curved side section. The passenger compartment has three seats with the driving position in the centre.

The Manta is particularly significant for Giugiaro as it was the first prototype he developed as an independent designer. At his debut in this new role, he chose the theme of a high-performance two-seater coupe typical of the traditions of the Turin body-maker. The absolute freedom of this new position led him to conceive the bold lines of a single-box coupe. The chassis at Giugiaro's disposal was the one the engineer Giotto Bizzarrini obtained by modifying a model of the Grip Competizione which had a tubular structure. Equipped with the suspension and kinematic motion of the rear-engined prototype, it has already been tried out at Le Mans and in other races. The front end view shows a very slanted windscreen (15°) which fits harmoniously into the union between the bonnet and the roof. Standing in front of the prototype, one can guess how the car's name comes from the 'pincer'-like appearance of the front end, which is reminiscent of the majestic fish. In the close driving position, a traditionally weak point in reduced-height sports cars, the exterior of the transparent surfaces below the level of the windscreen offers valid assistance.

The use of this solution is managed by the driver through three horizontal air-wings which can be positioned from the interior. Such a system introduces a personal touch without interrupting the windscreen-bonnet line. This is also an advantage when maintenance work must be done to the brake pumps, to the radiator, the batteries and the heating system. The air-wings provide adequate interior ventilation and the correct functioning of the heating system, but they are closed at high speed. The side view gives the impression of a marked aerodynamic-shape, recalling in fact the shape of a bullet. The windows, instead of ending at the cut of the front door, continue almost to the limit of the wheel arches. The smooth surface of the side is interrupted at the height of the rocker where a brushed aluminium grille is the only decoration, openly following the treatment carried out by Giugiaro on Bertone's Iso Grifo coupe, with a touch that allows its visual encumbrance to be lightened. The headlights are partially concealed by the bonnet that begins flush with the mudguard and continues, more recessed, as far as the windscreen base. The roof drops slightly towards the rear window almost horizontally, and this becomes even more obvious if one considers that the roll-bar is only 137mm higher than the sharp edge of the tail frame. The rear end is distinctive for the 4 groups of 5 louvres each which also contribute to reduce its impressiveness. The tail is truncated, cut very high, and it gives the car stability and a powerful appearance. In order to benefit visibility at the rear, an almost horizontal opening was added to the rear window of the roof panel in the upper part of the tail. This contrivance also allowed the engine comparment to be well ventilated. To give movement to the rear end, two exhaust pipes shoot out of the tail frame, one of them is false and allowed the side lights to be housed. The need to show up the sporting vocation of the car even advised against the use of bumpers. The two external side members, which run flush to the doors, and the tanks moved to the engine compartment, have allowed a flat central platform to be used leaving space for interior roominess. These structural contrivances, together with extra width (1855 mm) permitted three sporty looking seats to be housed. The driving position is central and the steering-wheel is strangely situated in an almost provocative way: it has a chalice-shaped structure which is deformable on impact. From above, by looking through the rear window, one can appreciate the powerful yet extraordinarily balanced architecture of the 8 cylinder engine. The Chevrolet V8 engine is mounted in a longitudinal rear position, immediately behind the seats. This lay-out is markedly different from that of the Bizzarrini series sports car with a front engine. The 4-speed injection mechanical engine, mounted as an experiment, delivers 400 bhp and it can push the prototype to a speed of 330 km per hour.

from that of the Bizzarrini series sports car with a front engine. The 4-speed injection mechanical engine, mounted as an experiment, delivers 400 bhp and it can push the prototype to a speed of 330 km per hour.

Dimensions (mm)

overall length: 4100

overall width: 1855

overall height: 1050

wheelbase: 2500

front track: 1470

rear track: 1484

front overhang: 870

rear overhang: 730

Text: based on original ItalDesign press release