Wild Italians of the 1970's

[Jim Ratto]

How about a discussion of Italian exotics and one-offs from the 1970's?

Here's one of my favorites, ever since childhood.... the Pininfarina Modulo, based on the the Ferrari 512S. It wasn't practical, in the sense of driving it, as with the front wheels enclosed, it could not be steered at severe angles. But it clearly displays the wedge theme that was all the rage at the time...

[Rennsurfer]

That's um... quite a car, Jim. Don't what to make of it, as of yet. My alltime fave car from Italia... the Miura. I'll take one in either orange, silver, or black. I'm not picky.

[Jim Ratto]

Here's another one, also showing the wedge profile that was at the forefront in the '70's.... This time the Maserati Bora, designed by Guigaro this time. The Bora came about after the semi-merger between Citroen and Maserati in the late '60's and was Maser's answer to the mid engine rage set forth by the Ford GT40, Lamborghini Miura and to a lesser extent the DeTomaso Pantera (and Mangusta). I like the Bora because it has a stubbier, meaner look to it than many other exotics of the era. It was powered by a big 4.9L DOHC V8 topped by 4 42mm DCNF Webers.

[Jim Ratto]

oh yeah, Mark.... of course, one of the Italian cars that fights for top spot in my personal faves... the Miura. And that car you posted isn't just a typical one either.... that's a replica of Bob Wallace's Jota, the special one-off lightweight Miura stripped of all the fluff (like there was much to begin with ) and stuffed with a super-tuned, race-spec 3.9L V12 running open-throated IDA3C Webers, special long-duration cams and an open header/megaphone exhaust. Nothing quite like the Miura since... my favorite version is probably the 'S', with subtle engine tuning changes, more refined interior, but not the later wide fenders and rear wheels (I sound like I've owned them..... duh... what a dork)

[Jim Ratto]

Here's a more sedate exotic from the 1970's, the Alfa Romeo Montreal. For an Alfa it was actually pretty extravagant. It started as a styling exercise in 1967 and began production 3 years later. Instead of the typical DOHC 4 cylinder Alfa motor, the Montreal was powered by a 2.6 liter 4-cam V8 that was based closely off the Tipo 33 V8 'Autodelta' racing engine, with plunger pump MFI.

[Rick Meredith]

Here's one of my favorites.

Italian style with American Muscle

[Fritter]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/b-0zJo5KIkI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/b-0zJo5KIkI</a>

[Jim Ratto]

My favorite of all mid engine Ferraris.... the 512 Boxer (carbureted version) and its predecessor the 365 Boxer.
Powered at first by 4.4L flat 12 fed by quartet of Weber IDA3C's, 380hp @ 7700rpm, then by a 4.9L flat 12 with slighty less hp but more torque. To me this is the best looking of the '70's Ferraris (and the last of the elegant, but menacing Ferraris ever), all the unique features of the Boxer make it timeless.... the peaked, muscular fender lines, the line dividing the upper and lower body, the carburetor-air box covers on engine cover, the turn-signals behind amber lenses, it all ties together on the Boxer spelling out brute power.

[Rennsurfer]

Excellent video selection, Mike. Thanks for sharing.

[ESH]

Italian exotica from the 70's? What if there was a club? I think the flyer would proabably read why not push your car along to a show sometime...

... Powered at first by 4.4L flat 12 fed by quartet of Weber IDA3C's, 380hp @ 7700rpm, then by a 4.9L flat 12 with slighty less hp but more torque ...

Not wishing to be overly picky but whilst it is 'flat' it's technically a horizontal (180 degree) V and the less said about Flat 12s on a 70s Ferrari thread the better I think?
 

... To me this is the best looking of the '70's Ferraris ...

I have to ask, have you still got a mullet?   

I was about to suggest the Dino 246 or the Daytona but they were born in the 60's like all the great Ferraris that weren't from the 50's. The Miura's a 60's baby too. Some of the 70's racing Ferraris were OK...





The Bora qualifies as it's from 71 as is the Pantera and I think both are pretty cool but what about the Lamborghini Countach? Flawed in many ways but it is a pretty good summary of all the things that make a 'Super Car'. I always liked the Race / Rally Lancia's and whilst I prefer earlier Beta and the Stratos in terms of looks the Beta Montecarlo Turbo was a monster and ceratinly fits the description 'wild'...



 

[javabug]

Pre-Pantera DeTomaso:



The Mangusta.  Also a Guigiaro effort.

[Rennsurfer]

WOW! That DeTomaso is sweet!

[speedwell]

when i was young ,i liked to play with my matchbox deTomaso pantera   
here's a very sexy bad ass 

[Rick Meredith]

Pre-Pantera DeTomaso:



The Mangusta.  Also a Guigiaro effort.

never saw one with that headlight configuration. They always ran quads.

[Nico86]

The beast 






One of my favs "position "   

[Jim Ratto]

Italian exotica from the 70's? What if there was a club? I think the flyer would proabably read why not push your car along to a show sometime...

... Powered at first by 4.4L flat 12 fed by quartet of Weber IDA3C's, 380hp @ 7700rpm, then by a 4.9L flat 12 with slighty less hp but more torque ...

Not wishing to be overly picky but whilst it is 'flat' it's technically a horizontal (180 degree) V and the less said about Flat 12s on a 70s Ferrari thread the better I think?
 

... To me this is the best looking of the '70's Ferraris ...

I have to ask, have you still got a mullet?   

I was about to suggest the Dino 246 or the Daytona but they were born in the 60's like all the great Ferraris that weren't from the 50's. The Miura's a 60's baby too. Some of the 70's racing Ferraris were OK...





The Bora qualifies as it's from 71 as is the Pantera and I think both are pretty cool but what about the Lamborghini Countach? Flawed in many ways but it is a pretty good summary of all the things that make a 'Super Car'. I always liked the Race / Rally Lancia's and whilst I prefer earlier Beta and the Stratos in terms of looks the Beta Montecarlo Turbo was a monster and ceratinly fits the description 'wild'...



 

...picky picky....  I can send you a baggie of hair of you like. 

Ok here's what is probably the best known (very) 70's Italian exotic.... the original Countach. I do admire the very early models, before they grew the sweaty chest hair, the clammy gold chains and the porn star mustache....oops I meant scoops, flares and wings. The early models have a very pure, but space-age look to them, and they're much faster than the later fat, bloated coke-mobiles of the late 70's-and 1980's. 

[ESH]

... picky picky ...

The devil's in the detail... 

... I can send you a baggie of hair of you like ...

I thought as much!

I know it's not Italian but are you a fan of that other 70's great the Triumph BL TR7?



You look at the two together and it's hard to tell why one was so much cheaper than the other.

... the original Countach. I do admire the very early models, before they grew the sweaty chest hair, the clammy gold chains and the porn star mustache....oops I meant scoops, flares and wings. The early models have a very pure, but space-age look to them, and they're much faster than the later fat, bloated coke-mobiles of the late 70's-and 1980's. 

You know, I think you were right first time, I don't know about wings but it certainly grew chest hair and a porn star mustache. It's like the Esprit, in terms of it's overall look, they got it right first time. Simple was certainly better. I think they're (the Countach), a masterpiece and I'm not a 'supercar' fan generally. Anyway after the horror of BL's output (which I apologise to Loungers for unreservedly) here's some more from Italy...







 

[Neil Davies]

[ It's like the Esprit, in terms of it's overall look, they got it right first time. Simple was certainly better.

I subscribe to Practical Performance Car magazine (www.ppcmag.co.uk), and a cover car a few months ago was an early Esprit with an Audi A8 motor. Very cool! Jim, I think you should really check out the magazine, I think some of the stuff in there is right up your street!

[Jim Ratto]

Thanks Neil, I will check that out!

The TR7? Ha ha ha ha .... funny you mention that "vehicle".... yesterday, here in South Calif, I actually saw one commuting yesterday morning.... I could not believe my eyes (under its own power even). I was further astonished when the car ame upon a stoplight and BOTH brake lights came on!

Ok, back to Italy.... 

[Jim Ratto]

Another car from Ferrucio's boys...  though not as outrageous as the Countach, the Jarama. Introduced in 1970 as the replacement for the quietly overshadowed Islero 2+2, the Jarama was supposed to be an ultra high performance 2+2 GT car, but high curb weight, poor interior design and questionable styling were its faults. I think it's angular, wedgy styling is actually pretty cool. Powered again by the ubiquitous 3.9L V12 fed by 6 40mm DCOE Webers making around 325hp. I love the early Lamborghini magnesium center lock wheels.

[speedwell]

jarama lambo rock 

[Rick Meredith]

Don't forget the Espada

[nicolas]

i was thinking the same Jim? i love those wheels as well. they have the same feeling as rudge wheels for me...  all very lovely i guess.

[sam P]

Great stuff, guys!

I learned to appreciate the angular/wedge designs of that era, especially the futuristic guigiaro-italdesign concepts.
It must have been quite a shock at the time; cars allways had fluid, round shapes, and then suddenly things got edgy, square and pointy. 

My favourite: Maserati boomerang (check out the dashboard!)

[sam P]

Based on the 914/6

Porsche tapiro concept

[speedwell]

that porsche is cool 

[Rick Meredith]

Looks like a love child from a DeLoreon and a Pantera 

[Jon]

I get a lot of inspiration from these old italian cars, and I have wanted XWX's and the Lamborghini wheels since the first looked closely at a Espada... The XWX are waiting in the basement and I could not believe my luck when I found these FPS wheels in Porsche pattern....  sorry for derailing the thread

[TiDi]

I like the 33!

1968 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale Coupe
coachwork by Scaglione/Marazzi.

here more pics
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z13550/Alfa_Romeo_Tipo_33_Stradale.aspx

[Lee.C]

Great stuff, guys!

I learned to appreciate the angular/wedge designs of that era, especially the futuristic guigiaro-italdesign concepts.
It must have been quite a shock at the time; cars allways had fluid, round shapes, and then suddenly things got edgy, square and pointy. 

My favourite: Maserati boomerang (check out the dashboard!)

NOW THAT IS COOOOOOOOOL - I love the dash/steering wheel - very "JET" 

The Porsche is pretty sick to - I would like to see it with those rear wheels all round