Bizzarrini Manta in Road&Track #3/69

Vadim: I'm afraid it's not true that there is an article about the Bizzarrini Manta in the March 1969 issue of Road & Track. There is a picture of the car on the cover of the magazine, and there is a 7 page article about Giugiaro (with one small picture of the Manta).

 

log onto ************** and search for it and you will find pics from last years villa d'este

Gary
espada
8394

 

Here's what it says in R&T February 1969, in the Turin Show report:

"Strongest rival to Pininfarina and Bertone for the Carrozzeria stakes at Turin was undoubtedly the Bizzarrini Manta. This is the latest design by Giorgetto Giugiaro, late of Ghia, who has set himself up in Turin as an independent design consultant under the name of Ital Design. In the Manta prototype, based on the Chevrolet mid-engined Bizzarrini 538 which ran at Le Mans (though scarcely con the successo the blurb claimed), Giugiaro has taken the plunge and got rid of the bonnet altogether, merging the letter-box nose with the screen and the roof in one firm, rising line. The tail cuts off pleasantly with a rising curve from below, but the bold simplicity is spoiled by the Miura-style lateral slats in front of the screen, and a pointless row of holes running below the doors from front to rear. The driver sits centrally (no hand signals) with a passenger seat each side of him, which may not be ideal or even necessary, while it certainly over-widens the car. Forward visibility can't be too good, and fixed side windows could be horribly claustrophobic. Giugiaro's solution may not be perfect, but at least he's had a go at the bonnet problem."

 

Manta is very interesting car. This car is for three people and the driver sit in the midel of the car like McLaren.

Please can someone scan the cover of the R&T magazine?

 

Here you go. My copy is a bit shelf-worn.

Edit: Cover photo credit to Geoff Goddard.
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The writer reviews the car as if it was going to go on sale to the public, yet it was never intended to be a production car. The Manta was built to introduce Ital Design ( Giugiaro's new design business) to the world.

The Manta was not build from the LeMans P538 . The reality is that Bizzarrini gave or traded Giugiaro some P538 parts,but most were used parts that Bizzarrini couldn't resale or race with.

Still a great design

 

More recent images of the Manta after the restoration. It was amazing that when sitting in the Manta your field of view out the windshield was mainly through those slats below the cowl.
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The Manta will be at Concorso Italiano this year along with many other Bizzarrini's celebrating 45 years of Bizzarrini.

 

the restoration looks incredible....well done!

 

I believe Jack, he has spent a lot of time with Giotto.

As you may know there were two styles of construction on the P538.

Even Iso/Biz experts that I know understand that frame of the Manta is much different than a standard P538.

 

No, just his Archivist...Studio Manager......Car Detailer........Guy Friday

Scott Williamson / Photodesign Studios is the studio that did the photography

 

We shot these for the owner in September 2005

 

Jack Koobs De Hartog

Here are a few shots of Ron working on it in Monterey.

in restoration.
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it's coloring is VERY similar to the Miura roadster restored by Bobileff...just sayin'

 

this one...oops sorry for the lame tiny photos :/
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Nobody known exactly, even Giotto don t remember, then ...

 

Giugiaro knows.