Guys, I thought I would share some pics of a very rare semi-Italian car that we are doing some work on. It's a Monteverdi 375/4 with body by Fissore. I'm familiar with the two door version but had never even seen a picture of the four door. Although we don't advertise it, we do wood work and not just carbon fiber. For the 375/L we're going to be doing some interior resotartion. I think the car looks amazing myself. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
In case people are unfamiliar with Monteverdi. He also produced four mid-engined HAI 450 SS, Powered by a Chrysler 426 Hemi. (No affliation) also body by Fissore Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Here's a couple of interior shots. Note there is actually no wood..... we'll actually be doing a little reversable customization. I was pretty surprised at how crude the dash is. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I saw this car for sale in the showroom of the Vintage Car Store, in New York, back about 1977ish. It was drop dead gorgeous. It wouldn't surprise me if it now belongs to the same guy that has the Hai on consignment at (or sold to) Fantasy Junction. It's wonderful to see that someone has maintained it so well over the years. Thanks so much for posting the pictures. More would be greatly appreciated.
The 375/4 is in Europe today but you never know where it was before. There was an article on this Hai in Classic&Sports Car a few years ago. I forgot the verdict but it was something like 'amazing but needed development'. But then they only made what three or four?
Nice car i saw one at Monteverdi in 1979. We only have one Monteverdi in Sweden. Best regards, Magnus Andersson Sweden
Elegant looking exterior design. Interior seems a bit autere. Wood dash add ons should add a bit of elegance to match the exterior. Would love to see on-going pictures of the work you are going to perform. Alberto
I have driven a few Monteverdi's and all the ones I drove had big wooden dashes that look like they were designed in a high school wood class. You sit in this big tunnel looking down the long hood, gobs of power, but the handling reminded me of driving an old sixties station wagon.
When I was at boarding school in Gruyeres Switzerland around 1977-78 another kid was dropped off by his parents in a navy blue 375/4 and I stood a few feet away staring (was about 14) and the school head master said Marc don't drool on the car! LOL
So I take it the all vynil (or leather) dash of this example is not normal? (I've never seen one in the flesh). Alberto
We've been given the go-ahead to do some work with the car. It will take a few weeks but I hope to have some pictures of the work as we go.
Tjaarda did the De Tomaso Deauville around the same time; IMHO a much better and more timeless design. There's a story to it that deserves its' own thread. As an aside, I cannot believe that this dash would be original to the car.
I looked around for a picture of the dash on another 375/4, and this is all I could find right away. This one appears to be the same as on our featured car (with extra gauges on console). The dash on the regular 375L 2-door is completely different, and somewhat nicer. Image Unavailable, Please Login
There used to be a nice 375L in Anacortes WA I would see from time to time as I drove through for the ferry. Just thought I would mention it for the other Washingtonians I see have posted in the thread. It's dash was wood.
Somewhere around 35 years ago, there was a Monteverdi 375 advertised for sale in the Sunday Seattle Times. That's something you don't see every day! IIRC, it was over east of Kent, around Lake Youngs. I really wanted to go see it, but I didn't. Could it have ended up in Anacortes? Sure, why not?
Simon, I did say the car is semi-Italian. I think that since the car's body is by Fissore makes it worth including here. I'm enough of a car guy to know Monteverdi is a Swiss marque. But then the engine is American. Hummm.... where does that leave it?
I would be suprised if that wasn't it. As Spasso said, small world. edit: The Anacortes car was for sale a little less than 10 yrs ago. It was the one I had seen many times. I looked at the on line listing and lusted, but didn't have the money.