Bizzarrini P538
| 1967 Bizzarrini P538 |
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Bizzarrini's advanced ideas emerged again with the superb Bizzarrini P538S, P for posteriore, 53 for the 5300 cc Corvette engine, 8 for 8V engine and S for Sportcar. The first V-12 car was ordered by USA racer Mike Gammino.
This ultra low barchetta raced in the 1966 Le Mans and was entered in 67 even but did not start. In 1966, after a spin at the very start line, it lasted less than a half an hour. Officially three or four chassis were originally built in period, but a total of ten (or more) chassis are in existence. At least two of these are Lamborghini V12 powered. These V12 powered cars were truly the long waited Bizzarrini dream: his own engine and own chassis.
In 1968, Giugiaro rebodied one of the P538 as the famous Bizzarrini Manta. Now it resides in Sweden. Some of the P538S replicas or re-editions were built in the late 70's and 80's by Salvatore Diomante, Bizzarrini's partner, using DeTomaso Pantera chassis and Ford V8 engine.
The P538 was a rear-engined race car launched in 1966 by the Bizzarrini company of Italy. It used a 4.0 L Lamborghini V12 engine producing 450 hp (335 kW) at 10,000 rpm. A ZF 5-speed manual transmission was specified, as was four wheel disc brakes and a fully independent suspension. The body was made of fiberglass with a steel chassis.
| New Bizzarrini P538 prototype |
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