Yesterday, I posted a pic which made a tongue-in-cheek reference to a car’s size relative to the human who might drive it:
…and while this Alfa Berlina is not a small car, others of the era certainly are, even though if viewed without some perspective they might seem quite large.
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about.
I have always loved the concept of Bizzarrini cars: their breathtaking design, their powerful (American) engines and of course, the astounding automotive engineering skill of Giotto Bizzarrini himself.
Here’s the 1967 Bizzarrini 5300 Strada model:
Now I think we can all agree that this is a gorgeous car, and the 400bhp Corvette engine under the hood doesn’t hurt its appeal, either. The problem is that the long hood makes the car look quite big — “Corvette big”, even — but when put into perspective, the Strada is anything but:
Now that we’ve established the actual size of the thing, here’s a trio of different Bizzarini Strada models and colors:
…and its interior isn’t at all displeasing:
Finally, allow me to show you the Strada’s racing stablemate, the P538 (which won its class at Le Mans in 1965 and placed ninth overall):
It is not good for this old man’s heart to look upon such things. I think the word is “palpitations”, and I got ’em.
To be a young man and have joints that actually worked so that I could get in and out of those cars. Today I don’t want to call for the Jaws of Life every time I want to take a ride so a red neck F150 fits my arthritic old body lots better. If I’m feeling really adventurous I put the transmission in “sport” mode and watch the shift points change by 100 rpm or so.
…and your fuel gauge needle drop as the rev counter needle climbs. BTDT.
Back in college I dated a woman who had a Triumph Spitfire. Understand that, at 5’11”, my in-shape weight was still somewhat north of 200 lbs, and I looked at that car and said “No way am I fitting in that without a shoehorn”. Still, I stepped DOWN from the curb and got in, and found it surprisingly roomy although I felt like my feet were RIGHT behind the front bumper.
Today I’d need a come-along (am I the last person who still calls it that?) and A-frame to get my fat ass out of such a car.
Yep to all above, I like my F-150 getting in and out and being able to see traffic ahead and behind and my wife’s 4-Runner is not too bad but when I occasionally ride in a smaller car I feel like I am sliding along the pavement which is strange because for years I owned Brit sports cars and in those funny, fun vehicles the ground clearance was rather low and your butt was on a seat that was about four inches above the floor pan with legs sticking straight out in front. No way I would want to drive any of those little things on any major expressway full of large trucks but I am old and not so bold any more.
Speaking of American muscle + European design, here’s a nice ride I’d never heard of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-WfbppXkyk&t=252s
I’d take a Monteverdi over just about any Ferrari of the time.
For me, it was always a toss-up between a Monteverdi, and a Facel-Vega;
with extra points for the Swiss car because Hollywood never discovered it.
But, Ferraris are Ferraris!
You need a picture of the Alfa 1750 GTA fastback to go with that Berlina. It also had the aluminum body – which I found out the hard way after I had purchased it and taken it to the local paint shop to be stripped and repainted…
I’m surprised that with the vigor Ferrari defends its out-of-production car designs no one has attempted a fiberglass kit car version of a Bizzarini. They’re certainly every bit as sexy as Ferraris.
Cool cars that I’d never fit in.
If I squeezed into the convertibles, I’d look like a bear riding a go cart.
Beautiful car but my God! Just looked up the price for one. 1.9 million to 2 million for one.