First Bizzarrini 5300 GT Corsa Revival prototype initiates on-road testing
Bizzarrini’s 5300 GT revival project is now into its next phase of development
One of the biggest names in Italian motoring is being brought back to life through a new revival program based right here in the UK. Bizzarrini, a company initially formed by the iconic Italian engineer partly responsible for cars like the Ferrari 250 GTO and 250 Breadvan, not to mention the V12 engine that formed the core of Lamborghini’s supercar range for the best part of 50 years, is staging a revival of its 5300 GT road and race car initially developed in Italy’s golden age of supercar design and development.
Despite its Italian origins, the company’s revival model is actually being designed, developed and manufactured right here in the UK by the company’s current proprietors, using original drawings paired to the latest cutting-edge digital technology to create a series of no more than 24 units that are able to be FIA approved for historic competition racing.
The car’s structure is built by the same methods as the 1963 original, with a light and strong tubular steel frame forming the car’s core chassis, with a modern six-point internal roll cage built right in. The Giugiaro-designed bodywork is once again made from composite, rather than rolled aluminium, itself taking its design from the Corsa variant as opposed to the Stradale which was launched a year later in 1964.
The original Bizzarrini 5300 GT’s pairing of Italian engineering and design with American firepower also continues here, with a 5300cc pushrod V8 fitted under the composite skin, fitted with Weber 45 DCOE carburetors. The engine is proposed to generate between 400-450bhp, which should provide plenty of motivation for the 1250kg target weight. There have been some concessions to originality, with the brakes and an independent rear suspension layout updated to a modern specification, so too the safety fuel-cell.
Each of the 24 units will be built to individual specification, but during the research and development process, Bizzarrini was able to track down its take on the iconic Rosso Corsa paint colour, typically one associated with Ferrari. Just like British Racing Green, there is no precise colour mix that’s associated with the colour as it was used on various Italian racing cars from different companies.
Bizzarrini did this after finding an original painted panel without any damage from sun exposure. It was then able to precisely colour match this hue to create an original Bizzarrini colour that’s now been applied to this first prototype.
With the build process now well underway, the first customer car is expected to reach its owner in May 2022. Costings haven’t been confirmed, but given the amount of bespoke fabrication going into each and every build we’d imagine it won’t come cheap – although it’s almost certainly a big discount on an original.
