Itermeccanica Italia Spider rarer than Daytona Cobra Ghibli 351 V8 Borla AC

Description

You want a classically styled, incredibly rare, powerful roadster from the late 1960s early 1970s but you don’t want to spend $1,000,000 on an AC Shelby Cobra, or $18,000,000 on a 250 Ferrari Spider or a $3,000,000 on a Daytona Spider or perhaps $1,000,000 on a Maserati Ghibli Spyder?
You want a car designed by one of the greatest designers in automotive history and the designer of the car many consider the most beautiful car of all time, the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale: Franco Scaglione?

Then this might just be the car for you.There are more Daytonas, Ghiblis and Cobras than this car. Long before Ferrari built their Italia, a company in Torino, Italy began producing this Italia in the mid-1960s.

Scaglione designed the Italia as well as some of the greatest cars in history, including the most stunning trio of automobiles in a series ever made, the Alfa Romeo B.A.T.s, as well as the Giulietta Sprint and Sprint Speciale and many others Alfas. Scaglione then worked with Carlo Abarth and Porsche where he designed the Porsche 356 B Abarth Carrera GTL, the acclaimed design forerunner of the 911. Then Scaglione conceived the most desirable of all Lamborghinis, the Lamborghini 350 GTV, the very first Lamborghini.

Scaglione also designed the stunning ATS 2500 GT, Italy’s first mid-engine production road car and the car that just this past year won at the Quail event in Monterey, and the 1900 Skyline Sprint.

In 1967 Scaglione designed this car, the InterMeccanica Italia.
With this Italia you are not just buying a car...you are buying a rare piece of Italian art from a true Artisan.

The miles are believed to be original at just over 28k.

Rare factory equipped air conditioning.

Unlike the Maserati and Ferrari, this exotic Italian roadster has something in common with the Cobra—both cars use Ford V8s.Ford was the official engine supplier, providing its V8 engines for use in the limited production Italia.
This Italia features a spectacular color combination, one I fell in love with years ago when I saw a Ferrari 250 SWB on the grass at Pebble Beach (see pic below of Ferrari on lawn at Pebble) similarly configured.
Only 354 Italia spiders were ever constructed during a six-year period from the late 1960s to the early 70s, making this a Ferrari Daytona era car but much rarer than the Daytona.From 1968 on Ferrari produced 1,406 Daytonas, coupes and convertibles, nearly 4 times as many Daytonas were produced when compared to the Italia.

It is estimated there are approximately only 300 Italias, give or take, left in the world so you are unlikely to ever see one, even at your local cars and coffee or concours events.

According to the Italia registry this car was produced in 1969.
The Italia's styling is very similar, particularly from the side and rear profile, to the Ferrari Nembo Spyder designed by Tome Meade, a stunning multi-million Ferrari. (Pictured below.)

This car was previously last offered for sale by RM Auction more than a decade ago and their description is reproduced below.

This Italia features power windows and factory AC.
The body shows no signs of any rust or rust history.
I will paste the RM Description below, but for those who are unfamiliar with this car, the great thing about it is it provides true sexy Italian metal bodywork, designed and built by artisans in Turin Italy, with rugged and reliable classic American V8 power, a Ford 351 Cleveland V8.

So unlike Ferrari, Lamborghini or Maserati, you can run down to your local Pep Boys and buy a water pump or tune up kit or have Jiffy Lube change your oil.
In addition, a few tweaks to the Cleveland motor, the same engine found in the Pantera, and the Italia will simply blow the doors of a Daytona..
This car has a classic red exterior with a full tan interior, the most desirable color combination with a rare tan interior and it features all its original instruments.

I have started tinkering with the car. I’ve pulled the gas tank (which seems in fine condition) but ordered a new lightweight aluminum tank to reduce weight and ensure this car's V8 received perfectly clean fuel. You can see the gas tank in one of the photos.

I am also planning to put on an eight stack top of the line direct port injection system that looks like old school Webers but has modern fuel injection reliability.

In addition to the Borla injection system I have also purchased what is supposed to be the best engine management system and all the necessary sensors and wiring harnesses. I believe I paid about $8,000 for these components that will make the motor look amazing, make lots more power, run more efficiently and sound incredible.

In the pictures you'll also see the high performance fuel pump I have purchased, along with the Borla injection system and the engine management system.

I also pulled the radiator and will be installing a new custom made lightweight aluminum radiator, again to reduce weight and improve efficiency. I've also purchased to high flow Spal fans that flow more than 3300 CFMs to ensure the Italia runs cool.

I'm also on the brink of purchasing aluminum coil over shocks with adjustable spring height and shock stiffness. This will allow me to set the ride height to the perfect height aesthetically, while also fine tuning the handing and ride. I have not bought them yet.....but this is next on my agenda list.

The car is for sale but at the same time I realize this is an amazing car in terms of looks and performance. With a few tweaks this car is much faster than a Daytona and is much lighter and more powerful yet just as sexy looking. and for pennies on the dollar of what a Daytona costs.

Significantly, there are no rust issues with this car. The interior is as you can see in the photos in excellent condition. The body is super straight and the paint is good. There are a few chips here and there so this car is what I would call a good driver as opposed to a trailer queen.

I have not driven the car in years so what you see is what you get....although I have started playing with it, as noted above (e.g., aluminum radiator, Spal fans, etc.)

The engine is a 351 Cleveland with (I believe) a Ford toploader transmission and a 9" Ford rear end.

Sold AS IS

FROM THE RM AUCTION LISTING A FEW YEARS BACK

Specifications: c. 300 hp, 351 cu. in. Ford Cleveland V8, four-speed manual transmission, live rear axle, front and rear disc brakes with booster. Wheelbase: 94.5"
In 1959 chemical engineer Frank Reisner combined his fascination with automobiles and professional talents to establish Carrozzeria Automobile Intermeccanica. Born in Hungary in 1932 and raised in Canada, he raced sports cars and "specials" in the late fifties before moving to Italy. Here he designed a racing chassis for Giannini Automobile, Spa, Rome, but soon relocated to Turin to build speed equipment.
Over the next few years Reisner built numerous cars including the Apollo GT, which was based on Buick mechanicals, for International Motor Cars of San Francisco. These stylish Italian-bodied sports cars helped firmly establish Carrozzeria Intermeccanica as an automobile manufacturer, despite the fact 1963-65 production was limited to about one hundred units.
Other Intermeccanica models followed -- from one-off prototypes to the Corvair-powered Phoenix constructed for John Fitch. After a few sour arrangements Reisner was left with 142 completed chassis in Turin. He went to Ford and secured a steady supply of 289 cubic inch V8 engines (later Cleveland and Windsor 351 cubic inch V8s), and drivetrains for shipment back to his factory in Italy.
He arranged for a new distributor to sell his first true production car, the Torino, but in 1967 the similarly styled 5-liter, later the 5.7-litre Italia was unveiled. The Corvette-like Italia in Ferrari-inspired clothing sold well in America. Sports Car Graphic said in 1970, “…it has the potential to be the Ford Motor Company’s version of the ’Vette. And it’s a lot more exciting.” The 0-60mph time was 6.2 seconds.
This Italia is fitted with the rarely seen factory air conditioning and powered by the preferred Ford 351 cubic inch Cleveland V8 mated with a four-speed manual transmission. The engine is fitted with custom valve covers, a new Edelbrock 650cfm 4V carb and Edelbrock Performer intake manifold. Its recent freshening also included addition of a new electronic ignition, rebuilt front end, rebuilt front and rear disc brakes, new wiring harness, stainless steel exhaust system as well as a new fuel pump. The fuel system and lines, hoses and belts and much more have been inspected, repaired or replaced where necessary.
Riding on new tires mounted on vintage Magnum 500 wheels, this Italia in fresh Milano Russo paint mates the best of Italian design and American Muscle. The paintwork is in excellent condition as is its tan leather interior with black piping and tan cloth convertible top.
The dash and controls are all business, exemplifying the Italia’s supercar nature, while the leather seats, tan carpets and power windows are concessions to the Gran Turismo side of the Italia.
Approximately 354 Italia convertibles were built, which, in comparison to some far more expensive Ferrari models, is very few in number, making an Italia a truly rare American-powered, international supercar.