From 91215 it may not look like much in the photo, but this 1967 intermeccanica omega is a very special car and with only 33 ever built, it deserves to be saved. Intermeccanica automobiles were made in turin italy by frank reisner and is now located in canada where they currently produce porsche 356 speedster replicas. Paula reisner frank reisner, a hungarianborn, american educated chemical engineer, turned a youthful passion for cars into one of the most famous small production sports car building companies in the world. Intermeccanica italia design critique and minihistory. History of the 19671972 intermeccanica italia we apologize, but no model history was found for this vehicle. It should be said that a lot of intermeccanica related material published over the years in magazines, blogs, or even books has really not been properly researched. Its sleek styling is credited to franco scaglione and robert cumberford, while frank reisner designed the chassis, later including some changes suggested by formula 1 engineer john crosthwaite. This combination was only fitted to the first 24 torinos and its suggested in the book by the founders of intermeccanica that this enginegearbox batch was made available to them following a cancelled order from the shelby cobra program. Nov 21, 2011 in the coming years, the only vestiges of the many manufacturing industries that once defined the southeast false creek area will be found in history books and museum exhibits. Regarding the dutch book on the history of intermeccanica they were certainly correct about the history of intermeccanica being long and complicated. All pictures of intermeccanica italia convertible classic motors, classic cars, vintage bikes, vintage. This is the same engine found in k code mustangs and is much sought after. Find the italia, apollo, and intermeccanica restoration parts.
Intermeccanica formally construzione automobili intermeccanica is an automobile manufacturer, founded in torino, italy, in 1959 by frank reisner. Intermeccanica speedster and roadster owners from all over north america have met for a summer weekend of motoring for years, but this sundayos barbecue at the sports car makeros vancouver shop. Home store company catalogue galleries stories marketplace links contact. These numbers were genuinely fast at the time, in fact theyre still quick by much more modern standards. The story of the prancing bull is a fascinating life lead by the reisner family and its incredible journey of fleeing tyranny from naziism to its kissing cousin communism,and then ending up in a prosperous italy which was to later sadly become in the 70s like much of the rest of europe and sadly the world militant and prolabor radicalof couse we see how well the e. Whatever intermeccanica was, it was an extension of reisners imagination and drive. Net says 600 were made and the production run ran from 1967 to 1973. Looking for the intermeccanica italia of your dreams. Reisner used the same subcontractors that other companies did ive got a great shot of one of the body subcontractors working on the production apollo buck sitting on the chassis built by milt brown with alfa 2600 spyder body shells in the. It subsequently moved first to the united states, then to canada, and is currently headed by franks son, henry reisner. The intermeccanica italia was fitted with a 300 hp, 351 cubic inch ford windsor v8 engine acted to a 4speed manual transmission, it was good for a 062 mph time of 6. That was the models second production year and reisner had come a good distance from where he began in 1959.
Classics on autotrader has listings for new and used intermeccanica italia classics for sale near you. A friend and i were viewing the cars displayed outdoors when a particular car caught my eye. The intermeccanica omega was among the most attractive and potent italianamerican hybrids of the 1960s and 1970s. Mccredie hustles the book along chapter by chapter in car and chronological order.
Book intermeccanica story of the prancing bull history cars sports car builder. Intermeccanica installed fords 289 cui hipo v8 into the torino, giving it both power and durability. Intermeccanica italia design critique and minihistory anybody. Founded in 1959 as construzione automobili intermeccanica in turin, italy by a. While peripheral to the intermeccanica story, ford fans should know that reisner had something to do with a oneoff 1965 mustang estate wagon that is shown below. Intermeccanica italia for sale hemmings motor news.
The intermeccanica italia spyder was among the most attractive and potent italianamerican hybrids of the 1960s and 1970s, and its sleek styling and sophisticated chassis made for a great combo. An italianamerican hybrid, the car was styled by franco scaglioni, handbuilt entirely from steel in italy, and powered by a chevrolet corvette 327ci 5. Intermeccanica the story of the prancing bull 2nd edition. Intermeccanica enthusiasts club find information on the.
An excellent book on a very small and unique auto manufacturer from italy. My first awareness of the existence of the intermeccanica italia came my freshman year in college automobile quarterly vol. The story of the prancing bull is an exciting, top pick for any collection strong in sports car history and culture. The splendid example of the rare intermeccanica italia spyder offered here was completed at the torinobased works in may of 1969. Next came the torino, which was later renamed italia. Intermeccanica news newspapers books scholar jstor december 2009 learn how and when to remove this. The story of the prancing bull mccredie, andrew, reisner, paula. Buy intermeccanica the story of the prancing bull first edition by reisner, paula, mccredie, andrew isbn.
The intermeccanica italia has a strong collector following thanks to a fascinating history, ties to ford motor company and scaglietti, as well as for its thundering performance. This 1971 italia spyder is a very attractive and very well sorted example of intermeccanicas most successful model. Its body was designed by franco staglione, the first years intermeccanica built a convertible later on a couple of coupes were built. The hagerty classic car valuation tool is designed to help you learn how to value your 1968 intermeccanica italia and assess the current state of the classic car market. Any of you who have visited intermeccanica in the last decade or more will know that we have had an original intermeccanica italia at the shop. The history of sports car maker intermeccanica published for the first time. Ultrarare v8 coupe which we test in the uk italian rarebit franco scagliones very last design, the littleknown intermeccanica indra is not just beautiful but surprisingly mature to drive, too, as we discover behind the wheel of an ultrarare ukbased.
See more ideas about classic cars, car and swiss cars. Intermeccanica enthusiasts club provides information on the italia, indra, squire, griffith, apollo and omega. Bring a trailer auctions is the best place to buy and sell vintage and classic vehicles porsche, bmw, land rover, and more. The intermeccanica came into being in 1959 when the construzione automobili intermeccanica was founded by frank reisner in turin, italy. Intermeccanica italia spyder theres been a lot of guys who go up against ferrari, trying to build an exotic car that has all of the visual appeal of a ferrari but an engine thats dirt cheap to fix.
The italia may be one of the most gorgeouslystyled cars ever made, but you may never have heard of it. Sandwiched between frank reisners griffith and torino italia models, the highperformance intermeccanica omega is as rare as it gets, with only 33 thirty three examples completed, ever. Finished in a striking shade of dark metallic red, this italia spyder once belonged to the famed jeopardy. Production began after a long series of events including name, ownership and engineering changes. Intermeccanica italia model intermeccanica italia introduced in 1968, manufactured up to 1971, the car belonging to sports car sizeclass and s sport cars market segment, available as. The first car was a formula junior singleseater using a peugeot engine, in 1960, which was followed by 21 aluminiumbodied intermeccanica puch imp 500 ccengined cars, of which one won at the nurburgring larger american v8 engines were used in the apollo gt, of which 88 cars were made for international motor cars, from 1961 to 1965. The general consensus was that approximately 500 italias were made from 196672 supercars. Intermeccanica italia model intermeccanica italia introduced in 1968, manufactured up to 1971, the car belonging to sports car sizeclass and s sport cars market segment, available as notchback coupe, convertible.
The intermeccanica italia spyder shown here this italia spyder you see here was previously owned by jeopardy host alex trebek, it also has the distinction of having been ordered with air conditioning from new a relative rarity for an italia. Italian convertible sports cars the intermeccanica italia. Jan 09, 2015 update 1915 this omega is back on ebay with a new seller and a higher starting bid. Under the hood is a reliable, highrevving, 271 hp ford 289 high performance v8 mated to a fourspeed manual transmission. Needless to say, the sleek lines of the car really caught my eye. The italia et al, when assembled by intermeccanica, is an intermeccanica. More importantly, and the reason behind this revised 2018 edition of a book. A rare opportunity in the intermeccanica preowned market to own a modern liquid cooled intermeccanica roadster.
Prices 3 photos 3 model italia 3 year range 1960s 2 1970s 1 custom year range to. From the imp to the apollo, to the griffith to the omega, italia and indra, he interviews many of. There are currently 3 intermeccanica italia cars as well as thousands of other iconic classic and collectors cars for sale on classic driver. The the never ending story part 2 is now ready for your reading pleasure. They started with the leftover griffith, which was the same as the apollo before it a car intermeccanica designed. Make intermeccanica 3 seller type dealer 3 only show ads with. It should be said that a lot of intermeccanicarelated material published over the years in magazines, blogs, or even books has really not been properly researched. The porsche 356a lookalikes frank reisners intermeccanica. Italia apollo and intermeccanica replacement parts italia. Intermeccanica originally purchased this italia to become the basis for a design for a new italia project for us to custom build.
Early on, as an engineer he wanted to build sports cars in italy so he and his wife relocated to italy. The 1969 intermeccanica italia spyder featured here is finished in stunning rosso red with a gorgeous black leather interior. Update 1915 this omega is back on ebay with a new seller and a higher starting bid. Intermeccanica originally purchased this italia to become the basis for a design for a new italia. This engine was rated at a respectable 271 hp and gave this italian plenty of power. The hagerty classic car valuation tool is designed to help you learn how to value your 1969 intermeccanica italia and assess the current state of the classic car market. Quotations in this section are courtesy of andrew mccredies book the story of. Aug 21, 2012 intermeccanica installed fords 289 cui hipo v8 into the torino, giving it both power and durability. Italia apollo and intermeccanica replacement parts. This can probably explain why the italianamerican hybrid isnt more well known, but does little to hide the cars italian flair. It was so stunningly beautiful and yet practical with its american powertrain it became seared into my brain as the car i would have to someday own. I remember i was disappointed that he did not appear in the book to be that concerned early on to. It combines italian style with american engineering, so it possesses many of the attributes of an exotic. This beautiful top of the line roadster with only 9000 miles features an audivw 2.
Intermeccanica formally construzione automobili intermeccanica is an automobile manufacturer, founded in torino, italy, in. Dec 10, 2014 the sports cars built by the tiny construzione automobili intermeccanica company in turin looked fairly similar over the years. They started, building race cars in 1959 the same year as detomaso incorporated calling their firm construzione automobili intermeccanica in italy. Omegas all steel body was manufacured by the oldworld craftsmen at carozzeria automobili intermeccanica. The italia may be one of the most gorgeouslystyled cars ever made. Its especially been complicated by all the misinformation that has been published, and i think they might have contributed to this. It is an attractive and usable sports car that has the cachet of a hand built italian body along with an easily serviced american power plant. Beautifully restored example only 28,125 actual miles. From modest beginnings based in the automotive mecca of turin, italy throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, intermeccanica conceived, designed and produced a dozen different models that shook the. From modest beginnings based in the automotive mecca of turin, italy throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, intermeccanica conceived, designed and produced a dozen different models that shook the motoring world and went on to find homes in museums and collections from europe to the united states to japan. The story of the prancing bull by andrew mccredie and paula reisner 2010, hardcover. That was more or less the history of intermeccanica, they would be doing good and then some larger company would come along and fowl up their plans. Upon the arrival of the italian sports car, chicago newspapers were plastered.
Dec 18, 2017 the intermeccanica italia spyder shown here this italia spyder you see here was previously owned by jeopardy host alex trebek, it also has the distinction of having been ordered with air conditioning from new a relative rarity for an italia. Goliath story that spans half a century and three continents and tells of frank reisner, who defied the odds to keep an amazing auto company in business. Frank reisner, a hungarianborn, american educated chemical engineer, turned a youthful passion for cars into one of the most famous small production sports car building companies in the world. Intermeccanica italia spyder history these exotics used a sporting italian chassis and handmade body penned by robert cumberford. The italia was eventually produced as both a coupe and a very. That was more or less the history of intermeccanica, they would be doing. New second edition by andrew mccredie and paula reisner 2018, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Quotations in this section are courtesy of andrew mccredies book the story of the prancing bull which recounts the rich history of sports car manufacturer, intermeccanica mccredie, andrew. Selling a 1967 intermeccanica italia frank reisner had founded construzione automobil intermeccanica eight years earlier when the 1967 intermeccanica italia was released. Intermeccanica the story of the prancing bull, mccredie. The story of the prancing bull, a book by andrew mccredie and paula reisner. Intermeccanica the story of the prancing bull by andrew mccredie isbn. This engine proved so strong that it was used as the starting point for the shelby. This 1971 italia spyder is a very attractive and very well sorted example of intermeccanica s most successful model.
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