Sbarro Autobau Concept: A Weird Yet Fascinating One-Off Creation

Defiant Masterpiece - When people talk about cars, they usually mention familiar names—Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche. These brands dominate posters, headlines, and dreams. But every once in a while, the automotive world produces something so unusual that it almost feels like it doesn’t belong on the same road. That’s exactly the case with one of the strangest and boldest concept cars ever revealed: the Sbarro Autobau.

The Sbarro Autobau made its public debut while sitting proudly on display at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, instantly drawing attention from enthusiasts who were both fascinated and puzzled by its unusual presence. (Picture from: Autoblog)

The year was 2010, and at the Geneva Motor Show, crowds expected to see polished innovations from industry giants. Instead, they also stumbled upon a curious machine that didn’t follow the usual script. The Autobau wasn’t just another shiny prototype meant to hint at future production. It was more personal, more eccentric, and almost rebellious. Created by the visionary Franco Sbarro, this car was a one-off tribute to his close friend, Fredy Lienhard, a Swiss racing driver who had famously won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2002. Unlike the usual business-driven concepts, this one was rooted in friendship and admiration.

The Sbarro Autobau does not feature conventional doors like ordinary cars, but instead uses a dramatic cockpit design that tilts forward as a single hydraulic unit, turning entry into the cabin into an event of its own. (Picture from: Sbarro.Phcalvet.fr)

Even the message shared in the official booklet gave the car a poetic layer. Sbarro wrote that Autobau was meant to honor Lienhard not only for his victories on the track but also for his achievements in life. He hoped the car would capture that same sense of fireworks and passion that defined Lienhard’s career. It wasn’t about market trends or practicality—it was about emotion on four wheels. 

The Sbarro Autobau stands out with a design that refuses to follow convention, looking somewhat similar to Lamborghini’s wild Egoista through its stingray-like front and two closely positioned intakes. (Picture from: Autoblog)

Looking at the Autobau, it’s hard not to pause in confusion. The design refuses to follow any familiar pattern. From the front, it echoes the spirit of Lamborghini’s Egoista—a radical single-seater concept—its body almost stingray-like with two closely set intakes staring forward. Were they meant purely for aerodynamics? Nobody ever clarified. Along the sides, odd trims run from the A-pillar to the C-pillar, adding more mystery than function. And forget about traditional doors—this car has none. Instead, the entire roof rises hydraulically, making the simple act of climbing inside feel like part of the show.

The Sbarro Autobau carries its theatrical character into the cabin, where red Alcantara clashes with black metal in a sharp, almost aggressive mix that feels less like luxury and more like a machine determined not to blend in. (Picture from: Autoblog)

Inside, the drama continues. Red Alcantara meets black metal in a sharp, almost aggressive combination. It feels less like a luxury car and more like a machine that wants to keep reminding you that it isn’t meant to blend in. Move to the back and you’ll see more oddities: four exhaust pipes jutting out with the flair of racing cars from the 1970s, while strange spoiler-like elements frame the rear with no clear function. The Autobau leaves you constantly guessing what is form and what is function—and perhaps that’s the point. 

Beneath its eccentric body, the Sbarro Autobau hides a serious heart in the form of a Ferrari V12 engine producing around 500 horsepower, a detail that instantly shifts it from being dismissed as a toy to being recognized as a machine with genuine performance credentials. (Picture from: Autoblog)

But underneath its eccentric body lies something undeniably serious. The car is powered by a Ferrari V12 engine producing around 500 horsepower. That single detail changes everything, reminding anyone tempted to dismiss it as a toy that this is a machine with real performance credentials. Unfortunately, Sbarro never revealed much more about the engine setup, and maybe that mystery is part of what keeps the Autobau fascinating even today.

The Sbarro Autobau reveals even more oddities at the rear, with four exhaust pipes jutting out like 1970s racing cars and strange spoiler-like elements of uncertain purpose, leaving you wondering what is form and what is function—and perhaps that is exactly the point. (Picture from: Autoblog)

What makes this car stand out isn’t just its shape or its power—it’s the fact that it ignores the rules. Most concepts are tied to future production goals, marketing strategies, or technology showcases. The Autobau was none of those. It was built for passion, to honor a friend, and to show that cars can still surprise us when they’re freed from commercial logic. It’s a car that feels like an art piece on wheels, something you admire not because it makes sense, but because it dares to exist.

More than a decade after its first appearance, the Sbarro Autobau still sparks curiosity. It remains one of those rare creations that doesn’t fit into categories, a reminder that cars don’t always have to be rational or even beautiful to leave an impression. Sometimes, the strangest designs carry the most interesting stories—and the Autobau is proof that when friendship, creativity, and engineering collide, the result can be something truly unforgettable. *** [EKA [14102017] | SBARRO.PHCALVET.FR | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOBLOG | GTPLANET ]

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