The Monteverdi Hai: The Rare Supercar the World Forgot

Hidden Roar - Every once in a while, automotive history surprises us with a rare creation—one that didn’t get the global spotlight it deserved but still left a powerful impression among true car enthusiasts. Such is the case with the Monteverdi Hai, a little-known Swiss supercar that blended exotic Italian flair with brutal American muscle, wrapped up in a story only a handful remember.

The 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450SS is the second car with the bodywork designed by Trevor Fiore. (Picture from: Coachbuild)

To understand the Hai, you first have to know the man behind it: Peter Monteverdi. Born in Switzerland, his journey into the world of fast cars began early. At just 17, he built his first car—an impressive feat by any standard. In his twenties, he wasn’t just wrenching on cars; he was racing them too. He founded his own team, MBM—Monteverdi Binningen Motors—and competed in international motorsports, driving cars he built himself. But a near-fatal crash in a Formula 1 event while behind the wheel of a Porsche-powered MBM car abruptly ended that chapter of his life.

The 1970 Monteverdi Hai 375S is the first 2-seater GT car is designed and bodied by Carrozzeria Fissore for Monteverdi, it also known as the first car used the unique name of Hai. (Picture from: Coachbuild)

Monteverdi then pivoted to the business side of automobiles, and he was remarkably successful. In the early 1960s, he established himself as a top-tier dealership owner, representing elite brands like Ferrari, BMW, Rolls-Royce, and Lancia. However, a disagreement with none other than Enzo Ferrari himself marked a turning point. No longer content with just selling other people’s cars, Monteverdi set out to build his own.

Peter Monteverdi is posed along with the 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450SS while attending at at the 1970 Geneva Auto Show. (Picture from: Monteverdi)

 

He began with grand tourers such as the 375S, followed by the 375SS, 375L, and eventually larger four-door models like the 375/4 and Sierra. But it was in 1970 that Monteverdi truly shocked the automotive world with something completely different: a mid-engined supercar called the Hai.

 

The name “Hai”—a cheeky nod to both the German word for “shark” and the informal English greeting “hi”—was chosen to grab attention. And it did. The first Hai, labeled #101 and known as the Monteverdi 375 S, made its debut at the 1970 Geneva Auto Show and immediately stirred excitement. It was never meant to be a production model but rather a statement piece, a car to show the world that Switzerland could build a world-class supercar.

The 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450SS is shown for the first time to public at at the 1970 Geneva Auto Show and managed to grab a great success. (Picture from: BDMClassicCars)

Its sleek, aggressive body was the work of Trevor Fiore, a British designer working for Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Fissore. The engine? Pure American firepower. Monteverdi stuffed a Chrysler Hemi V8 behind the driver, creating a beast that reportedly could hit 180 mph. Testers from Road Test magazine recorded 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while Automobile Quarterly managed 176 mph before running out of straight road.

Only one other version followed—the Monteverdi 450 SS (#102), which featured a slightly longer wheelbase. That was it. Despite the buzz, Monteverdi didn’t mass-produce the Hai. In fact, he deliberately turned down many requests to build more, believing the car’s extreme performance made it too dangerous for drivers without proper experience. He never compromised on that principle.

Inside of the 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450SS has the dashboard and center console featured with the original Behr A/C vents, Blaupunkt Koln radio, original gearshift knob, steering wheel and horn button. (Picture from: BDMClassicCars)

Years later, in the early 1990s, Monteverdi quietly built two more Hais using leftover parts. That brought the total number to just four, a micro-fleet of unicorns that only the most dedicated collectors would know about. Of the four, three are safely kept in the Monteverdi Museum. The fourth stands out for two reasons: it’s the only one in private hands, and it’s the only one fitted with the original "Hemi" engine.

The 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450SS is powered by a mid-mounted 7 liter V8 Hemi engine couple with 4-speed manual gearbox, which claimed able to be driven up to a top speed of 180 mph. (Picture from: BDMClassicCars)

In 2006, this unique Hai underwent a meticulous restoration to return it to its original Geneva Auto Show appearance. Under layers of paint, restorers uncovered the original “Purple Smoke” color Peter Monteverdi had specified himself. Chrome accents on the windshield and side moldings were brought back to life. Inside, details were revived down to the smallest elements—off-white door panels with chrome strips, black armrests and carpets, and the signature dashboard layout. Even the Behr A/C vents, Blaupunkt Köln radio, gearshift knob, horn button, and steering wheel were returned to their factory positions.

The 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450SS is wore its original 1970 Geneva Auto Show exterior color scheme of "Purple Smoke" (as originally described by Peter Monteverdi and also found underneath more recent resprays) and chrome windshield and side glass moldings. (Picture from: Coachbuild)

This restored Hai didn’t just sit hidden away—it made appearances at Pebble Beach, the prestigious Concours d’Elegance. First, in 1989, it was shown in a copper metallic shade with a tan interior. Then, again in 2006, it returned in its revived Purple Smoke livery and earned 3rd place in the “Mid-Engined Show Cars, Prototypes & Concept Cars” category—proof that even decades later, the Hai could still impress. 

Although Peter Monteverdi passed away in 1998 at the age of 65, his vision lives on through cars like the Hai. Built not to follow trends or chase profits, but simply to express bold, uncompromising automotive ambition, the Hai remains a mysterious and captivating part of automotive history. It's not a car you see in a museum brochure or a mainstream car show, and that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating. Quietly, it stands as a symbol of what can happen when one man's dream is given wheels—and an engine that growls. *** [EKA [12072021] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MONTEVERDI | BDMCLASSICCARS | COACHBUILD ]

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