The 1991 Bitter Tasco Prototype and Its Chrysler V10 Ambition

Cross-Continental Ambition - Automotive history tends to spotlight production legends, yet some of the boldest ideas live in prototypes that never reached the road. In the early 1990s—an era shaped by recession, cautious investors, and rapidly evolving performance technology—one ambitious project quietly attempted to merge European grand touring sophistication with raw American engineering. That project was the 1991 Bitter Tasco Prototype, built around Chrysler’s then-upcoming V10 powerplant and driven by the restless vision behind the Bitter Tasco Concept. 

The 1991 Bitter Tasco Prototype built around Chrysler’s then-upcoming V10 powerplant and driven by the restless vision behind the Bitter Tasco Concept.. (Picture from: TraumAutoArchiv.de)

The man at the center of this story was Erich Bitter, a former racing driver who transitioned into crafting exclusive grand tourers under Erich Bitter Automobil GmbH. His earlier successes, including the Bitter CD and the Bitter SC, followed a clear formula: elegant European styling layered over dependable Opel and GM mechanical foundations. By the beginning of the 1990s, however, Bitter wanted to break from the front-engine tradition that had defined his brand. He envisioned a mid-engined grand tourer—something that could rival exotic supercars while maintaining everyday usability and long-distance comfort. 

The 1991 Bitter Tasco Prototype embodied early-1990s supercar ambition with sharp, angular surfacing, wide planted proportions, large gullwing-style glass doors, and a modular roof system with removable panels that added further complexity. (Picture from: TraumAutoArchiv.de)

To bring this vision to life, Bitter collaborated with Opel for design support and American Sunroof Corporation (ASC) for engineering and fabrication expertise. The mechanical heart of the Tasco was intended to be Chrysler’s new 8.0-liter V10—an engine still in pre-production development at the time and later introduced publicly in the Dodge Viper RT/10. Although the Viper had not yet launched when the Tasco debuted, ASC’s involvement in Viper development gave the project access to the upcoming powertrain. In production Viper form, the V10 produced around 400 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. While no official documentation confirms the exact configuration installed—or fully installed—in the Tasco prototype, the chassis and engineering layout were clearly designed to accommodate that V10 architecture. 

The 1991 Bitter Tasco Prototype marked a dramatic shift for Bitter, adopting a mid-mounted engine positioned behind the driver and supported by a custom tubular spaceframe chassis. (Picture from: TraumAutoArchiv.de)

Structurally, the Tasco marked a dramatic shift for Bitter. The engine was positioned behind the driver in a mid-mounted layout, supported by a custom tubular spaceframe chassis. Estimated weight ranged between roughly 3,300 and 3,600 pounds, placing it firmly within serious performance territory. Visually, the car embodied early-1990s supercar ambition: sharp, angular surfacing; wide, planted proportions; and large gullwing-style glass doors that gave it theatrical presence. A modular roof system with removable panels added further complexity. Although the show versions lacked a fully developed interior and, at certain exhibitions, a complete running drivetrain, the concept targeted a balance of luxury and high performance—blending supercar stance with grand touring comfort.

The 1991 Bitter Tasco Prototype was engineered around Chrysler’s new 8.0-liter V10, which was still in pre-production development at the time and later debuted publicly in the Dodge Viper RT/10.. (Picture from: TraumAutoArchiv.de)

The Tasco made its primary public debut at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show, presented as a forward-looking German-American hybrid. It also appeared at the Frankfurt Auto Show, where it was shown in non-running form, without a finished interior or operational suspension setup. Behind the scenes, financing became the decisive obstacle. Bitter sought backing from a Japanese firm involved in Formula One circles, and prototype construction was handled in Coventry by specialists connected to British motorsport engineering. But as the global economy slipped into recession, funding evaporated. Without large-scale manufacturing capability or secured investment, the Tasco’s path to production quietly closed before it could gain momentum. | ydw3mdbzYbA |

Today, the sole completed Bitter Tasco prototype survives as a static exhibit at the Coventry Transport Museum, repainted from its original greenish fiberglass finish into a bluish metallic tone and wearing subtle cosmetic differences from its early show form. A second unfinished chassis reportedly changed hands privately in the early 1990s, though no verified reports confirm it ever became roadworthy. Even as a one-off, the Tasco remains historically intriguing. Years before mid-engined American supercars became part of mainstream performance conversations, Erich Bitter imagined a V10-powered grand tourer that crossed borders in both engineering and identity. Its production dream may have faded, but its ambition still feels remarkably aligned with today’s global approach to performance design. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HOTCARS | TRAUMAUTOARCHIV ]

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