One of the 1960s weird looking Lamborghinis

Weird ONES As a coachbuilder company, Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera has a very good business relationship with Automobili Lamborghini, because the Lamborghini 350 GT, which we know as the first car to come out of those Italian bull cage was the result of their work in 1964.

The Lamborghini 400 GT Flying Star II is worked by a Milan-based coachbuilder, Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera in the 1965. (Picture from: LamboCars)

The Milan-based automotive company was founded by Felice Bianchi Anderloni in 1926, and has become renowned for its beautiful design and patented 'superleggera' construction method. Unfortunately its age was not long, the company went out of business in 1966.

The Lamborghini 400 GT Flying Star II is built based on the 400 GT chassis has been shortened of 10 cm. (Picture from: CarStyling.ru)

Before going out of business, the Milan-based company had time to show their two new cars, namely the Fiat 124 Convertible, and the Lamborghini 400 GT Flying Star II at the 1966 Turin Auto Show.

If you look closely, it turns out that the Carrozzeria Touring-made 400 GT Flying Star II was contemporaneous with the Lamborghini 3500 GTZ which was built by another Milan-based coachbuilder company, Carrozzeria Zagato whose design was done by Ercole Spada, because both were built in 1965.

The Lamborghini 400 GT Flying Star II appears with angular body lines, as well as a controversial roof design, making it look like a station wagon rather than a sports car. (Picture from: CarStyling.ru)

The Flying Star II car project was carried out by a team led by Carlo Anderloni, son of the founder of the Touring company. The car is built on a chassis that is 10 cm shorter than the 400 GT standard version. The car is powered by a front-mounted V12 engine coupled with 5-speed all-synchromesh differential which capable spewing out 320 hp of power and torque of 276 lbs.ft.

In general the car shape is unique, strange, and unusual. As quoted of CarStyling.ru, the Lamborghini Flying Star II appears with angular body lines, as well as a controversial roof design, making it look like a station wagon rather than a sports car (or known as a shooting brake). Besides that, the size is disproportionate and very large if it is intended for only two people inside the car plus their luggages.

The Lamborghini 400 GT Flying Star II is powerd by a front-mounted V12 engine coupled with 5-speed all-synchromesh differential. (Picture from: CarStyling.ru)

Of course, the appearance like that was beyond expectations of Ferrucio Lamborghini and the other board of directors. They thought that's a bad and dissapointed results. When presented at the Touring's factory, the Flying Star II appeared using Borrani's 15-inches wire wheels, but when it appeared at the Turin Auto Show were replaced with the new cast magnesium alloy wheels of Campagnolo.

Although that's a disappointing result, but it's remained to be recorded in the production log-books as the last car design that came out of the Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera before closed the doors in 1966. After four decades the company in hibernation periods, so then in the 2006 the Milan-based coachbuilder company was revived.

And in 2008, Carrozzeria Touring again introduced its masterpiece creation called the A8GCS Berlinetta at the Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance event that year as a prototype of a V8-engined supercar under the trident emblem of Maserati. That's a phenomenal work and crowned as 'the most beautiful supercar of the year' at the Automobile International Festival 2009 held in Paris. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LAMBOCARS | SHARONOV | CARSTYLING.RU | SUPERCARS.NET ]

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Here she is the fabulous Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 'Visione'

Beautiful ONES It seems nowadays many good automotive designs be forgotten in a second. It could be happened due to there're so many things affected onto it. Ranging from the complexity of safety rules and so on, which then determine what a designer can and cannot do in designing a vehicle. And even more sad, where not a few car makers who incidentally are big companies are actually more interested in pleasing their investors than the consumers.

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 'Visione' is designed to re-imagine the Alfa Romeo's legendary car with a a design that pleases the eye and suits the engine as well as the driver. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)

But something different happened half a century ago, when everything was still flowing naturally without being too shackled by the rules and money. Under such circumstances, Alfa Romeo managed to develop one of the most beautiful designs of all time, the road-going version of the Autodelta Tipo 33 sports prototype designed by the legendary Franco Scaglione. Later, it was translated into the real form of the Alfa Romeo Stradale 33 as many as 18 units by Carrozzeria Marazzi in between 1967 and 1969.

The front fascia of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 'Visione' is completed with the low-positioned scudetto grille is a pentagon with rounded edges and a beautiful graphite finish. It is visually connected with two elongated air intakes, with round LED fog lights looking like jewels. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)

As quoted of the Autoevolution, this is deliberately done by the Italian auto manufacturer, so that the racing technology that has been developed by them available to the public. As we have known, the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is powered by a 2.0-liter dual-overhead V8 engine with a flat-plane crankshaft. The engine is capable of spitting out power of up to 227 horsepower, allowing the 33 Stradale to accelerate from rest to 100 kph in less than 6 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 260 kph.

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 'Visione' concept's greenhouse is made in stunning proportions, provides great visibility for the driver, while showcasing the beautiful mid-mounted V8 engine. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)

Recently, the legendary 33 Stradale has again attracted the interest of a group of its lovers consisting of Andrea Castiglione, Steffen Hess, Marco Zafferana, Christian Schutz, and Sergio La Gattuta are worked along to re-imagine it into the three dimensions digital design study called the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 'Visione'.

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 'Visione' has a carbon-fibre splitter appears below the integrated bumper for a sharp look. The clamshell bonnet includes the whole front end. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)

The aim of the project was to retain the original model's distinctive-endurance style bodywork and design language while endowing the vehicle appearance with the more modern visual theme. The Stradale 33 Visione's design concept includes many interesting aesthetic influences from other Alfa Romeo's iconic 1960s supercars such as the Giulia Sprint GTA, the 33/2 Coupe concept car of 1969, and even the Alfa radial engined medium class bomber, Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero.

While at the rear of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 'Visione' is featured with the ultimate highlight is the central inlet with rounded edges, surrounded by LED taillights and added four exhaust tips flanking the transmission housing. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)

When you look at the appearance, the car concept's greenhouse is made in stunning proportions, then equipped with LED headlights and taillights, a video camera instead of the rearview mirror, a center lock wheel, and four exhaust tips flanking the transmission housing. Most likely it using a DCT instead of a good manual, the gearbox is directly connected to its V8 fierced engine which also can be seen by your eyes thanks to the transparant engine cover.

Unfortunately, until now the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale Visione remains a concept in the minds of its designers and will not change forever, because now the Italian automaker has other plans for a sporty crossover through its partnership with Groupe PSA.👽 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOEVOLUTION | CAREXPERT | HICONSUMPTION | BEHANCE ]

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Had You ever heard the Aguzzoli Condor sports car before?

Another ONES Have you heard the name Aguzzoli before? Well, if some of us today rarely ever know about it. This is natural, indeed that's name is uncommonly heard in the automotive world, though used on the unique shaped coupe of the 1960s called the Aguzzoli Condor.

Aguzzoli Condor MK2 is the second prototype race car designed by Franco Reggiani and built by Piero Drogo in the 1964 for the father and son of Parma businessman, Giovanni and Sergio Aguzzoli. (Picture from: AutoHistory.Blog.Hu)

According to Autohistory, the name is taken from the Parma businessmen father and son, Giovanni & Sergio Aguzzoli who had commissioned (some said) to Piero Drogo and friends to build the mentioned Condor sports car. Just for Ur info, Giovanni and Sergio Aguzzoli were wealthy petrolheads whose had made their fortune in the salami trades. At the same time, Sergio was known also the owner of Alfa Romeo dealer in Parma.

Aguzzoli Condor MK1 Aguzzi Condor MK2 is the first prototype race car built by Piero Drogo and Carrozzeria Nembo in the 1963 for the father and son of Parma businessman, Giovanni and Sergio Aguzzoli. (Picture from: Coachbuilt)

The story begins in the early of 1960s, when a former Ferrari test driver named Luigi Bertocco seek for the help of Giovanni and Sergio Aguzzoli to build the specifically mid-engined race car for him, because they are both considered to be able to provide financial support, and the car manufacturer connections at the same time.

Aguzzoli Condor MK1 is built using the Alfa Romeo SZ running gear on a tubular frame chassis and powered by a mid-mounted 4-cyl 1300cc engine linked to a Citroen DS19 gearbox. (Picture from: Coachbuilt)

Why did Bertocco insisted to make the such race car? Because Ferrari was too stubborn, conservative and would not built the mid-engined race car construction in the Formula One, eventhough in the circuits at the time, the Prancing Horse owned race cars looked overwhelmed by the might of the mid-engined construction ones.

Aguzzi Condor MK2 has unique bodywork designed by Franco Reggiani in the response to Aguzzoli’s request that the technical content be embedded in an artistic form. (Picture from: ClassicandCreationSportsCars)

In short, Aguzzoli agreed to give the financial supports to Bertocco in order to build the race car based on the mid-engined construction ideas with the fiberglass body mounted on the tubular frame chassis. To realize the race car, then Sergio Aguzzoli contacted Piero Drogo through his bussines connection to make the car design.

Aguzzoli Condor MK2 is debuted at the Geneva Show, in March of 1964, and was given a much more harmonious chestnut than its predecessor. (Picture from: DannataVintage)

Coincidentally, Piero Drogo is brought his old friend of Giorgio Neri and Luciano Bonacini, also known as Nembo (this trio formed the famous Ferrari Breadvan for Count Giovanni Volpi's Scuderia Serenissima racing team), them both was run a small carrozzeria and mechanic shop based in Modena, Italy, active from the late 1950s to around 1967. As the result, the Aguzzoli racing purpose car is only built as many as 2 units.

Aguzzoli Condor MK2 with Luigi Bertocco behind the wheels raced in various prestigious domestic racing events at that time, along with its predecessor, the Condor MK1. (Picture from: WheelsAge)

The first Aguzzoli race car was built and assembled in 1963 at the Modena-based Carrozzeria Nembo, which was soon referred to by everyone as Aguzzoli Condor MK1. The car built using the Alfa Romeo SZ running gear on a tubular frame chassis and powered by a mid-mounted 4-cyl 1300cc engine linked to a Citroen DS19 gearbox.

Aguzzoli Condor MK2 is built based on the mid-engined construction ideas with the fiberglass body mounted on the tubular frame chassis. (Picture from: ClassicandCreationSportsCars)

The first Aguzzoli Condor prototype had weighed of only 520 kilograms which theoretically had a top speed of 260 kph, and reportedly it had attracted the Alfa Romeo's attention to renew their racing division spectacularly and also promised to entrust the company's racing program to Aguzzoli. But then the wish was annulled by Alfa Romeo itself by sending the Alfa Romeo TZ racing cars made of the ex-Ferrari engineer, Carlo Chiti to the racing arena.

Aguzzoli Condor MK2's interior has two bucket seat, seeringwheel with simple dashboard such on the racing car in general. (Picture from: BellesItaliennes)

It did not necessarily make Aguzzoli give up, instead they then prepared a second prototype called Aguzzoli Condor MK2 in 1964 with its unique bodywork is designed by Franco Reggiani in the response to Aguzzoli’s request that the technical content be embedded in an artistic form. This time the MK2's chassis development process was carried out very quickly, and is powered by an TZ's twin-spark 1,600 cc engine, coupled with the Hewland's transaxle. Then all wrapped in a unique Piero Drogo made body.

Aguzzoli Condor MK2 is powered by an TZ's twin-spark 1,600 cc engine, coupled with the Hewland's transaxle. (Picture from: BellesItaliennes)

As the result, some of the features installed on the Condor MK2 such the ventilation shafts above the engine room and the hidden placement of radiator is preceded its time and were only introduced several years later. The Aguzzoli Condor MK2 is debuted at the Geneva Motor Show, in March of 1964, and was given a much more harmonious chestnut than its predecessor, and didn't stand out from the impressive sports cars of the era.

Aguzzoli Condor MK2 featured with the ventilation shafts above the engine room and the hidden placement of radiator is preceded its time. (Picture from: ClassicandCreationSportsCars)

The two Aguzzoli's race cars along together (with Luigi Bertocco was using the MK2 and its compatriot racer, Umberto Masetti behind the MK1's) went down in various prestigious domestic racing events at that time, with fairly successful results. Unfortunately in 1966, Aguzzoli withdrew from the race, due to a lack of sponsorship and technical problems that continued to cost money. 

Aguzzoli Condor MK2 has a beauty captivating appeal of an Italian-made sports car under the racing car construction and a pinch of secrets that surrounds all similarly unique cars. (Picture from: Perico001's Flickr)

Then Sergio Aguzzoli lended the cars to the private racers, among whom Domenico Lo Coco is managed to grab the runner-up titles in the high mountain racing and the Italian Formula 3 Championship, that's the Aguzzoli's cars best results achieved. By the end of season, the Aguzzoli Condor MK2 race car got into a garage where it dusted for years, and forgotten.

The above description might explained why the unknown and not very successful cars can be attractive. This is probably because it has all the beauty, captivating appeal of an Italian-made sports car under the racing car construction and a pinch of secrets that surrounds all similarly unique cars. Thus, the Aguzzoli's short wheelbase sports cars were once rejected by Alfa Romeo can become a legendary vehicle that is almost lost and forgotten by fans of the automotive world today. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOHISTORY.BLOG.HU | CLASSICANDCREATIONSPORTSCARS | COACHBUILT | MENUDEIMOTORI.EU ]

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