Forgotten Gems - For many of us, the world of motorsport history often highlights the giants—Ferrari, Porsche, Alfa Romeo—leaving many unsung stories buried beneath the roar of the mainstream. But every now and then, an obscure name resurfaces, hinting at a tale filled with ambition, rebellion, and ingenuity. One of those names is Aguzzoli, and behind it lies a creation so distinct, so full of character, it deserves to be remembered: the Aguzzoli Condor.
The Aguzzoli Condor MK2 was a 1964 prototype race car commissioned by Giovanni and Sergio Aguzzoli, designed by Franco Reggiani and built by Piero Drogo with a focus on both performance and artistic form.(Picture from: AutoHistory.Blog.Hu)
Heritage Reimagined - Every once in a while, the automotive world produces a car that isn’t meant to fit into a showroom or even a racetrack, but to spark imagination and showcase what’s possible when history, design, and engineering collide. For Buick, that spark came in 2003 with the creation of the Blackhawk Concept, a car that honored the company’s centennial while borrowing inspiration from its past and daring to reimagine it for the modern era.
The Blackhawk was never just another concept. It was a rolling celebration of Buick’s identity, with its roots tied to the legendary 1938 Y-Job, the industry’s first concept car. Where the Y-Job symbolized a bold step into the future for its time, the Blackhawk was more of a tribute—an intentional nod to Buick’s legacy, but infused with muscle and modern technology. Michael E. Doble, then serving as Buick’s special vehicles manager, envisioned something extraordinary for the brand’s 100-year milestone. He turned to Steven Pasteiner, a former Buick designer and founder of Advanced Automotive Technologies in Michigan, to bring that vision to life. Pasteiner had worked with Buick since the 1960s, making him the perfect bridge between the brand’s heritage and its new centennial showpiece.
The 2003 Buick Blackhawk concept crafted by Steven Pasteiner, built based on a 1996 Buick Riviera. (Picture from: HemmingsDaily)
What makes the Blackhawk so compelling is the way it was pieced together. At its core, the car began as a 1996 Buick Riviera, but Pasteiner kept little more than its VIN and interior. The rest was transformed into something entirely different. The underpinnings were completely re-engineered with a scratchbuilt front-engine, rear-wheel-drive chassis stretched to a 129-inch wheelbase. Corvette-sourced independent suspension systems were added to give it proper handling, while a powerhouse engine ensured it had performance to match its dramatic looks. Under the hood sat a reimagined 1970 Buick 455 V8, retrofitted with electronic fuel injection and tuned to deliver 463 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Coupled with a 4L80E four-speed automatic transmission, the Blackhawkcould reportedly dash from 0 to 60 mph in under five seconds—a serious figure even by today’s standards.
Interior view of the 2003 Buick Blackhawk concept. (Picture from: Carscoops)
The styling was equally audacious. Pasteiner pulled elements from Buick’s greatest hits, blending them together like a designer remix. A bold 1939 Buick grille anchored the front, while sheetmetal from 1941 and 1948 Roadmasters added classic flair. Hidden headlights gave a direct nod to the Y-Job, and a carbon fiber hardtop introduced modern sophistication. Despite all these changes, the 1996 Riviera’s interior was kept, grounding the Blackhawk in a familiar sense of comfort.
Left side view of the 2003 Buick Blackhawk concept has a retractable convertible with styling from the ‘30s.(Picture from: HemmingsDaily)
Unlike many concepts that tour international auto shows, the Blackhawk was aimed at a different audience. Buick took it straight to enthusiast gatherings, where the crowds were already deeply passionate about the brand’s history. For them, it wasn’t a flashy hot rod with oversized wheels and chrome, but rather a thoughtfully reimagined Buick that celebrated design evolution. Its cultural footprint grew even further when Hollywood picked it up—Will Smith famously drove the Blackhawk in Bad Boys II, cementing its cool factor beyond the car enthusiast world.
Rear side view of the 2003 Buick Blackhawk concept.(Picture from: HemmingsDaily)
Eventually, the Blackhawk returned home to Detroit, finding a place at the GM Heritage Center, a sort of museum for the company’s most important vehicles. But times were tough. In 2009, during the recession, GM put several of its Heritage Center vehicles up for sale, and the Blackhawk was one of them. For a car that was built to embody Buick’s 100-year journey, its fate carried a bittersweet edge.
Today, the Blackhawk remains a reminder of what can happen when a company looks back at its history not with nostalgia alone, but with creativity and ambition. It was never about mass production or sales figures. Instead, it served as proof that a brand’s past can be reinvented into something bold and new—a philosophy that still resonates with car designers and enthusiasts alike. For Buick, the Blackhawk wasn’t just a concept car; it was a time machine on wheels, blending decades of style with the power and innovation that keep the spirit of driving alive. (See similar concept car.)*** [EKA [09062015][03092021] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HEMMINGS DAILY | CARSCOOPS | CONCEPTCARZ | WIERDWHEELS ]
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Rolling Fantasy - Indeed, in the 1950s to the late 1960s, automotive enthusiasts around the world—especially in America and Europe—were treated to a golden age of imagination. Car shows weren’t just exhibitions; they were playgrounds of futuristic fantasies. Walking through rows of concept vehicles, visitors often found themselves stunned, mumbling phrases like, "What is that?" or wondering aloud if these radical creations could actually run like normal cars. It was a time when car design knew no limits, and nothing embodied this spirit more than one of the rarest and most extravagant automotive creations of the era: the 1960 DiDia 150.
Currently, the 1960 DiDia 150 sat on display at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Minnesota after donated by its owner Bobby Darrin in 1970. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
This car wasn’t born in a corporate design studio or crafted by a legendary carmaker. Instead, it was the vision of Andy DiDia—a fashion designer, not an automotive engineer—who spent seven painstaking years bringing this dream machine to life. From 1953 to 1960, he invested not just effort, but also a jaw-dropping $93,647 into the project, an amount that would translate to a fortune today. But this was never about money—it was about building a car that looked like nothing else on the road.
The 1960 DiDia 150, a unique-shaped dream car built by Andrew 'Andy' Di Dia for seven years long time and cost of $93,647. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)
And DiDia absolutely succeeded. The DiDia 150 is more than just a car—it’s a moving sculpture. Clad in a deep, metallic red finish made from no fewer than 30 layers of paint mixed with real diamond dust for extra sparkle, it instantly draws attention. Its body, hand-formed from soft aluminum, flows with curves and angles that resemble something more airborne than land-based. Its oversized tail fin—more commonly found on boats or aircraft fuselages—stands as a bold signature, declaring this is not just a car, but a flight of fancy frozen in metal.
The 1960 DiDia 150 is originally powered by a 365 cubic-inch Cadillac engine, later replaced by a 427 cubic-inch high-performance Ford engine. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)
The innovations didn’t stop at the surface. The car featured hidden headlights and swiveling taillights that moved as the car turned, further enhancing its dramatic flair. Its interior was just as ambitious, if not more. There are four plush seats, each complete with its own ashtray, cigarette lighter, and built-in radio speakers—luxuries that felt borderline futuristic at the time. The dashboard was a spectacle on its own, equipped with large aircraft-style levers to control the heating, air conditioning, and defroster. It was less like sitting in a car and more like stepping into a private jet’s cockpit.😁
Inside the cabin of the DiDia 150 has squared steering wheel resembling a superellipse and there's a row of large levers like those of an airplane to control the air conditioning, heating and defroster on the dashboard. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)
The design quirks kept coming. A glass-covered rear cockpit and a squared-off steering wheel that mimicked the shape of a superellipse added to the feeling that theDiDia 150 was designed not just to transport, but to mesmerize. Built on a 125-inch wheelbase, it originally ran on a 365 cubic-inch Cadillac engine. However, in later years, it received a serious upgrade with a high-performance 427 cubic-inch Ford engine—giving this visual marvel the power to match its presence.
The 1960 DiDia 150 is featured in a metallic red color that is made of 30 layers of paint with real diamonds sparkled. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)
Only one DiDia 150 was ever made, making it as exclusive as it is eccentric. Its sole example eventually caught the eye of Bobby Darin, a popular singer and actor of the time. Darin didn’t just drive it—he showcased it in films and appearances, further fueling its mythos. Eventually, he gifted the car to the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1970, where it remains preserved as a symbol of unrestrained creativity in automotive history.
The DiDia 150 was never meant to blend in—it was made to stand out, to challenge perceptions, and to celebrate what could happen when passion overrides practicality. In an age where cars are often shaped by wind tunnels and algorithms, it's refreshing to look back at something so wildly imaginative. The DiDia 150 isn’t just a car; it’s a dream on wheels—a reminder that sometimes the best ideas come from outside the garage. *** [EKA [17102020] [10112021] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CONCEPTCARZ | WIKIPEDIA ]
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Radical Concept Apparently gloomy days have also been experienced by a well-known automotive company like Bugatti. In the 1960s, the Molsheim-based company had declared bankrupt and should ceased production for a long time before revived back in the 1980s. The idea of Bugatti’s revival was initially proposed by none other than Ferruccio Lamborghini together with ex-Lamborghini engineer and designer Paolo Stanzani to Romano Artioli.
The most radical proposed design concept for the Bugatti EB110 called Bugatti 110 PM1 by Paolo Martin in 1989. (Picture from: SportscarDigest)
This happened when Ferruccio wanted to start another project after selling his raging-bull logoed company in 1981. At that time Romano Artioli was known widely as a Bugatti collector, turn out also had a personal ambition to establish a company worthy of Ettore Bugatti’s legacy, Bugatti macaron, and the horseshoe grille. And made the initial idea to estabilish a new brand changed into a wildly ambitious plan to revive one of the all-time great auto marques.
The wooden maquette of the Bugatti 110 PM1 posed along with its creator Paolo Martin at the Turin Auto Show 1991. (Picture from: Carstbatnevermadeitetc)
Disagreement with Artioli’s ambition to go huge from the very start, then prompted Ferruccio Lamborghini retreated. Following the dispute, Artioli and Stanzani soon started working on a draft to acquire the Bugatti brand. After successfully acquiring the brand, they teamed up with like-minded enthusiast, automotive historian Jean-Marc Borel founded a holding company called Bugatti International in Luxembourg in 1987.
The Bugatti 110 PM1 featured with a panoramic windshield and a floating rear wing integrated within
the diagonal character line starting behind the front wheels. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)
Borel was managing the holding, while Ettore’s youngest son Michel Bugatti was among the board of directors. Romano Artioli himself led the Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. while 35% of the Bugatti International holding was held by Tecnostile, a highly regarded independent engineering company employing former Lamborghini personnel. In short to strategically place Bugatti at the center of the supercar industry, the company then established a modern production facility in Campogalliano, the outskirts of Modena.
It is interesting that in the Paolo Martin's design appears to reference the Luigi Colani’s extraordinary Lamborghini Miura Le Mans Concept of 1970. (Picture from: SportscarDigest)
In early days of this newly
resurrected auto brand the man in charges leading the project was Paolo
Stanzani together with Tecnostile, envisioning the underpinnings of the
car. Both Artioli, Stanzani, and the principal Tecnostile team of Achille Bevini, Tiziano Benedetti, and Oliviero Pedrazzi
agreed that the car had to go beyond the well-established concept
boundaries of the time, namely the mid-engined V12 supercar. Still, the
team spoke from experience, as they developed the chassis and the engine
of the Lamborghini Miura.
The Bugatti 110 PM1's design revolved around aerodynamic efficiency, but it proved to be too
far-out and definitely not elegant enough to be considered for
production. (Picture from: SportscarDigest)
In the car design later known as the forerunner of the Bugatti EB110, apart from involving its own designer team, the company also invited several well-known designers at the time such as Giorgietto Giugiaro, Paolo Martin, Marcello Gandini, and Nuccio Bertone to create the looks of the upcoming car. A quartet of accomplished designers returned their vision for the future Bugatti and each was special in its own right.
The Bugatti 110 PM1 concept sat on display as a wooden maquette at the the 65th Turin International Motor Show in 1991. (Picture from: Bestinsketch.it)
After some time ago we had discussed Giorgietto Giugiaro' designed car called the Bugatti ID90 Concept. Well, now we will discuss about the most radical proposal came from Paolo Martin (a former Pininfarina designer) who created a unique prototype called the Bugatti 110 PM1 in the 1989.
The Bugatti 110 PM1 concept shown as a model of sports car in 1: 1 scale and made entirely of wood. A structure whose shape exceeds the stylistic value. (Picture from: SportscarDigest)
The car appears in such an unusual shape with a panoramic windshield and a floating rear wing integrated within the diagonal character line starting behind the front wheels. Meanwhile, Bugatti 110 PM1 was a single seater sports car controlled by a joystick and “paddles” rather than a steering wheel. It
is interesting that in the Paolo Martin's design appears to reference
the Luigi Colani’s extraordinary Lamborghini Miura Le Mans Conceptof 1970.
The Bugatti 110 PM1 concept has a single-seater cabin consists of a capsule
in which the steering wheel is replaced by two handwheels located on
the arm rests, for a more ergonomic ride. (Picture from: Carstbatnevermadeitetc)
The designer said that the philosophy of the project was
essentially to create two distinct areas, that of traction and strength
tied to earth and that of the living cell with aerial shape and ideally
detached from the body. Inside its capsule cabin consists only one-seater in which the steering
wheel is replaced by two handwheels located on the arm rests, for a more
ergonomic ride. For safety, the driver has a four-point anchor belt
that incorporates an abdominal airbag.
For safety, the Bugatti 110 PM1 driver has a four-point anchor belt that incorporates an abdominal airbag. (Picture from: Carstbatnevermadeitetc)
Although they had made in a 1:4 scale model but this project reportedly did not run smoothly, due to the design proved to be too far-out and definitely not elegant enough to be considered for production and later the project was cancelled.😩
The Bugatti 110 PM1 concept in any case a reality resolved in a traditional way and presented so simply, to reawaken that intimate sense of taste and charm that always accompanies a valid work for a long time. (Picture from: SportscarDigest)
Furthermore, in 1991 this project had back on the track after Joshiro Kitami, a Japanese businessman was interested in it and wanted to revived the Ford Cobra's brand in which he had investments. Even in that time the designer had executed its polystyrene model to start engineering, but unfortunately this operation back to fail due to financial problems.😭
The Bugatti PM1 Concept known as a single-seater supercar made entirely of wood while sat on display at the National Automobile Museum (Il Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile) in early year of 2016. (Picture from: la Repubblica)
It made the designer then switched to build a 1:1 scale model out of wood. Finally, the wooden maquette of Bugatti 110 PM1 (only bodywork) finished and shown to the public for the first time at the the 65th Turin International Motor Show in 1991.
Observed in its unique technical aspects or appreciated simply as an "unusual mobile" car, the PM1 is in any case a reality resolved in a traditional way and presented so simply, to reawaken that intimate sense of taste and charm that always accompanies a valid work for a long time. *** [EKA [15122021] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BESTINSKETCH.IT | SPORTSCARDIGEST ]
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Missed Glory - Before the 2nd World War, Renzo Rivolta had already established a successful refrigerator manufacturing company named Isothermos. In the 1940s, the business shifted into the production of scooters under the Iso brand. This venture later expanded into the development of the small-engined bubble car, the Isetta, produced between 1953 and 1955. Although Iso ceased production afterward, the Isettacontinued under license in other countries until 1964.
The Iso Grifo 90 was appeared with a sleek body lines and intended to mark the Iso's brand reviving in the 1991. (Picture from: OldCarConcept)
After a delay in developing its next automobile, the company eventually entered the four-wheeled vehicle market with a completely different approach. The result was the Iso Rivolta, a rear-wheel-drive saloon with two doors and four seats, powered by a Chevrolet-sourced 5,359 cc V8 OHV engine. Designed by Giotto Bizzarrini and styled by Carrozzeria Bertone, the model set the tone for Iso’s future identity.
The Iso Grifo 90 is designed by Marcello Gandini with the chassis and powertrain developed by Gian Paolo Dellara. (Picture from: OldCarConcept)
Soon after, Iso’s Milan-based factory introduced the Grifo, followed by the Fidia in 1967. The final production model from the brand wasthe Lele. In 1966, company founder Renzo Rivolta passed away, and control of the business was taken over by his son, Piero Rivolta.😭
The Iso Grifo 90 has certain changes to the interior so that the potential customers would feel like they were sitting in a very special car. (Picture from: OldCarConcept)
Entering the 1970s, Iso made a critical misstep by deciding to compete in the Formula One with Frank Williams. Unfortunately, this decision came at a time when the company was already financially strained, compounded by the global oil crisis. These combined challenges ultimately led to the collapse of the Iso brand in 1975.
The Iso Grifo 90 prototype is based on the Corvette C5 Z06 with the aluminium body was fitted to a tubular steel chassis frame, so it weighs only 1,200 kg. (Picture from: OldCarConcept)
In the late 1980s, Piero Rivolta, together with Piero Sala, attempted to revive the marque with a new GT model. They commissioned Gian Paolo Dallara to develop its chassis and powertrain, while Marcello Gandini was tasked with the design. The result was the Iso Grifo 90, which incorporated the styling cues of the 1990s. The prototype was unveiled to the press in 1991, with plans for limited production beginning in 1994.
The Iso Grifo 90 prototype is powered by a front mounted turbocharged 5.7-litre Chevrolet V8 engine (tuned by Callaway). (Picture from: OldCarConcept)
However, the prototype presented was incomplete—it lacked an engine, a functional interior, and even usable wheels. Due to insufficient funding, the project was suspended. The model remained dormant until 2007, when Federico Bonomelli, owner of the “Mako-Shark” composite materials company and an Iso Rivolta collector, rediscovered the original mock-up. Together with his brother, Bonomelli redesigned the car and obtained approval from Piero Rivolta to build a series of 12 units ofthe Iso Grifo 90.
Federico Bonomelli posed along with one of the classic and rare cars of his owned, the Iso Grifo 7Litri. (Picture from: AutoClassMagazine)
The new prototype was based onthe Corvette C5 Z06. It featured an aluminum body mounted on a tubular steel chassis, resulting in a weight of only 1,200 kg. Power came from a front-mounted, turbocharged 5.7-liter Chevrolet V8 engine tuned by Callaway, producing 490 hp. This was paired with a six-speed gearbox, Brembo brakes, and a locking differential. The car was expected to exceed 300 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds.
The rolling prototype of the Iso Grifo 90was completed in 2010. However, the global economic crisis at the time diminished enthusiasm for the project. As a result, Bonomelli decided not to proceed with the full 12-car production run. Thus, Iso’s modern GT effort once again fell victim to unfortunate timing.😐 *** [EKA [21092021] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARTYPE | OLDCONCEPTCARS | AUTOCLASSMAGAZINE | CURVES-MAGAZIN | CALLAWAY | DYLER ]
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ONE-OFF - As already known that the name of the Chevrolet Corvette always known as an American muscular car, with a body design that is not less muscular and always be dreamed in its homeland. However, the charm of the V8 engine's Chevrolet Corvette mainstay just seems not enough to attract consumers in Europe, where the typical European car has a more beautiful design.
1963 Pininfarina Rondine Coupe made taken base of Chevrolet Corvette C2. (Picture from: Otosia)
Then in 1963, one Chevrolet Corvette C2 had to undergo a makeover to be more pleasing to the eyes of Europeans. The result, Chevrolet in cooperation with Pininfarina, a famous Italian automotive coachbuilder that used to design a Ferrari, which later gave birth to the figure of Pininfarina Rondine Coupe.
Rear side view of 1963 Pininfarina Rondine Coupe. (Picture from: Otosia)
Unlike the Corvette C2 which has a body made of fiberglass, Pininfarina Rondinne has a metal made exterior, which makes its weight so increase, and control is also changed completely. The car's front overhangs are more longer, and the Corvette's typical pop-up lights are eliminated, and on the back there is nothing resembling to the original car, and it is more like a Fiat 124.
Inside, the car has a stock dashboard and seats, but attention to detail around the doors is exceptional. The door jams themselves are chromed and decorated panels are fitted. The greenhouse is quite bright due to the white leather upholstery and a large wraparound rear windscreen.
Because seeing the car's view which then triggered a fairly diverse responses, and finally made Chevrolet was reluctant to continue Pininfarina Rondine to the production line and now the only one ever made was sitting peacefully at the Corvette museum. *** [EKA [20092017] [26092021] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SUPERCARS.NET]
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