Vehicle Description
At just 16 years of age, Peter Monteverdi constructed his first
car, a Fiat 1100-based special he built in the back of his father's
garage business. Born in northern Switzerland, the young Peter had
long held a passion for car design and motorsport. Just two years
later, he would be selling racing cars under his own brand - MBM.
He raced extensively in junior series, before entering Formula 1.
He only had one start in F1 and a near fatal crash led to his
abrupt retirement from racing. Peter took over the family garage
business after the death of his father, and focused on building and
racing sports cars. In order to support his fledgling business he
began importing Ferraris to Switzerland in 1957, eventually earning
a position as the official Swiss distributor for Ferrari. His
importing business soon grew to include a stable of luxury cars
that included BMW, Lancia and Rolls-Royce/Bentley. In 1967,
following a falling out with Enzo Ferrari (a story we've heard
before), Peter Monteverdi teamed up with Pietro Frua to design a
full-fledged road-going car suitable for tackling those magnificent
Swiss roads and satisfying the needs of the most discerning
clients. Monteverdi took full advantage of the skills of his
neighbors by outfitting his new GT with a steel chassis built in
Germany, which was clothed it in sexy Italian coachwork. When
selecting a powerplant, Peter looked outside of Europe - to
Chrysler - and their massive, torque-rich 440 cubic inch V8 and
robust Torque-flite automatic transmissions. Pietro Frua was hired
to design the two-seat 375S, and the body shared some notable
similarities to the AC 428 and Maserati Mistral, also Frua designs.
Some more Italianate drama would ensue when Fissore was chosen over
Frua to build the cars, but once production began, Monteverdi would
attract the unique type of clientele he sought - those who eschewed
traditional sports cars in favor of these highly exclusive new cars
from Switzerland. Monteverdi soon added an ultra-high performance
luxury limousine to his lineup of GT cars. Using elements of the
updated 375L 2+2 (which Monteverdi himself reworked from the Frua
design), over 20 inches was added to the wheelbase to accommodate
two additional doors and provide ample leg room for rear
passengers. The resulting car was a unique high-performance
limousine that found great favor among the ultra-rich, particularly
in the Middle East where the huge Chrysler powerplant was immune to
high gas prices. Reportedly, the Royal Family of Qatar still
maintains a fleet of five 375/4 sedans! Monteverdi was famously
secretive about his production records, so it is not known exactly
how many 375/4 limousines were built, but it is believed that fewer
than 30 were built over an eight year period. This Monteverdi 375/4
sedan is chassis number 3007; a striking early-production example
of this rare and highly exclusive super-saloon. A highly original
car, it benefits from a recent cosmetic freshening in beautiful
dark metallic aubergine paint over an attractive biscuit tan
leather interior. Long, low and smartly styled, the 375/4 is a true
standout among the Euro-American hybrids of the early 1970s. The
dark, subtle metallic color suits the sharp lines of the body very
well. The paint is applied to straight, crisp body panels.
Brightwork is restrained, with the grille, bumpers and window
surrounds all presenting in good order, and the car rides on a set
of correct original cast-alloy center-lock wheels, made
specifically for these cars. Monteverdi built his cars to a very
high standard of quality, and given their exclusivity, they have an
almost mythical presence today. The 375/4 was designed as a
high-speed limousine that could be chauffeur driven or owner
driven, so the cabin is of course trimmed with the utmost in period
sophistication and luxury. The soft trim in this car is mainly
original, with items such as the dash, console and perforated
headlining remaining in very good original order. Biscuit tan hides
on the seats and door cards are in excellent condition, as are the
aubergine carpets that complement the body color. No 1970s
ultra-lux limo would be complete without a television, and our
375/4 doesn't disappoint with its whopping 6" Sony solid-state TV
mounted in a custom leather trimmed console for rear-seat
passengers. The original radio remains in the dash, and the
original switchgear and HVAC controls all appear in good order.
Chrysler's mighty 440 cubic inch V8 is mated to a Torque-Flite
automatic transmission and comes with all of the necessary items a
high-performance limousine would need, such as power steering, air
conditioning and cruise control. As with the interior, the
under-hood presentation is highly original and well detailed. The
very rare finned Monteverdi-branded valve covers are still in
place, and the engine is well detailed and very tidy. The chassis
and undercarriage show some use, appearing to be largely unrestored
though still quite tidy and in good order. Overall, the 375/4 runs
well and performs admirably on the road, with only some minor
fettling required to bring it up to cross-continent ability. True
to form with any Monteverdi, this handsome 375/4 is a highly
exclusive and intriguing collector piece. Virtually every example
had unique features tailored to meet the specific demands of an
elite clientele. With its excellent cosmetics and sound
mechanicals, this Monteverdi is a great example to use on the road,
where the prodigious power and luxurious accommodations can be
fully appreciated.
