Vehicle Description
Given the fact that the Swiss share borders with the titans of
industry in Germany, the passionate, fiery Italians, and the
Avant-Garde French it seems rather curious that Switzerland never
became a motoring industry powerhouse in its own right. After all,
Switzerland has no shortage of Alpine passes to tear up and down in
a hard edged sports car, nor cosmopolitan cities to arrive in style
in a luxurious GT car. And thanks to the Swiss banking industry,
there's also no shortage of cash to go around. Yet the Swiss
curiously left the car building up to its neighbors and essentially
stuck with banks and timepieces - with one very notable exception
in the form of Peter Monteverdi. At the age of 16, Peter Monteverdi
constructed his first car, a Fiat 1100-based special he built in
the back of his father's garage business. He went on to found MBM,
where he built a series of karts and smallbore racing 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 seemingly common occurrence) Peter Monteverdi teamed up
with Pietro Frua to design a full-fledged GT car suitable for
tackling those magnificent Swiss roads as well as his demanding
clients. Monteverdi took full advantage of the skills of his
neighbors by outfitting his new GT with a steel chassis built in
Germany, and clothed it in sexy Italian coachwork. Pietro Frua was
hired to design the two-seat 375S, and the body did share some
notable similarities to the AC 428 and Maserati Mistral, also Frua
designs. Power came courtesy of Chrysler's massive 440 cubic-inch
Magnum V8. However, Monteverdi soon realized the demand for a
four-seat grand tourer was stronger than his two seat model. So the
375L replaced the S, with a design that was based on Frua's work,
but tweaked by Monteverdi himself to accommodate two generous rear
seats. The 375L was built by Fissore, however, the similarity to
Frua's original work did not go unnoticed by the Italian and he
sued Monteverdi for a licensing fee. Regardless of the drama,
Monteverdi attracted a unique clientele - wealthy eccentrics who
eschewed traditional, mainstream sports cars in favor Peter
Monteverdi's Swiss beauties. This 1969 Monteverdi 375L Coupe is a
very fine example from the almost-mythical Swiss manufacturer. It
is finished in a flattering shade of dark blue which very nicely
suits the crisp Fissore-built body. Paint and body quality is very
good, with very good panel fit and just a few minor flaws in the
paint, though nothing that detracts from what is otherwise a very
attractive and totally usable car. It rides on a set of Borrani
wire wheels which add a welcome amount of sparkle to the
understated styling. The original cast alloy wheels will also be
included in the sale. The razor-like chrome bumpers are excellent
and the polished headlamp surrounds and grille appear in very good
order. The 375L was conceived as a Ferrari-beating high-speed
touring car, so luxury of the highest order was high on Peter
Monteverdi's list. Our example is trimmed in beautiful caramel
colored leather, presenting in wonderful condition and offering a
gorgeous contrast to the dark blue paintwork. The distinct center
console dominates the dash, its width necessitated by a chassis
design that placed the Chrysler big-block engine and transmission
well behind the axle line. It features an updated stereo system and
air conditioning, perfect for cross-continent touring. The
big-block Chrysler "Magnum" 440 presents in very good condition;
clean and tidy with good detailing and signs of recent service. It
runs strong and needs nothing but to be driven and enjoyed. Actual
production numbers for the 375 aren't widely known, as records are
held closely by the ex-factory museum in Basel. Not only does the
Monteverdi 375L have rarity on its side, it is a genuinely
well-built and cleverly engineered automobile. Comparisons to other
Euro-American hybrids such as the Jensen Interceptor or Iso Rivolta
are natural, however, the 375 should really be compared to the
Ferrari 365 2+2 or Maserati Mexico in terms of performance, quality
and luxury. Given the fact that it cost as much as a Mercedes-Benz
600 when new, it is easy to see where Peter Monteverdi was aiming
his sights. These incredible cars rarely come up for sale on the
open market and we are thrilled to offer such a fine and inviting
example.