Vehicle Description
The story of Intermeccanica is a long and roundabout tale of good
ideas, roadblocks, hiccups, missteps and just a bit of success. The
company was founded in Turin, Italy in 1959 by Frank and Paula
Reisner; two enthusiasts who had a particular love for all things
Italian. Frank had experience with designing racing cars for
Giannini, and their new business, named Intermeccanica, initially
focused on tuning parts such as carburetor kits and big-bore
exhaust systems for Fiat, Peugeot, Simca and other smallbore
European cars. They soon tried their hands at building their own
race cars in the form of a Peugeot-powered Formula Junior, soon
shifting focus to road cars with a small, alloy bodied car based on
the tiny 500cc Daimler-Styer-Puch. Much like what Carlo Abarth did
with Fiat, the IMP (Intermeccanica-Puch) was based on a humble
chassis, fitted a lightweight alloy body and tuned for rallying and
circuit racing. The IMP managed moderate success including an upset
class win at the Nurburgring. Flush with confidence, Frank and
Paula quickly moved on to bigger and better things. The Apollo GT
was Intermeccanica's first proper complete road car, powered by
3.5L or 4.9L Buick V8 engines fitted into a hand-built Italian
body. After the Apollo came the Italia, a car that, through several
twists and turns of failed business partnerships became
Intermeccanica's most successful model. Following the failure of
two partnerships (with Jack Griffith and Steve Wilder) in the
attempt to get the project off the ground, Intermeccanica realized
the only way to succeed with the new car, now called Italia, was to
build it in-house. The car featured a chassis designed by ex-BRM
designer John Crosthwaite, wrapped in a svelte steel body designed
by Robert Cumberford, and tweaked by the legendary Bertone man
Franco Scaglione, lending serious credibility to Intermeccanica. A
deal was eventually struck with Ford Motor Company to supply
engines, transmissions, rear axles and Magnum 500 wheels from the
Mustang. As the Mustang evolved, so did the Italia: The 289 V8 led
to the 302, and finally to the big 351C. Components were shipped to
Turin, Italy and installed in tubular chassis and bodies built
in-house at Intermeccanica. Today, these cars remain very
collectible thanks to their proper Italian sports car style,
reliable and powerful American drivetrain and very good build
quality. These are proper, hand crafted and thoroughly engineered
cars, not to be confused with a kit car or homebuilt special. This
1972 Intermeccanica Italia Spyder is from the final year of
production before the Opel-based Indra took the Italia's place. It
is a highly original example finished in silver over black with a
black convertible top. A pretty and very correct car, it was
recently shown at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance in Connecticut
and has been shown and driven a great deal by its previous owners.
The steel body is in very good order, with good,
factory-appropriate panel fit and crisp body lines. Silver paint
gives it an understated look, which is in attractive condition with
deep gloss and only a few minor flaws that have come from regular
enjoyment. The headlight "sugar scoops" are blacked out for an
aggressive look and the car rides on a set of Cromadora Dino-style
alloy wheels in place of the typical Magnum 500s. Chrome bumpers as
well as lights and trim are all in very good order. The interior is
excellent, trimmed in original black upholstery on the seats and
door cards. Black carpets are in fine condition and the black soft
top fits taut and snug. The center console houses switches for the
electric windows, a typically ornate Italian ash tray (for smoking
in style, we assume) and controls for the HVAC. The dash is typical
early 1970s Italian - austere, wrapped in black leather and with an
aviation-like purposefulness to the layout. The original radio and
instruments are in place and in excellent order. Under the hood is
Ford's proven, reliable and incredibly stout 351-Cleveland V8,
lending the Italia a serious turn of speed. The presentation under
the hood is very respectable, the prior owners having resisted the
urge to modify the car with modern speed parts. Ford blue paint on
the engine, as well as the satin black engine bay is all in very
tidy condition. Even the original Italian under-hood insulation
remains intact and in excellent condition. The engine is backed by
a four-speed manual Top Loader transmission, which is built to
handle the torque of the big 351C. This Italia is a very attractive
example that is ripe for enjoyment on the road, yet has been
maintained in a show-worthy condition. Included in the sale is a
copy of the original bill of sale, as well as the original owner's
manual. The Italia was one of the best of the Italian-American
hybrids, a finely built car produced by a passionate enthusiast for
the pure love of Italian machinery.
