Monteverdi High Speed

Monteverdi High Speed ​​375 L bodied by Fissore

Under the name of Monteverdi High Speed ​​375 of the Swiss automotive manufacturer Monteverdi sold from 1967 to 1976 a series of sports cars with different setups. The high-speed series consisted of coupe and a convertible and a sedan. In addition, also include some other vehicles that were not factory- called high-speed 375, to a model family. The Monteverdi High Speed's are today, almost 40 years after the cessation of production, rare and high-priced classics.

• 3.2.1 The High Speed ​​375 L
• 3.2.2 The High Speed ​​375 S
• 3.2.3 The high-speed 375 C
• 3.2.4 The high-speed 375/4
• 3.2.5 Other Models

• 5.1 monographs, articles in professional books
• 5.2 Newspapers and magazines

Background

The former Swiss racing driver Peter Monteverdi operating since 1954 in Binningen in the canton of Basel-Land, a gas station and a repair shop. In 1957 he drove sports cars from Ferrari, later came Werksvertretungen added for Bentley, BMW, Jensen and Lancia. Mid -1960s sold Monteverdi in German-speaking Switzerland annually between 80 and 100 high-end vehicles. In the fall of 1965 there was a falling out with Enzo Ferrari, in consequence of Monteverdi lost the Ferrari dealer. Shortly thereafter, Monteverdi decided to develop a Gran Turismo coupe with sporty body and automatic transmission, and drive them under their own name.

Conception

The Monteverdi High Speed ​​375 combined a fine Italian body with uncomplicated American mass production technology. This concept was not new. This idea had been tested already in the 1950s in France Facel Vega; in the 1960s were brands such as Iso Rivolta and de Tomaso in Italy and AC, Bristol, Gordon - Keeble and Jensen in the UK in this market niche.

In most cases, the Monteverdi models of the high-speed train in technical terms, be described as straightforward. They were based on a box frame made ​​of square tubes. Monteverdi wrote the draft of the frame to himself; was made the frame at the company steelwork AG in Muttenz in the canton of Basel-Country, at least temporarily belonged to Monteverdi for some information. When engine is a V8 Chrysler engine has been regularly used, whose power is supposed to 280 kW ( 375 hp ) was. In order for the the vehicle name trailing number is explained. However, it was - if this power peak was actually achieved - to values ​​according to the SAE standard; the corresponding DIN values ​​were approximately 35 % lower. On the other hand, can bring the big-block engines from Chrysler, especially by components of the Chrysler division Mopar, without major problems on much higher power ratings. Thus, in Switzerland some time ago a 375 L with 330 kW available for sale.

The series

Between 1967 and 1976 presented Monteverdi before a large number of variants of its high-speed concept. All these models were uniformly referred from the factory as high-speed 375; they were each given name accessories for coupes on standard wheelbase, short coupes, convertibles and sedans.

In general we can distinguish two series. The first, produced from 1967 to 1968 series included a handful of coupes, whose design by Pietro Frua in Turin originated and whose body was built in the Frua - works. The second, far more extensive series debuted in the summer of 1968 and ended in 1976. These are vehicles which (though not exclusively ) were built by Carrozzeria Fissore in Savigliano largely. The first vehicles built in Fissore still wore a body in Frua design; From 1969, there was an independent Fissore body, derived from the various modifications.

The Frua models

The High Speed ​​375 S ( Frua )

The first model, the high-speed 375 S was a pure two seater coupe with a body that Pietro Frua had designed in Turin. The generous line with the long front end reminded certainly no coincidence that the impressive and immensely successful Maserati Ghibli, which was designed recently by Ghia. On the other hand, found themselves on Monteverdi some details on the characteristics of Fruas earlier work took up again. Particularly at the Maserati Mistral and the British AC 428 obvious similarities were observed. Some sources claim that the similarities went so far that individual components of these cars as glass panels and doors are interchangeable.

The High Speed ​​375 S Frua with bodywork was unveiled in September 1967 at the 43rd IAA on the state of the company car Becker and received very positive reviews. The Zürcher Zeitung glance saw it as " the most beautiful forms that have ever seen the light of the world between the Alps and the English Channel ." In addition to the elegant body and solid driving behavior especially the luxurious and well designed interior was consent. Even in 1967 began regular production, which was designed labor. First, the workers knew it in Monteverdi's Binningerstrasse workshop with the chassis engine and drive technology. The roadworthy chassis was then shipped to Turin, where Frua put on the body created entirely by hand and completed the car. The pivotal finished vehicle was then returned to Monteverdi.

In this way, the cooperation between Monteverdi and Frua created in the first six months a total of twelve coupe.

The High Speed ​​375 L

Developed in parallel to the regular two-seater coupe Frua on behalf of Monteverdi extended edition, the 2 2- seater was designed as. The side line and the roof section had been changed considerably. The prototype was shown to the public in 1968. He remained with Monteverdi in the factory. The 2 2- seater was not of this form in the sale. A second 2 2 body kept Frua back; it was a year later delivered to the British sports car manufacturer AC connected to the Model AC 428, in turn, had a signed by Frua Coupé and Spyder in a program. The remaining Monteverdi body was sold with minor modifications, including the installation of semi- concealed headlights in the style of the Iso Lele as a single piece as AC 429.

The High Speed ​​400

Coinciding with the 375 S announced Monteverdi in his first Prospectus, the production of an even more powerful model with a 7.0 -liter eight-cylinder engine from Chrysler to who should provide 294 kW (400 hp). Here it remained at the announcement; such a model with Frua body was never produced.

The end of the collaboration with Frua

In the spring of 1968, Peter Monteverdi was considering a significant increase in the annual emissions; planned were about 100 vehicles per year. These dimensions did not correspond to the performance of the studio Frua, which focused on pure hand-made and had no capacity for such a high vehicle emissions. Frua then suggested outsourcing the production of Carrozzeria Maggiora, where already created some Maserati models and capacities existed for a partially automated production. Monteverdi but rejected this step because it was associated with high investment, especially for press tools, which shied away from the Swiss. Instead, he looked for another body shop that could accomplish the pure manual production of the desired quantities. This he found in the Carrozzeria Fissore in Savigliano in Milan, a smaller and less renowned design studio in the north Italian plain that the De Tomaso Vallelunga designed in the 1960s and some DKW models for the South American market and the sale of the company VEMAG had revised.

From the summer of 1968 was Monteverdi total about ten bodies that met Pietro Fruas design, manufacture at Carrozzeria Fissore. At the same time, Peter Monteverdi refused the payment of royalties to Frua, whereupon this Monteverdi was forbid the use of his design of court. Monteverdi had then possible to design a new body, which in 1969 was available. Until then, Monteverdi could not sell off all of the built in Fissore in Frua - style bodies; the last of these rare models were sold off in 1973.

Pietro Frua used the basic features of the Monteverdi 375 in modified form in later other designs. So he designed a 1971 fastback coupe based on the Dodge Challenger, the many features of the 375 repeated. The Challenger coupe is still existent and is shown regularly on European exhibitions.

The Fissore models

For 1969 Monteverdi had to make a new body for his coupe on the legs as a consequence of the legal dispute with Frua. To mark this new beginning turned Monteverdi his concept. Unlike in the past should not be the volume model, the pure two-seater; Rather, various inquiries had revealed of prospective buyers that a 2 2 coupe was desired preference on extended chassis. Accordingly, the High Speed ​​375 L should be the base vehicle for the Monteverdi palette. In the next eight years, the bodies should be predominantly, but not exclusively produced in Fissore in Savigliano. In this case, Fissore received - handled differently than before at Frua - the pure chassis that was provided in Savigliano with a body before it was returned to Binningen where the Monteverdi mechanic finally installed the drive technology. Individual vehicles were but - perhaps in view of scarce capacity at Fissore - made ​​with other Karosseriers. Documents are several vehicles that were manufactured at Poccardi and Embo. However, they were not an independent body design, but only the artisanal process of car body production was shifted to these works.

The High Speed ​​375 L

The High Speed ​​375 L with Fissore body should be the volume model of Monteverdi product range. He is after the safari, albeit with some distance from this, the best-selling type of the brand. The new body corresponded in its proportions exactly the Frua - model was, however, designed pronounced angular front and rear. The front end was heavily rimmed in chrome dual round headlights, which were later replaced in a few cases by rectangular wide-band headlamps. At the rear, the taillights of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Berlina could be seen. Who was authors of this draft, is unknown. Peter Monteverdi claimed to have designed the body itself. Fissore made ​​him this never disputed. It is likely that Fissore the details after Monteverdi sketches worked out and Monteverdi ceded the rights to the design, as it were, in return for the production order.

Peter Monteverdi highlighted the style of the vehicle and the outstanding performance in a sales brochure from 1972. He described this as the Monteverdi High Speed ​​375 L as "the coupe today with the technology of tomorrow ".

The German magazine Auto Motor und Sport tested in the spring of 1972, a high- speed 375 L with 7.2 - liter engine and determined the following performance:

• Top speed: 229.3 km / h
• 0-100 km / h: 8.2 seconds
• 1 km from a standing start: 28.3 seconds.

Thus, the Monteverdi was roughly on par with the British Jensen Interceptor, but did not reach the performance of the Aston Martin V8 or the Maserati Indy.

During the production period continuously flowed a minor or major improvements or changes in the series. The most striking of these was probably the complete redesign of the dashboard with the Year 1972 / 73rd Had you rather inspired with lots of wood and classical instruments up to that of traditional English chic, the Monteverdi's now presented in a more sporty style in black suede design. Since the entire high-speed series but anyway was using craft skills, is not ruled out that Monteverdi was also directed to individual customer specifications in some detail designs.

As of 1971, the four-seat coupe and sedan under the name Hemi 375 L Hemi or 375 quarters were also available with the already known from the Hai 450 SS stronger 7- liter engine.

The High Speed ​​375 S

Parallel to the 2 2- seater reactivated Monteverdi initially be -presented short chassis for another pure two-seater. This car was a body that had changed considerably. With recessed spotlights and six round rear lights this semi - fastback car reminded not accidental to the Ferrari 365 GT 2 2. The two-seater with Fissore body had significantly less success than the 2 2- seater Type 375 L. Between 1969 and 1971 a total of six short coupes were produced with Fissore body. One of them now belongs to the extensive car collection of American talk Masters Jay Leno.

In the winter of 1971 /72 375 S for Monteverdi Berlinetta was further developed. The tubular frame was strengthened towards improved Verwindungsresistenz; the car received a new front end with a narrow, over the entire width of the car reaching grille. Monteverdi emphasized the increased passive safety of the Berlinetta.

The high-speed 375 C

Of the 375 S chassis with recently initiated Monteverdi in 1971 a convertible version called 375 C.. In the literature there are repeated indications that the initiative for the creation of the convertible was caused by a paraplegic friend Peter Monteverdi, who wanted a Monteverdi, he could climb alone. Unlike the 375 S, the Cabriolet was not six round taillights, but the lights units already at 375 L used the Alfa Romeo Giulia.

The first yellow painted 375 C was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1971 to the public. The purchase price was given there with 75,750 Swiss francs. Overall, only two units were built. One was sold to the customer, one copy remained in the factory and in 1974 using parts of the body Monteverdi Berlinetta converted to Cabriolet Palm Beach. Later Monteverdi bought the 375 back C; the car is now in Monteverdi's Automobile Museum and is occasionally shown at exhibitions.

The high-speed 375/4

The Coronation of the high-speed series was a large four-door sedan called 375/4.

The car's wheelbase has been extended to 3.15 meters, the following technical data - in particular the drive technology - remained unchanged. With the same front section joined from the A-pillar four wide-opening doors ( with handles from the Fiat 128 ) the top edge of the belt line continued straight on, a sharply designed roof section and an elongated trunk. The interior was luxuriously appointed with leather interior, air conditioning, power windows and request a TV from Sony and also generous; the car could be used without restrictions as chauffeured saloon. Individual copies were provided accordingly with a partition between the driver and passenger compartment. Exterior details were repeated object of change, sometimes followed Monteverdi thereby also the customer. A late copy was delivered, for example, with two rectangular, borrowed from the Ford Granada headlights, a matte black grille and bumpers gummibezogenenen. In addition, after initially were already known from the 375 L taillights Alfa Romeo Giulia had been installed, the units of the Triumph TR6 used in recent models, were previously already been seen in Monteverdi Berlinetta and gave the sedan a more modern appearance.

The car was intended primarily as a representational vehicle that would draw public attention to the brand Monteverdi. Many vehicles were sold in the Arab region; allegedly acquired the royal family of Qatar not less than five 375/4-Limousinen that should still be present in the royal fleet today. A model went to Tokyo, another to Australia and one to the UK. Peter Monteverdi offered the 375/4 repeats of the Swiss government as an official vehicle, last even for free use. His concern was of course unheard of; The Swiss government also continued in the 1970s continues to be a limousine Cadillac.

The production numbers are - as always - unclear. There are many indications that (at least) 28 copies were made ​​. In the unofficial production statistics of a former Monteverdi driver that was temporarily posted on the Internet, there is an indication that a total of 13 copies of the sedan with the chassis numbers 3001-3010 and 3111 were made ​​up 3113 1971-1973. Two cars of which were right hand drive. During this time the Carrozzeria Fissore has built three, eight and Poccardi Embo two vehicles. It is assumed, however, that in 1974 more sedans were produced. In the fleet of the king of Qatar there is a 375/4, which was allegedly built yet in 1978, at a time when the 375/4 no longer appeared in the official offer lists of Monteverdi. This vehicle carries the chassis number 3128th In this regard, can be subject to the condition that Monteverdi has awarded the chassis numbers consecutively, close to a production of at least 28 copies.

Other models

Although the addition of high-speed lead not explicitly in the name, including the Berlinetta models and Palm Beach for high-speed family. With them are developments earlier Monteverdi constructions, which reached a degree of technical independence. Given very high sale prices only a few copies were made of them.

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