1971 Intermeccanica Italia Spyder

Cars

Rare Intermeccanica beauty comes onto the market and aficionados weep...

Italian-Americana works.

De Tomaso is the most well-known proponent of this heady mix of sweat, brawn and panache. But this 1971 Intermeccanica Italia Spyder is one of the most beautiful.

Looking like a cross between a Datsun Z-Car and a mid-sixties ‘Vette, it comes with a 300 hp, 351 cu. in. Ford Windsor V-8 engine, four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers, rear trailing-arm suspension with coil springs and a Panhard rod, and four-wheel disc brakes.

It is one of only 220 Spyders ever built by Intermeccanica – a company started by Frank Reisner – a Hungarian chemical engineer raised in Canada. Reisner came up with the idea of building his own cars after moving to Italy in 1959.

The Italia features that long, low hood line, and that chopped rear deck reminiscent of contemporary Ferrari and Maserati models. It is a unique blend of influences that never looks compromised.

Apparently these Italians could accelerate from 0–60 in just 6.2 seconds and then push on to over 150 MPH.

For sale for millions, we expect, at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island Auction in March.

Pics via RM Sothebys

 

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