The historic Bizzarrini brand has been revived in the UK and is poised to release a perfect recreation of the 5300 GT sports racing car from 1965. The first prototype of the model is now hitting the streets for endurance testing. Designed and built by Giotto Bizzarrini in 1965, the 5300GT was a racing version of the Iso Grifo A3/C. The 5300 GT Revival Corsa perfectly replicates chassis 0222, which won the 5-liter class at the 1965 LeMans 24 hour race and placed ninth overall.
Power comes courtesy of a
Chevrolet-sourced 327 cubic-inch V8, which produces 400 horsepower thanks to
four twin-choke Weber DCOE carburetors. The engine is set back as far as
possible for excellent weight distribution, with 25 percent of the weight on
each corner of the car, and a total weight of just 1,250 kg. The
revival features a full carbon fiber bodyshell as standard because the
engineers believe it’s what Giotto would have done if he had access to the
material in period. Chassis 0222 featured a fiberglass body, which is available
if owners wish to conform to 1965 regulations.
Giotto Bizzarrini was a genius designer
and vehicle builder, who got his start in automotive design at Alfa Romeo
before moving to Ferrari in 1957. There he played a huge role in the
development of the iconic Ferrari 250 GTO, but he and four other top engineers
were rewarded with a pink slip in an event known as the ‘Night of the Long
Knives’, or ‘The Palace Revolt’. The 5300GT was designed to settle the score
with Enzo Ferrari.
Original blueprints were used to recreate
the 5300 GT, but modern techniques such as 3D scanning were also employed.
Safety has also been increased due to redesigned fuel tanks and a six-point
roll bar, all conforming to FIA Appendix K historic racing regulations. Once
engineers are satisfied with the prototype, 24 examples of the 5300 GT Revival
Corsa will be built for customers. Deliveries of customer cars are already
scheduled with the first handover set to take place in May 2022. Price is not
available, but we can assume that this isn’t going to be cheap.
