Monteverdi Berlinetta

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Monteverdi
Monteverdi Berlinetta
Monteverdi Berlinetta
Berlinetta
Production period: 1972-1976
Class : Sports car
Body versions : Coupe
Engines:
Otto engines : 7.0–7.2 liters
(250–287 kW)
Length: 4600 mm
Width: 1795 mm
Height: 1230 mm
Wheelbase : 2520 mm
Empty weight : 1805 kg
Previous model Monteverdi High Speed ​​375 S.

The Monteverdi Berlinetta was a two-seater sports car from the Swiss car manufacturer Monteverdi , which was offered from 1972 to 1976 and was produced in small numbers. With comparable drive technology and style elements reminiscent of the Berlinetta, a convertible was also released in 1975, which was named Palm Beach .

The background

From a technical point of view, the Berlinetta was a member of the High Speed ​​375 series , which Monteverdi had produced in various series since 1967. It represented a further development of the High Speed ​​375 S , whose chassis and body structure it essentially took over.

The Berlinetta was the third closed model to rest on Monteverdi's short-wheelbase chassis: from 1967 to 1968 Monteverdi offered the first version of the 375 S with a Pietro Frua body ; the second version, a car of the same name manufactured from 1969 to 1971, was dressed independently by Fissore .

The short 375 S had held a special position at Monteverdi since 1969. As a pure two-seater, it was sportier and easier to handle than the 2 + 2-seater High Speed ​​375 L with a longer wheelbase, but it was far less successful. While Monteverdi was able to sell the 375 L annually in double-digit numbers from 1969 onwards, only six 375 S vehicles with a Fissore body were sold between 1969 and 1971.

For company owner Peter Monteverdi , the lower success of the 375 S compared to the 375 L was mainly due to the independent front section of the short model, which - although he had designed it himself - due to the recessed headlights and the conspicuous radiator opening known as the shark's mouth found it unattractive. Monteverdi then tried in spring 1971 to increase the attractiveness of the "short" sports car by partially redesigning the body and by upgrading the model. He further developed the well-known 375 S, especially with regard to active and passive safety. The resulting new model, which was presented in 1972, was named Monteverdi Berlinetta; an addition to the name that could document the affiliation to the High Speed ​​375 model family was dispensed with.

The technology

The Berlinetta took over the chassis, the suspension and the body in the area of ​​the passenger cell and trunk from the well-known 375 S.

The tubular frame designed by Monteverdi, which had formed the basis of all High Speed ​​375 models since 1967, was used again for the Berlinetta. However, it was reinforced in the middle part by an additional Y-shaped beam. The deformation resistance of the interior has also been increased by a roll bar and a cross member at the level of the dashboard. Other innovations that increase passenger safety included improved lighting through larger lighting units, laminated glass windows, a steering wheel with an impact absorber, recessed fittings and a self-activating fire extinguisher that operates via heat sensors. Finally, Monteverdi offered a tape system which, if necessary, indicated in several languages ​​that seat belts were not fastened.

A 7.0 liter eight-cylinder engine from Chrysler (Hemi type), which delivered 390 hp, served as the drive . It was now arranged further at the front of the vehicle, which improved the noise insulation and the heat balance. These modifications were also made to the 375 L and 375/4 in the future, which had previously suffered from thermal problems in certain situations. From 1974, the 7.2 liter eight-cylinder engine (Magnum type) that was already known from the earlier models was available again and developed 340 hp.

Visually, the Berlinetta differed from the 375 S and 375 L by a newly designed, independent front section. The car line dropped sharply in the front area. The radiator grille, which stretched across the width of the car, was low. Integrated into it were four rectangular halogen headlights, for which a wipe-wash device was provided. The bumpers were wide and covered with rubber; the indicators were set into the bumpers. The prototype had additional indicators on the sides that reached into the sides of the car; later models did not have this detail. A special feature of the Berlinetta were the large cooling air openings in the front fenders, which - unlike the 375 S and 375 L - were not barred.

The passenger cell and the glazing corresponded to the previous 375 S. At the rear there were now wide taillights from the Triumph TR6 , which were later also used in some models of the 375 L and 375/4. A wiper was installed on the rear window.

The production

Monteverdi presented the Berlinetta to the public at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show . The purchase price was quoted at 75,000 Swiss francs. The Berlinetta was featured in Monteverdi's program until 1976.

How many berlinettas were made is unclear. One source assumes that no more than 10 copies of the Berlinetta were produced. According to unofficial production statistics, a vehicle (chassis no. 1016) was built in 1972 and another vehicle (chassis no. 1031) was built in 1973. The existence of three Berlinettas that still exist in the 21st century can be proven:

  • a vehicle with indicators in the front fender ends and recessed door handles of the Alfa Romeo GTV ,
  • a vehicle without indicators in the front fenders with flap door handles from Fiat . the vehicle has a wide black decorative stripe running over the side of the vehicle, which at times bears the inscription Monteverdi. It is shown regularly at exhibitions and serves as a motif for photo reports.
  • a vehicle without indicators in the front fenders with ironing door handles. This copy is in Monteverdi's Museum in Binningen.

The Monteverdi Palm Beach

In 1975 Peter Monteverdi presented a convertible version with a short wheelbase, which took up the design features of the Berlinetta at the front and rear. The car, known as the Monteverdi Palm Beach , is a one-off, making it the rarest vehicle from Monteverdi.

literature

  • Roger Gloor, Carl Wagner: Monteverdi - Development of a Swiss Brand. Automobile Monteverdi AG, Binningen-Basel 1980, OCLC 636862865 . (Factory-supported chronicle of the Monteverdi brand)
  • Franz-Peter Hudek: The gateway to Switzerland. Monteverdi Berlinetta . In: Oldtimer Klassik, issue 5/2016, p. 134 ff.
  • Kevin Brazendale: Encyclopedia Automobile from Alfa Romeo to Zagato. The 600 most beautiful models . Weltbild Verlag, Augsburg 2000, ISBN 3-8289-5384-0 .
  • Frank Oleski, Hartmut Lehbrink: Series sports cars . Motor-Classic-Verlag, Basel 1984, ISBN 3-907004-01-9 .

Web links

Commons : Monteverdi High Speed ​​375  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Model history of the Monteverdi High Speed ​​375 S on the website www.pietro-frua.de (accessed on March 30, 2011). Previously, Monteverdi had sold 10 vehicles with a Frua body.
  2. ↑ Oleski, Lehbrink: Series sports car. 1984, p. 334.
  3. ↑ Detailed description and graphic representation of the technical developments at Gloor, Wagner: Monteverdi. 1980, p. 195 ff.
  4. ↑ Brazendale: Encyclopedia Automobile. 2000, p. 453.
  5. ↑ Illustration of the prototype on the website www.flickr.com (accessed on March 30, 2011).
  6. ^ Franz-Peter Hudek: The gateway to Switzerland. Monteverdi Berlinetta . In: Oldtimer Klassik, issue 5/2016, p. 137.
  7. ↑ The chassis numbers 1001 to 1015 and the number 1031 were assigned to vehicles of the 375 S type. For the model history of the Monteverdi High Speed ​​375 S, see the extensive documentation on the website www.pietro-frua.de (accessed on March 30, 2011)
  8. ↑ Image of the vehicle on the website http://test-drivez.com ( Memento of the original from May 8, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (accessed on May 8, 2016). @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / test-drivez.com
  9. ^ Franz-Peter Hudek: The gateway to Switzerland. Monteverdi Berlinetta . In: Oldtimer Klassik, issue 5/2016, p. 134 ff.
  10. ↑ Image of the vehicle at http://p5.storage.canalblog.com (accessed on May 8, 2016).