Unique, the Monteverdi 375 L by Pietro Frua

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Unique, the Monteverdi 375 L by Pietro Frua

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Created on May 9, 2025

Text:

Bruno von Rotz / Stefan Dierkes

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Archiv Roberto Rigoli (Familie Frua), Turin (I)

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Bruno von Rotz

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Wolfgang Blaube

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ZGIPWerk

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Archiv

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - extended wheelbase, elegant silhouette

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - wheelbase 265 cm, overall length 465 cm

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - has lost little of its agility due to the lengthening

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - elegant appearance

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - a pleasure to drive

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - independent rear compared to the 375 S

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - the rear lights are reminiscent of Ferrari

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - instead of the wire wheels, the coupé now has aluminum rims

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - a Granturismo for all days

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - airy and bright

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - Cockpit with air conditioning

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - spacious interior, room for four people

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - V8 Chrysler engine installed longitudinally and relatively far back

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - twin headlights like the 375 S from Frua

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - over the years, the Talbot mirror has moved to the rear

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - the prototype - Monteverdi Museum Binningen

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Monteverdi High Speed 375 L Frua (1968) - Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance 2023

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Monteverdi High Speed 375 L (1968) - the prototype of the longer coupé version, presented in Geneva 1968 - at Lutziger Classic Cars - Auto Zürich Classic 2024

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Monteverdi 375 S High Speed (1967) - on show for the first time in Frankfurt - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1967

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - early press photo shows the coupé without engine ventilation and without rear-view mirrors

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Monteverdi 375 L High Speed (1968) - the prototype by Pietro Frua at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show

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Monteverdi 375 L High Speed (1968) - Steering wheel and dashboard

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Monteverdi 375 L High Speed (1968) - front view of the prototype

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - perfectly shaped coupé with 2+2 seats

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Monteverdi 375 L Frua (1968) - Test drive

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - View of the interior during the first test drive

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - View of the interior at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - View of the interior at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show, view under the hood

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show, well-hidden fuel filler flap

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Monteverdi 375 L (1968) - at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show, well-hidden fuel filler flap

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AC 429 (1969) - prototype on Monteverdi chassis 2002

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AC 429 (1969) - prototype on Monteverdi chassis 2002

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Monteverdi 375 L High Speed (1969) - at the 1969 Geneva Motor Show

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Monteverdi 375 L High Speed (1973) - side view, left-front

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Monteverdi 375 L High Speed (1969) - wooden mold for the bodywork at Fissore

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Monteverdi 375 L High Speed (1969) - front view of the not yet fully finished sports car built by Fissore

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Monteverdi 375 L High Speed (1971) - comfortable seats

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Monteverdi 375 L (1969) - Comfort in the luxury class - Geneva Motor Show 1969

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Monteverdi 375 L High Speed (1971) - the Chrysler engine in the front of the coupé

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Summary

In 1967, a Monteverdi made its first appearance at the IAA in Frankfurt: the 375 S coupé. Just a few months later, Peter Monteverdi and Pietro Frua presented an extended version called the 375 L in Geneva. However, a dispute soon arose between the two; the Frua 375 L remained a one-off. Albeit a very elegant one!

This article contains the following chapters

Not going to Geneva empty-handed
Successful transformation into a four-seater
Almost fully developed right from the start
Pleasant grand tourer
The dispute between Frua and Monteverdi
A new 375 L
Epilogue - Chassis 2002

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The prehistory was short and it happened even faster than planned. In April 1967, Pietro Frua drew the sketches for the Monteverdi 375 S and by September 1967, the first Monteverdi was already on display at the IAA in Frankfurt, although the premiere of the 375 S had actually been scheduled for the 1968 Geneva Motor Show. The response to the elegant two-seater coupé was extremely positive, but potential buyers were quick to ask for more space in the interior. While the Monteverdi people had their hands full pushing ahead with the production of the 375 S, Peter Monteverdi thought about what he could show in Geneva. He decided to present two new cars in Geneva: The "people's" Monteverdi 2000 (based on a BMW) and an extended 375 S with four seats.

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