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Coachbuilt bodies
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Beyond the production line is where it truly gets exciting. Discover the fascinating history of coachbuilt bodies on Zwischengas – from elegant Swiss Tüscher cabriolets and Italian design icons by Figoni and Pininfarina to futuristic prototypes. A treasure trove for aesthetes and engineering enthusiasts.
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BMW 2002 GT4 Frua - Turin vs. Munich
It arrived, was barely seen and did not win. That is why only two examples were built, making the 2002 GT4 one of the rarest BMWs ever.
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The Glas GT four-seater - Pietro Frua's lost study
At the 1965 Geneva Motor Show, Pietro Frua presented a one-off that would certainly have appealed to both social and sporty Glas drivers, but which never made it into series production. Frua took on the development of the presumably lost prototype at his own risk ...
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Second use - two coupé bodies by Pietro Frua for the Ford Escort
Pietro Frua was a master of secondary utilization. He also reused the body he had created for the Glas GT after the end of its production and fitted it to the platform of the Ford Escort with economical modifications. Two such coupés with different engines were created, but the hoped-for small series production did not materialize. Both cars survived. This report looks back at the development of the two coupés and shows them in contemporary and present-day pictures.
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Alfa Romeo Delfino - Bertone's alternative to the GTV6
In 1983, Zagato and Bertone each presented an Alfa Romeo coupé with a V6 engine at the Geneva Motor Show. The two designs could hardly have been more different. Despite close-to-production technology, neither prototype made it into series production and today they are long forgotten.
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Talbot-Lago T150 C Spéciale Goutte d'Eau Figoni et Falaschi - Balanced
Teardrop or Goutte d'Eau - the term is often overused in the context of Figoni and Falaschi. The reason is simple: a pre-war car with a teardrop shape by the French coachbuilder, who was known for his flamboyant style, always meant big money at auction. This led - can it be described as "natural"? - to a few more "teardrops" than were originally built. Chassis 90034 is undisputedly an original, however, and has a complete history to boot.
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Unique, the Monteverdi 375 L by Pietro Frua
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!
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Fiat 130 Familiare - the special station wagon for skiing vacations
Gianni Agnelli liked something special, but liked to drive cars that didn't stand out too much. The Fiat 130 Famliare fitted perfectly into the concept, especially as it was ideal for transporting skis and accessories in St. Moritz. Only three (or four?) examples were built, all of which were different. This article tells the story of the Fiat 130 Familiare and shows it together with the series base in current and historical images.
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Jaguar Pirana Bertone - the forgotten link between Marzal and Espada
There are concept cars that will be remembered forever. Others, however, are forgotten, even though they have an important place in the history of car design. One of these "show cars" is the Jaguar Pirana by Bertone. After its active time at the motor shows in London, Turin and New York, it disappeared and remained hidden from the public until 2012. This vehicle article tells the story of the Jaguar Pirana and shows it in historical and current pictures as well as in a film document.
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MGB Berlinette - "Haute Counure"
The most Italian MGB was not built in Turin, but in the south-east of Brussels. There, Jacques Coune did not simply put a roof on the roadster, but transformed it into a filigree Gran Turismo. This short article introduces the MGB Berlinette and shows it in many pictures.
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Norman Timbs Special - The double phoenix or: You only live three times
After working as a designer for Tucker and Davis, Norman Timbs wanted to build his own car at the end of the 1940s, just for himself. Although he had no motorsport in mind, he took a German racing car as his model. Almost 80 years later, his Buick-engined "Special" is still an eye-catcher, even though it has since been scrapped and burned to the ground. This article tells the story of a one-off that just won't die.
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Delahaye 135 MS Cabriolet Köng - Very special
Some special bodies are so ubiquitous that at some point you take them for granted. While the great French coachbuilders were shaping the Delahaye 135 almost non-stop, Walter Köng in Basel only built one single example between 1935 and 1989. This article is dedicated to the unique Swiss convertible and its technical basis.
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Bugatti Type 57 Intercontinentale - Or: how one project became two
Originally, Tom Andrews had only bought the scrap-ready Bugatti 57 Ventoux to rebuild an "Atlantic" on its chassis. But then the chassis turned out to be the wrong one for this project - and the bodywork the wrong one for this chassis. This was because chassis number 57579 had been delivered by Gangloff in 1937 as a streamlined saloon. This article unravels the entanglements.
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Delahaye 175 S - The perfect miscast
When you think of successful rally cars, a French luxury sports coupé with special bodywork does not necessarily immediately spring to mind. But before rear-engined flounders and angry small cars began to dominate this sport, it was also possible to compete for victory with large cars, provided the necessary engine power was available. The Delahaye 175 S was one of the most powerful cars in Europe around 1950 with its 160 hp. This vehicle report describes what it achieved.
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Jaguar Mark VII Coupé Meteor - The triple one-off
If it wasn't already written in the title, you wouldn't know which brand is underneath this custom-made Italian suit. A Siata? A Fiat? Or even a Ferrari? The Jaguar Coupé Meteor by Stabilimenti Farina followed the style of its coachbuilder a little too closely and its brand a little too little, so that it was always a little too confusing. Its brothers "Golden Arrow" and "Flying Jaguar" were no different. This article tells the story of the three Jaguar one-offs with Farina bodywork.
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Lotus Elan GT - Roof floor
Before Lotus itself offered a coupé version of the Elan from 1965, a small workshop in Surrey fitted the plastic roadster with a sleek aluminum roof and hatchback. However, despite its successful lines, the "GT by Shapecraft" remained a rarity. No more than 20 examples were produced within two years. In this article, we tell the brief history of the small two-component sports car and show an unrestored example that, for once, has not been converted into a racing car.
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Ford Thunderbird "Italy" - uniquely fast rear end
As part of a traveling exhibition, a one-off called "Italy" based on the third Ford Thunderbird generation was shown in various countries and cities. In contrast to the production model, this particular Thunderbird had an elegant hatchback. The car should actually have been scrapped after its active period, but fortunately the coupé escaped this fate and has survived to this day. This vehicle report tells the story of the "Italy" and shows it in historical and current images.
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Italmeccanica I.T. 160 - Italian coupé elegance with American technology
Hardly anyone had heard of this car, even though it was the center of attention at the 1950 Turin Motor Show. However, like so many projects, the Italmeccanica I.T. 160 was not a success, despite its easy to maintain Ford series technology and captivating Italian design. Nevertheless, it is worth taking a look back, as original photographs and technical documents relating to this coupé can now be published for the first time.
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Barn find: Glass beach wagon "Ranch" - number 2 has survived
After years of research, the second of a total of three Glas "Ranch" cars has turned up in a barn. It is the same vehicle that was on display at the 35th Geneva Motor Show. This article takes you on a journey of discovery to Glas "Ranch" number 2, which was thought to be lost.
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Aston Martin DB2/4 Berlinetta Bertone - Little Italy
Stanley Arnolt had made a name for himself in the USA in 1952 with English technology in an Italian tailor-made suit. But the continuation of this success seemed to fail. Only a handful of his Aston-Martins with Bertone bodywork were produced. The only coupé among them did not even make it to America at first. This article tells the story of the creation of the Aston Martin DB2/4 Berlinetta Bertone and why its history may be a little different than previously assumed.
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Duesenberg Coupé Simone - Once upon a time ... and is now coming true
What came first: the car or its genesis? In the case of the Duesenberg Simone, it took 25 years for the romantic cast zinc vision of a lost prototype from the 1930s to become a real vehicle. This article tells the story of what is probably the only car built in three years at the same time.
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