From helping a friend restore a 1968 chevrolet cutlass as an eager though inexperienced 15yearold to owning a classic and fully restored porsche 911, mccredie is never happier than when behind the wheel of a vintage motorcar or elbows deep in automotive history research. If you managed to visit the auto italia day at brooklands earlier t. Quotations in this section are courtesy of andrew mccredies book the story of. Mar 22, 2017 the intermeccanica italia spyder is an italiancanadianamerican sports car with a fascinating albeit complex history. Intermeccanica italia spyder history these exotics used a sporting italian chassis and handmade body penned by robert cumberford. The intermeccanica italia is like a pizza hawai, its italian but not entirely.
The hagerty classic car valuation tool is designed to help you learn how to value your 1967 intermeccanica omega and assess the current state of the classic car market. Custom building one dream at a time frank, a hungarianborn canadian, and paula reisner, a czechborn canadian were a perfect match. This italia convertible comes with a letter of authenticity from intermeccanica international inc confirming its delivery new to a mr m bende of new jersey, usa. The hagerty classic car valuation tool is designed to help you learn how to value your 1969 intermeccanica italia and assess the current state of the classic car market. The italia was the perfect name for the elegant, sexy sports car, and one north american consumers would immediately fall in love with page 80, mccredie. With bitter cars and opel, intermeccanica developed the indra 1971, followed by a few years assembling the squire car. Intermeccanica indra apollo gt italia murena torino. Kits consisted of dual throat carburetors, intake manifolds, highperformance cams and oil filters. Another highly successful model was the torino, later rebranded as the italia, a sexy and sporty design that was shipped to the u. Also included is the bible of the intermeccanica marque, a book written by. This indra is uk registered and comes with a history file that includes. Intermeccanica italia sports coupe 289 hi performance 4speed man. Fire that 351 into life, and the available performance should be enough to satisfy virtually everyone. Oct 01, 2019 the intermeccanica italia is a remarkable 60sera sports car designed and built by a small team of americans and italians all under the direction of a largerthanlife hungariancanadian man named frank reisner.
The cars prancing bull badging was a gracious nod to torinos coat of arms. Over time, almost 400 italias were sold in north america and germany. They moved from canada to torino, italy and named the company construzione automobili intermeccanica. Construzione automobili intermeccanica was the name used when car manufacturer intermeccanica started up their company in 1959. Canadians frank and paula reisner went to turin in 1959. The first italias were shipped to the us for sale in 1968, and by march of the same year intermeccanica had sold more than 40 italias to the united states. Apr 07, 2011 one of the less than 500 torinoitalias built is this 1969 intermeccanica italia for sale on. Intermeccanica is undertaking a couple of special projects at this time as a way of testing the market in related automotive ventures. Hemmings find of the day 1969 intermeccanica italia. Intermeccanica formally construzione automobili intermeccanica is an automobile. Its performance was equally impressive, as it could reach 060 in 6.
Intermeccanica indra apollo gt italia murena torino griffith reisner buch book eur 58,00. The motorcar offered the splendid example of the rare intermeccanica italia spyder offered here was completed at the torinobased works in may of 1969. I have sorted out many of the records and can help with some production numbers by the changes made during production. From modest beginnings based in the automotive mecca of turin, italy throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, intermeccanica conceived, designed and produced a dozen different models that shook the. Apollo with buick mechanicals which are my favorite intermeccanica cars,the book is. The 60s are nicknamed the swinging 60s and intermeccanica was smack bang in the middle of it. Reservations must be made by wednesday, june 12, 20 to qualify for the above room rate. The first italias were shipped to the us for sale in 1968, and by march of the same year intermeccanica had sold more than 40 italias to. Intermeccanica italia for sale, with a ford drivetrain ebay motors. Its first project was speed equipment kits for renault, simca, peugeot, and dkw. The splendid example of the rare intermeccanica italia spyder offered here was completed at the torinobased works in may of 1969. His purpose was to built a purebred italian sportscar powered by a solid and reliable american engine.
Its styling, which was classic italian with vintage ferrari undertones, was elegant. Once restored, this intermeccanica italia will offer the next owner the best of both worlds. They traveled to europe and settled in torino, italy, where they opened their company and initially manufactured aftermarket speed kits. Intermeccanica developed the indra with bitter cars and opel in 1971. More importantly, and the reason behind this revised 2018 edition of a book first. From the imp to the apollo, to the griffith to the omega, italia and indra, he interviews many of the players, but largely relies on paulas recollections. It started in torino, italy, subsequently moved to the states, then to canada.
Shown at the meadow brook concours delegance in 2010. The story of the prancing bull mccredie, andrew, reisner, paula. Such as italian journalist gianni rogliatti, who wrote the second foreword. You want to buy a intermeccanica italia classic car. The book written after franks passing in 2001 was narrated by his wife paula. Even though each manufacturer implemented its own drive unit, all the cars shared the same intermeccanicabuilt body. Under the hood is a reliable, highrevving, 271 hp ford 289 highperformance v8 mated to a fourspeed manual transmission. Intermeccanica italia classic cars for sale 1 offers for intermeccanica italia found show vehicles. Any of you who have visited intermeccanica in the last decade or more will know that we have had an original intermeccanica italia at the shop. Jun 21, 2011 intermeccanica inc did a fantastic job in the italia s restoration. The first cars they produced were formula junior races powered by. Intermeccacina was started in 1959 by henrys father frank when he moved to turin italy with his wife paula. A very rare and unusual handcrafted italian barchetta built from 1967 to 1973 using ford v8 engines and drivetrains, this early production car has about 55k miles and is.
This car was introduced in 1966 and went down a very complex path. Nov 21, 2011 intermeccanica speedster and roadster owners from all over north america have met for a summer weekend of motoring for years, but this sundayos barbecue at the sports car makeros vancouver shop. Intermeccanica enthusiasts club provides information on the italia, indra, squire, griffith, apollo and omega. Comprehensive restoration, including a mechanical rebuild. History quotations in this section are courtesy of andrew mccredies book the story of the prancing bull which recounts the rich history of sports car manufacturer, intermeccanica. Intermeccanica the story of the prancing bull mccredie, andrew, reisner, paula. We apologize, but no model history was found for this vehicle. The italia was a larger gt sports car, of which approximately 500 were made, from 1966 to 1972. Indiana jones sought out historical relics, not old cars. An excellent book on a very small and unique auto manufacturer from italy. Andrew mccredies book the story of the prancing bull tells. Intermeccanica automobiles were made in turin italy by frank reisner and is now located in canada where they currently produce porsche 356 speedster replicas. Intermeccanica originally purchased this italia to become the basis for a design for a new italia project for us to custom build. A nearperfect 1969 intermeccanica italia spyder is for sale.
The the never ending story part 2 is now ready for your reading pleasure. History of the 19671972 intermeccanica italia we apologize, but no model history was found for this vehicle. Frank reisner, a hungarianborn, american educated chemical engineer, turned a youthful passion for cars into one of the most famous small production sports car building companies in the world. That was more or less the history of intermeccanica, they would be doing. Ref 6 1973 intermeccanica indra historics auctioneers. Please call the fairmont chateau whistlers reservations department at. This can probably explain why the italianamerican hybrid isnt more well known, but does little to hide the cars italian flair and v8 performance. The italia was a last link in a chain of sports cars that began in 1963 with the apollo gt, which was sold under various labels by american manufacturers, and eventually began carrying the name omega gt. This actually american project finally became the intermeccanica italia and. T he intermeccanica italia combined a european sportscar chassis with an american v8 engine and was built between 1967 and 1973.
Such a rad hybrid of italian design and american power. Knowledgeable sports car enthusiasts are quick to perk up when they hear the name intermeccanica, and with good reason. Intermeccanica was established in 1959 by chemical engineer frank reisner and his wife, paula. The intermeccanica italia spyder was among the most attractive and potent italianamerican hybrids of the 1960s and 1970s, and its sleek styling and sophisticated chassis made for a great combo. Intermeccanica news newspapers books scholar jstor. The italia, one of less than 400 examples produced, occupies a special place in history and awaits a new owner who appreciates its combination.
Italia apollo and intermeccanica replacement parts. Their idea was to put on the market a svelte looking sports car similar but with the reliability of an american v8 engine. I decided to refresh and combine this drive and history video covering the intermeccanica italia. Paula reisner is frank reisners daughter and served as coauthor of the. Sep 18, 2018 determining a value on the intermeccanica italia is a difficult task. Most notable of these models are the apollo, the italia and the indra. Our history intermeccanica our history quotations in this section are courtesy of andrew mccredies book. The italia was a large sports car, of which approximately 500 were made 19661972, followed by the eleven murena gt 1971. Book intermeccanica story of the prancing bull history cars sports car builder. Mccredie hustles the book along chapter by chapter in car and chronological order. It is often considered a hybrid, having combined a european chassis with american drive technology. Intermeccanica italia design critique and minihistory anybody.
I remember i was disappointed that he did not appear in the book to be that concerned early on to. After being commissioned by opel, a general motors subsidiary, intermeccanica embarked on a very exciting new project. Just 400 or so were built between 1966 and 1972, and surviving examples have been skyrocketing in price due to their rarity, good looks, and inexpensive maintenance costs thanks to their american drivetrains. The story of the prancing bull is a fascinating life lead by the reisner family and its incredible journey of fleeing tyranny from naziism to its kissing cousin communism,and then ending up in a prosperous italy which was to later sadly become in the 70s like much of the rest of europe and sadly the world militant and prolabor radical of couse we see how well the e. Italia apollo and intermeccanica replacement parts italia. Dec 18, 2017 the story of intermeccanica intermeccanica was founded by a friendly hungarianborn canadian named frank and his wife paula in 1959. Production began after a long series of events including name, ownership and engineering changes. The italia is a twoseater sports car initially sold by the italian automaker construzione automobili intermeccanica from 1968 to 1970, offered as a coupe and convertible. Even though there were significantly fewer of the coupe version built than the spyder, the spyder seems to command a higher price. Initially, the business centered around automotive tuning kits. You should have a copy of the intermeccanica book by paula reisner. To begin with, intermeccanica was established by jack griffith, an in canada domiciled hungarian who moved later to italy. Home store company catalogue galleries stories marketplace links contact.
The cars early history is unknown until 1999 when it was registered in sweden to mr peter christopherson. It might not have the same name recognition as a ferrari, but this 1968 intermeccanica italia spyder is no less desirable. Apr 20, 2020 intermeccanica italia spyder theres been a lot of guys who go up against ferrari, trying to build an exotic car that has all of the visual appeal of a ferrari but an engine thats dirt cheap to fix. Please identify yourself as belonging to the intermeccanica program. Their patience should be well rewarded, as once properly restored, they will find themselves owning a car that not only looks stunning, but should possess the performance to match those good looks. The italia was eventually produced as both a coupe and a. The books forward is written by karl ludvigsen, a person recognized as one of the foremost automobile book authors. Their first product was a formula junior openwheeled racer powered by a peugeot engine. Intermeccanica italia then came some american wouldbe sports car builders, one group of which was milt brown and ned davis with ron plescia, who later became a well known car designer. First, we have begun the restoration of a 1967 intermeccanica italia for a long time intermeccanica customer and friend, gerry. Find the italia, apollo, and intermeccanica restoration parts.
From the imp to the apollo, to the griffith to the omega, italia and indra. Standing still it will possess stunning good looks and amazing pose value. Mar 31, 2010 whatever intermeccanica was, it was an extension of reisners imagination and drive. The person who buys this 1971 intermeccanica italia is going to need some patience when it comes to restoring the car. Intermeccanica was founded in turin, italy, in 1959. Intermeccanica italia classic cars for sale classic trader. You can learn more about the reisner family and their rich history in the book. Intermeccanica the book is an exceptional portrait of frank reisner automobile manufacturing career. The first italias were shipped to the us for sale in 1968, and by march of the same year intermeccanica had sold more than 40 italias.
It is a car that is going to require a fair amount of work to return it to. The cars were unlike anything else on the market and quickly gained the attention of discerning american car lovers. Upon the arrival of the italian sports car, chicago newspapers were plastered. To many aficionados, the 1968 intermeccanica italia spyder was an automotive masterpiece. The porsche 356a lookalikes frank reisners intermeccanica. Henry reisner is the president of intermeccanica, custom coach builders in vancouver, british columbia. I must thank paula reisner for her guidance and input, to henry reisner and his intermeccanica staff and crew also a special mention of thanks to my good buddy dave sanderson for his help and work to complete this restoration. This superb book tells the story of the marque, a real david and goliath story if ever.
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