A Dream Deferred, Now Delivered
In the world of classic cars, some stories are about legendary victories and iconic models. Others are about what might have been. The Bizzarrini 5300 GT Aperta Lusso is the latter—a car that existed only on paper for over half a century. Conceived in the 1960s
by the brilliant engineer Giotto Bizzarrini and famed designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, this open-top variant of the beautiful 5300 GT was a dream that never made it to the production line. Bizzarrini, the company, was focused on its racing efforts and simply ran out of time and money. Now, thanks to a 2020 revival of the Bizzarrini marque, this forgotten masterpiece is roaring to life, blending its classic 1960s soul with modern materials and engineering.
The Maestro of Modena
To understand the significance of this car, you first have to understand the man behind the name: Giotto Bizzarrini. An engineering genius, his fingerprints are on some of Italy’s most revered automobiles. Before starting his own company in 1964, Bizzarrini was a star engineer at Ferrari, where he was the chief architect behind the legendary 250 GTO, a car that now commands astronomical prices at auction. After a famous falling out with Enzo Ferrari, he went on to design the V-12 engine that would power Lamborghini's first cars, including the groundbreaking Miura supercar. Bizzarrini was a restless innovator, a man who, in his own words, was not a designer but a "worker" who always needed to know why something failed so he could invent a solution. His own firm, though short-lived, produced the formidable 5300 GT Strada, a low-slung beast powered by a reliable American Chevrolet V8.
The Unfinished Targa Vision
During the 5300 GT's brief production run, Bizzarrini and Giugiaro envisioned a more lifestyle-oriented version. They sketched out a car with a removable roof section—a “targa top”—that would offer the thrill of open-air driving without compromising the car’s sleek coupe profile. This model, to be named the Aperta Lusso (Italian for "Open Luxury"), was a visionary concept. However, Bizzarrini’s focus on motorsport and the company's eventual financial collapse in 1969 meant the drawings were filed away, and the car was never built. Giotto Bizzarrini himself moved on, even collaborating with American Motors on the wild AMX/3 prototype. The Aperta Lusso became a forgotten footnote in a remarkable career.
Old Soul, Modern Bones
The 2026 revival is not a simple replica; it’s what Bizzarrini calls a 'Nuova Classica'—a new classic. While its stunning shape is faithful to Giugiaro’s original vision, the body is crafted from a single, massive piece of carbon fiber, a material unheard of for car bodies in the 1960s. This advanced construction provides immense structural rigidity, ensuring the car is stiffer even than the original hardtop coupe, despite its two removable carbon-fiber roof panels. Under the hood sits a modern, fuel-injected 5.3-liter V8 engine producing over 400 horsepower, a nod to the original's use of a Chevrolet small-block. This power is sent through a manual transmission to the rear wheels, promising a top speed of over 175 mph.
Bridging Six Decades of Technology
The magic of the Aperta Lusso lies in its seamless blend of eras. The cabin features a classic wood-rimmed steering wheel, a dashboard carved from a single piece of maple, and an Italian tortoiseshell gear knob. Yet, hidden within this vintage aesthetic are modern conveniences like air conditioning, adjustable steering, and even MagSafe wireless phone charging. The suspension, while based on the geometry of Bizzarrini's 1965 Le Mans class-winning car, uses modern adjustable dampers. It's a car designed to deliver a pure, analogue driving experience with just enough modern technology to make it usable in the 21st century. With only an initial run of ten examples being built, it’s an ultra-exclusive celebration of a dream that took 60 years to realize.
