1968 Intermeccanica Italia Spyder

1968 Intermeccanica Italia Spyder
Sold For $181,500 Including Commission
RM | Sotheby's - AMELIA ISLAND, Florida 2015
Chassis No.50049
Single ownership since 1978
Comprehensive restoration, including a mechanical rebuild
Shown at the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance in 2010
A brilliant example of a rare Italian sports car
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, and their cars combined Italian artistry with an American powertrain. The Reisners were zealous car buffs who loved sports cars and racing. They traveled to Europe and settled in Torino, Italy, where they opened their company and began manufacturing aftermarket speed kits. Their dream was to build beautiful performance cars. In 1967, after a series of name, ownership, and engineering changes within the company, the Reisners began production of the stunning Italia Spyder.
The first Italias were exported to the United States in 1968. The cars were unlike anything else on the market and quickly gained the attention of discerning American car lovers. However, with limited production and a dear price tag of $8,500, only the affluent could afford them. To many aficionados, the 1968 Intermeccanica Italia Spyder was an automotive masterpiece. The car’s “prancing bull” badging was a gracious nod to Torino's coat of arms. Its styling, which was classic Italian with vintage Ferrari undertones, was elegant. Its performance was equally impressive, as it could reach 0–60 in 6.2 seconds and had a top speed of 155 mph, which was attained through a powerful and proven Ford V-8 engine. The Italia’s steel body was hand-formed, and its chassis was made from tubular steel. With fewer than 400 of these models being built during its production run from 1967 to 1973, the Italia has since taken on an appealing mystique as a rare automobile.
The Italia Spyder offered here is an exceptional and pristine example, one that has been enjoyed by one owner for the past 37 years. It underwent a bumper-to-bumper restoration by the talented craftsmen at R&A Engineering in Manchester, Michigan, and expense was not an issue, with receipts totaling more than $200,000 accompanying the car. The consignor notes that all of the mechanical systems have been rebuilt or replaced, including the engine, which has been disassembled and reconstructed, reportedly with a few performance-enhancing upgrades. The body was completely stripped, meticulously examined, and refinished in a lustrous blue tone, and all of the chrome and brightwork were replated. The interior was completely redone with tan leather seating and matching carpets, and chrome wire wheels with knock-off hubs were put on as a finishing touch. The end result is a spectacular Italia, one whose looks qualified it for display at the 2010 Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance.
The Italia’s beauty and performance, combined with its scarcity, make this Spyder a gorgeous and valued prize.
250 hp, 301.5 cu. in. Ford Cleveland V-8 engine, four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers, rear trailing arm suspension with coil springs and a Panhard rod, and four-wheel disc brakes. Wheelbase: 94.5 in.
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Robert Myrick Photography©