Sportscars for the connoisseur, they were the creation of Giotto Bizzarrini, a former Alfa Romeo and Ferrari engineer who was heavily involved in the latter’s legendary 250 GTO. After leaving Ferrari in 1961 he worked on the Lamborghini V12 engine and Iso’s Grifo project.

In 1964 Bizzarrini S.p.A was formed, its first car being launched two years later. Based on the competition Grifo A3C, it was called the 5300 Strada. The company’s most famous design was the P538S, which raced at Le Mans. Only around 140 Bizzarrinis were built before production ceased in 1969. Giotto continued working as a consultant, producing prototypes and building replica P538s.