Neri & Bonacini's Mini Miura

Every so often, I come across cars I've never heard of but can't figure out how I could be unaware of something so beautiful!  This is one of those times.  Idly searching for interesting cars online, I suddenly found myself staring at a low-slung, sleek red machine with all the hallmarks of late 1960's Italian sports car design. The car in question is the 1968 Neri & Bonacini Studio GT Due Litri.  Like many of these forgotten cars, it was a prototype developed on a tiny budget in the hope that publicity would spur capital needed to develop the car, attract a proper engine supplier, and set up larger production. Neri & Bonacini were no strangers to modifying cars, having produced the famous Ferrari "Breadvan." Here, they sought to develop an all-new car from the ground up.They considered many possible engines, but the car in the photos is powered by a tiny Lancia V4 engine, mounted midship.  The car resembles the Lamborghini Miura from the rear, and somewhat presages the shape of the Uracco when seen fron the side view.  The pleasing front end is quite interesting for the use of pop-up headlamps.  2 prototypes were made. The car pictured is the second one, owned by John Mastroianni Sr. of Auto Turismo & Sport , New Milford, CT, and in original, unrestored condition!  I found these photos on their website, which has some great images from their shop! Some day I'll have to drop by and pay a visit!

Photo credit: Auto Turismo Sport

More info on the Studio GT and interior photos also at supercars.net

Comments

[Stephen Mitchell]

A very interesting car--one I'd never heard of. Too bad it didn't go into production.

[motoringconbrio]

i would love to do a "motoringconbrio proposes" but don't have the photoshop skills! honestly, that gtv6 in the last picture looks better to me than this car, which has some of the weirder wheelbase proportions i can recall seeing in recent memory.

on the other hand, i am acutely aware that i do prefer stubbier cars than you do ;-)

[Bradley Price]

No doubt the proportions are a little odd. But also the black rocker panels and painted on striping obscure the true height of the bodysides.

[syed]

wow....this is BEAUTIFUL!

[Walter Jamieson Jr]

New to me as well and very beautiful.

[Simon]

I think you may find the engine is a Lancia Flavia flat four.

[syed]

Simon---i think you meant Lancia Fulvia

[Bradley Price]

I believe that the Flavia engine was in the first prototype and this one has the Fulvia V4 in it...But I could be wrong.

[syed]

if i recall correctly....Lancia has used lots of different V4s, but never in the Flavia....

[Simon]

Photo #3 on the supercars.net site that you refer to clearly shows a Flavia flat four engine.

[PieterA]

The first prototype had the Lancia Flavia 1.8 (h4) FLAT four, the second one (the one from above) a 2 liter Ford Taunus engine.

[Bradley Price]

Thanks Pieter!

[Brandon Neri]

How does Neri and Bonacini look like I tried in the internet and they have no record of their faces. please reply . To give me the answer of how can I know how they look like.