The Bizzarrini 5300 GT is one of the prettiest sports cars ever, but what very few people know is that it was supposed to have an open top sibling. Back in the early 1960s, company founder Giotto Bizzarrini and a young Giorgetto Giugiaro had envisioned exactly that, but the project never saw the light of day. More than 60 years later, Bizzarrini has finally brought that forgotten idea to life. Meet the 5300 Aperta Lusso.
Rather than simply chopping the roof off an original 5300 GT (which are extremely rare), the revived Italian marque has engineered the Aperta Lusso from ground up. It features a single piece carbonfibre composite body mounted on a bonded semi-monocoque chassis. Staying true to Giugiaro’s original vision, the Aperta Lusso does away with a conventional folding hood in favour of two removable carbonfibre roof panels that can be stowed neatly in the luggage compartment. Visually, very little has changed from the car Giugiaro first put to paper over six decades ago. It retains the long bonnet, compact cabin, muscular rear haunches and the trademark Kamm tail similar to its coupe sibling.
Power comes from a naturally aspirated 5.3-litre V8 mounted behind the front axle. While it stays true to the original recipe, the engine now benefits from modern port fuel injection for improved reliability. Producing more than 400 bhp, it sends power exclusively to the rear wheels through a Tremec TKX five-speed manual gearbox. Buyers can also opt for a six-speed manual. A limited-slip differential comes as standard, and Bizzarrini claims a top speed of over 280 kph.
Despite its unmistakably classic appearance, the Aperta Lusso gets modern hardware and amenities including adjustable Koni Red dampers, an Inconel valved exhaust, electro-hydraulic power steering, upgraded brakes, air conditioning, a discreet CarPlay-compatible audio system and a wireless charger for your phone. The cabin gets leather upholstery with Zegna fabric inserts, maple dashboard and a Nardi wood-rim steering wheel.
Just ten examples of the 5300 Aperta Lusso will ever be built, each individually commissioned to its owner’s specification. I’d say that’s about ten too few.
