I didn't know the car brand Bizzarrini at all, always good to discover new models like this prototype. During the auction sale Les Grandes Marques in Paris, this unique 1971 Bizzarrini 128P Barchetta will heading to auction through Bonhams for about € 200,000.

History of the Bizzarrini 128P

First, I start with the automotive brand, Bizzarrini founded in the 60's by Giotto Bizzarrini, engineer working before for Alfa-Romeo, Ferrari and Iso, and producing some sport cars like the 5300 GT Strada or the P538S. But the company went bankrupt in 1966. In the 2000's, Bizzarrini is relaunched for concept cars production.

5300 GT Strada

P538S

Giotto Bizzarrini started to work on the prototype of the 128P Barchetta in 1971 and was presented during the Turin Motor Show in 1972. He designed this audacious bodycoach (awarded at Amelia Island in 2017 for the Most Audacious Exterior, Camille Jenatzy Price) and built himself two examples, one a prototype and one for competition that participated in the 1973 Targa Florio but crashing out on the first lap (nowin the Museo Nazional dell'Automobile in Turin).

But after the Turin Motor Show, the prototype was abandoned outside the Bizzarrini's factory. In the 90's, the restoration began as you can see in this article of Ruoteclassiche in 1993 (see in the Bonus Pic).