Monteverdi (car)

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Logo of Monteverdi

Monteverdi was a Swiss brand of luxury cars created in 1967 by Peter Monteverdi (1934 - 1998) and based in Binningen near Basel, Switzerland. During the late 1950s and early 1960s he built, sold and raced a number of "specials" while at the same time developing the motor vehicle repair business founded by his father into a major dealership handling Ferrari, BMW and Lancia marques.

By 1967, he had decided to undertake series production of exclusive high performance luxury sports and touring cars. The first model, the 2-seater Monteverdi High Speed 375S coupe, was launched at that years Frankfurt Motor Show and received very positive reviews. The car used a heavy and simple steel frame provided by Stahlbau Muttenz GmbH. The aluminium body was designed by Pietro Frua. It looked quite similar to other Frua creations of that time, particularly the Maserati Mistral Coupé and the british AC 428. There are rumours that all the three shared some details like windows etc. The elegant looking car was powered by a 7,2 Litre Chrysler V8 engine delivering up to 375 bhp (according to SAE standards) and had a luxurious interior all finished to the highest standards. 11 copies of the Frua-designed Monteverdi coupé were built from 1968 to 1969, then the alliance ofMonteverdi and Frua split in anger. Not long before, Frua had built two 2+2 coupés with a stretched wheelbase. One of them was presented as Monteverdi 375/L, the other one stayed for some years at Frua before, in 1971, it was slightly modified and sold to AC where it was presented as a one-off AC 429.

In 1969, Monteverdi choose the small Carozzeria Fissore for further collaboration. Fissore re-designed the 375 Coupé and built the bodies that where delivered to Monteverdi where the cars were finally assembled. Now, the car has square lines but still elegant proportions. The 2+2 form became the standard model while subsequently other body styles were offered, too. First, there was a short wheelbase 2 seat coupé called 375/S and - on the same short wheelbase - a drophead dubbed 375/C. Those cars are extremely rare nowadays. Soon, Monteverdi also offered a massive sedan called 375/4 that is said to be built about 30 times. Other variations on the same theme were the 1974 Berlinetta with a different front styling and Triumph TR6 taillights and another convertible, called Palm Beach. This car is said to be the rarest Monteverdi, being built only two times.

The production of super luxury cars ended in 1976. By that time, Monteverdi had started the mass production of a new kind of cars: well-equipped luxurious Off-road Station wagons. The first Model was the Monteverdi Sahara. In fact, it was not a Monteverdi development but a boutique car. Monteverdi used a technically unchanged International Scout, changed the grill and tuned up the interior - that was it. The second model was the Safari. In this case, Monteverdi used a Range Rover, stripped off the whole bodywork and installed new aluminium panels, once again being designed by Fissore. Instead of the GM-based Rover V8, a larger 5,7 Litre V8 from Chrysler was installed. The car had a proper, almost Italian look, and it sold well, in Europe as well as in the Middle East.

As far as road cars were concerned, Monteverdi changed to the boutique car system in 1977. The Monteverdi Sierra was a Sedan with a 5,2 Litre V8 engine and distintive looks. In fact, it was nothing else than a Plymouth Volaré with slightly changed bodywork. Once again, it was a work of Fissore, and it was a good piece of work. With few modifications, the car looked very European, with obvious similarities to the Fiat 130. Fenders, bumpers, grill and rare parts were modified: Headlamps were taken from Fiat 125, rear lights came from Renault R 12. The rest - windows, doors, technique - remained unchanged. The Sierra soon was accompanied by a two door convertible based on a Dodge Diplomat Coupé. That car was built only two times. Finally, Monteverdi also presented a Station Wagon on the well-known Plymouth basis. It remained a one-off that was never sold.

When the production of the Plymouth Volaré ended in 1982, Monteverdi choose another car that was to be converted. This time, it was the new Mercedes S-Class (W 126). The front got a massive chrome grille with four round headlamps looking like an Alfa Romeo Alfetta (third series), while the rear lamps were provided by Peugeot (505 sedan). The car looked not harmonic. It was announced for a price of 185.000 Swiss Francs. It is not clear if there was a serious production; anyway, car production in Basel ended by 1984.

The factory was converted into a museum, the Monteverdi Car Collection, which opened in 1985.

In 1990, Monteverdi returned to his racing roots through acquisition of the Onyx Formula 1 team, renamed Monteverdi-Onyx for the 1990 season. They survived only until the 10th race of the 16 race season before closing.