Established in Switzerland in 1967 by
Peter Monteverdi who, during the late
1950s and early 1960s, had built, sold
and raced a number of "specials" while
developing the motor vehicle repair business
founded by his father. In 1967 Peter 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 to critical acclaim.
Designed by Pietro
Frua it featured aluminum body panels over
a square-tube space frame, a De Dion rear axle,
and was powered by a Chrysler V8
engine delivering 380 bhp. Other '375' models
were introduced in subsequent years, all featuring
the same basic layout but with variations in
wheelbase and power outputs and including 2+2,
4-door 4-seater, and 2-seat convertible versions.
A smaller BMW based 2000 GTI model was shown
in 1969 but failed to make production.
The high
point came with the mid-engined 2 seater Monteverdi
Hai 450, first shown at the 1970 Geneva Salon.
But the proglem with the Hai was the cost,
it far exceeding that of competing Ferrari
and Lamborghini models. Out of the reach of
almost the entire world population, only 2
are believed to have been produced. From 1976
the high-performance models were discontinued
and Monteverdi concentrated on Safari, Sierra
and the Sahara, based on International Harvester's
Scout II and Traveller series. These models
sold in greater numbers than the preceding
sports cars and remained in production until
1982.
Then between 1980 and 1982 Monteverdi
would manufacture their own unique version
of the 4 door Range Rover, however despite
ambitious plans for subsequent models production
would cease in 1982, and the factory was converted
into a museum, the Monteverdi Car Collection,
in 1985.
