The Italian Cobra? 1969 Intermeccanica Torino Italia
Intermeccanica, a still-going concern, has an interesting history. Starting out in Turin Italy, the specialty car manufacturer moved to the U.S. in 1975 and now calls Vancouver, British Columbia home. And starting in 1970, Intermeccanica had to ditch the Torino moniker because Ford copyrighted it for its upscale mid-sized Fairlane. Heads up, the listing images for this pretty cool car are less than ideal so I’ll try to do this “Italian Cobra” justice. It’s located in Fort Meyers, Florida and is available, here on craigslist for $37,900. Thanks to Peter R. for this tip!
Starting out in 1959 as a specialty parts manufacturer, Intermeccanica got into the sports car business by manufacturing aluminum bodies that were secured to custom-built chassis. According to My Carquest, between 1967 and 1972, about 500 Torino/Italias were built, primarily using Ford engines and running gear, along with a host of European manufacturer’s parts and then placing the whole shebang upon a square tube frame. It is said there were about eleven two-door station wagon, or shooting brake, body styles offered along with the standard two-seater. Unfortunately, you won’t get a great view of this car from the listing, so the above image is how a complete Torino Italia appears.
The body on this example is fair, based on what little can be seen, but things like the bumpers are clearly missing. The seller does add, however, “This solid bodied 1969 coupe is ready for restoration with many of the unique parts already collected including the front and rear bumpers“. The original wheel selection was a Magnum 500 and that’s what appears to be still on our subject car.
Power comes from a Ford “J-code” 302 CI, V8 engine which research states is a 230 gross HP, 1968 version of Ford’s venerable Windsor small-block. This one is a non-runner, (the water pump, at least, is missing) but the engine is claimed to turn over. It’s connected to a Top-Loader four-speed manual transmission, which is supposedly hooked up to a Ford live axle – at least that’s what the Carquest article claims. Seems like an odd choice for running gear – one would assume independent rear suspension. This is an air-conditioned example but nothing is said about the existence of the componentry.
The seats are stated as having been reupholstered, and they look fine, but the passenger door card is missing and the rest of the environment is too dark and out of focus to make any kind of a noteworthy assessment. No doubt, this is a rare car, whether it’s worth the ask, especially considering the lousy sales presentation, is hard to say. This should be an attractive collectible, considering its styling, low production numbers, and V8 power but there is so little here that is well represented, it would discourage me from probing further, how about you?
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Comments
Perfectly stated, Jim.
Ahoi,
this is a rare classic sportscar. It needs work, but the price is still 37900$. Well, when you compare this one with other “bastards” – luxury european noname cars with us- engines – it`s not sooo expensive. But in the price list 2022 of the biggest german classic car magazin “Oldtimer Markt” it`s written a condition 3 coupe costs now 40000€ and a condition 4 costs 25000€. They also write that the prices for such cars became 33% less in the last five years. This is quite a lot for such a car in the last 5 years. By the way, such things happenes nowadays quite often for small, certainly not rare, prewarcars. So, why this cars became so much cheaper in the last five years? Could be, that quite a lot of them, of course still not a high number, were tryed to sell. This cars were already collector cars, when they were new. This cars are not replicas like so much cobras. Iso`s and Monteverdi`s didn`t got less worth. In my opinion, this car could be a intressting projekt. The only problem is, that it don`t have a famous name…
Best regards,
Till J.
Not sure where they are getting there info but according to Hagerty the coupe sells for more than it did 5 years ago, about 30% more. The spider sells for about the same, though it did have some down years it is basically even money from 5 years ago. They have been climbing in value since 2008 and really took off in 2014 and are currently selling for about 3 times what they sold for in 2008. Hagerty’s values follow what I have seen in the market as I have tracked these cars for a long time.
The spider sells for about double what the coupe does, and this makes sense as this is more of a cruiser car. I have never driven one but I am told that the suspension is a bit of let down with to much bump steer in the front, but they do look gorgeous and would be a great cruiser/
Hi Kevin,
the values of collector cars in this magazin are made by Classic Data. This company makes the appraisals for insurances. The same car as a convertible is now said, that it is 70000€ in condition 3 worth, 42000€ in condition 4 and it lost 18% worth in the last 5 years. By the way, this can also means that it got more worth in the last two years, but compared to the prices five years ago it still lost worth. Well, another problem is were it is for sale. If you compare this prices with the cars what are now for sale by Hemmings than it sounds strange. But Hemmings is of course something for the american market. By the way, some years ago some people in europe tried to sell this cars for very high prices. If they did, I don`t know. So, the prices in this magazin are for the european market. If you have a look at some unusual cars, you sometimes wonder how much people pay for this in another part of the world – or how cheap they are there. Have a look to the Goggomobile Coupe and the Mitsubishi Saporro (with a Dodge sign…) from today on Barnfinds and compare this prices with the prices in Germany. But Kevin, yes, by a car like the Intermeccanica Italia coupe this is quite difficult. I also have sometimes problems with the values of Classic Data. Especially by rare collector cars, which are not well known in Europe. So again, I really belive this car wouldn`t be a stupid purchase… (but, it don`t have a big name…)
Best regards,
Till J.
Yes very cool, but needs lots of work, not the best paint job or photos. I do hope it gets back on the street.
The high price is justified by the presence of a purple carburetor.
Was wondering if you had any more parts for this car? Looks like fan, belts hoses, brakes etc. If this is a Windsor they burned oil way more than any Cleveland! Looks like decent body but looks like parts disappearing. Also your English grammer is pretty poor. Recrdsion coming, non runner with tons of work and lots of parts or new motor too. GOOD LUCK. SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE!
A decade or so ago
While at an italian car meet in pensylvania
Many detomaso ´s
And
Lamborginis and such
One car stood out and got my attention
And it was convertible
The lines are so good
And the american drivetrain makes it as easy to maintain as the pantera
Certainly out of my price league
But such a nice design