Bizzarrini 1900 GT Europa History

Conceived as an affordable companion to the V8-powered Strada, the 1900 GT Europa grew from a proposal Bizzarrini developed for Opel as a candidate for the German brand's forthcoming sports car. Opel declined and chose an in-house project (which became the Opel GT), leaving Bizzarrini to continue development independently at his Livorno factory.

The Europa used Opel 1900 underpinnings — engine, gearbox, and suspension components — beneath a purpose-built fibreglass body. It was positioned to compete with sporting coupés from Alfa Romeo and Lancia, and was intended to underpin the marque's move into meaningful production volumes. Because Bizzarrini did not maintain thorough factory records, the exact number built is disputed: estimates range from 12 confirmed examples to as many as 17 if post-closure completions from remaining chassis are included.

The Europa's promise was cut short by the company's financial collapse in 1969. Today the surviving cars are among the rarest of all Bizzarrini models, regularly appearing at specialist auctions for six-figure sums.