Intermeccanica Italia History

The Italia (originally called the Torino until Ford objected over its registered Torino name) was Intermeccanica's largest-volume and most successful period GT. Bodies were hand-formed over wooden bucks in steel, then fitted with Ford V8 engines — beginning with the 4.7-liter, later growing to the 5.0-liter and settling on the 5.7-liter Cleveland 351. Performance was genuine: 0–60 mph in about 6.2 seconds and a top speed approaching 155 mph.

Franco Scaglione redesigned the shell and created the open Spyder variant, and the Spyder decisively outsold the coupe, becoming the best-selling Intermeccanica body style. Three Targa-top variants were also constructed. Under 500 examples were completed between 1967 and 1973 (some sources cite up to 500; the Wikipedia figure is approximately 500 total). The Italia remains the most recognized Intermeccanica and commands strong collector interest as a overlooked Italian-American exotic of the late 1960s.