Giotto Bizzarrini

It was Luigi Chinetti who insisted that Ferrari create an open version of the 250, also and above all intended for the American market. Equipped with the 3-liter 12-cylinder engine, the car appeared in December 1957 under the name of 250 GT California. Scaglietti designed a body with clean and elegant lines, in steel alloy with aluminum moving parts (some units entirely made of aluminum were built for competitive use). The first models were equipped with Plexiglas covers on the headlights, which were replaced in 1958 by a configuration without covers and with a slightly different wheel arch design. Another restyling came in 1959, with new side air outlets, chrome profiles around the headlights and a different air intake. In 1960 the original California gave way to a short wheelbase version based on the 250 GT SWB chassis.

Widely considered as the best AMC design of all time, a third-generation AMX concept car, the AMX/3, debuted at the 1970 Chicago Auto Show. Engine-less and fashioned in fiberglass, the original AMC/3 prototype was a show car only.

American Motors placed an order for 30 operational cars. The AMX/3 body mold was sent to Italian GT maker Giotto Bizzarrini, whose Turin facility hand made drivable mid-engined, steel bodied cars. Built on a 105.3-inch wheelbase, the Bizzarrini prototypes used the AMC 390 cubic inch V-8 and an Italian OTO Melara four-speed transaxle. Road testing was done by BMW, which declared the AMX/3's chassis one of the stiffest and most neutral handling they had ever tested.

The steel Italian cars differed from the original AMC design in having fewer but functional rear decklid louvers, louvered hoods, and, in some cases, hood scoops to direct fresh air into the heating-A/C system.

Five completed cars were produced before the US$2,000,000 program was cancelled. Escalating costs and pending bumper regulations put a stop to the mid-engined AMX/3.

Giotto Bizzarini planned to build at the plant based in his hometown Livorno a sports car, which should meet the needs of general public. Initially he thought about using a 1,5 liter engine of Fiat, but later he changed his mind and fitted a new - as from 1965 produced - 1,9 liter engine type CIH (Camshaft in Head) of Opel.  The engine and the chassis were held by a fine tubular frame, on which the plastic car body was fitted. Due to this car body the Bizzarrini had a weight of only 650 kg - a real lightweight. The weight and its 110 HP-strong engine ensured a sporty locomotion. On top came the aerodynamic shape of the car body. First of all its low height of only 104 centimeters enabled the 1900 GT to reach a good cd value. But also the long hood, which housed the 4-cylinder engine, and a flat rear design with a sharply dropping tail, did their bit to minimize the drag coefficient. All these features made a top speed of 210 km/h possible.

In 1966 the car was presented at the Turin Motor Show for the first time. But the serial production only sporadically came about and this is how it came that only a few cars left the plant. According to contradictory information, between 12 and 17 Bizzarrini 1900 GTs were built. In 1968 Automobili Bizzarini S.p.A. stopped its assembly of the 1900 GT and in 1969 the production was definitely ceased.

The car symbol of Ferrari. This model is known to history as one of the most valuable car ever created. With this car Ferrari won the over 2000cc class of the FIA 's International Championship for GT Manufacturers in 1962, 1963 and 1964
Collectors consider it a cult car: in 2013, a model was sold for more than $ 50 million.