The Prettiest Car That You Have Never Heard Of

In this Rare Cars documentary, we are going over the story of what is arguably one of the top 100 best-looking cars ever made - and yet so few people have ever even heard of this car's name let alone its story. This is the Intermeccanica Italia - an American V8-powered Italian-bodied sports car built by Canadians.
The Intermeccanica Italia is a stunning car. With its carefully designed chassis and various Ford V8 powerplants, as you will soon find out, it was a VERY solid car for the period especially given its attractive price point.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:13 The Backstory & Initial Variants
6:00 Chassis & Powerplants
7:41 Why The Car Was So Good
8:32 Sales & Legacy
*Note, we are not historians. If you see an error in our research then please mention it in the comments!
For business inquiries or other inquiries, reach out to: [e-mail]
Sources:
-www.caranddriver.com/news/a39...
-www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/au...
-www.speedholics.com/post/inte...
-www.supercars.net/blog/1968-i...
NOTICE: Clips used from other videos are fair use and fall under U.S. copyright law because this work is transformative in nature, and has no negative effect on the market for the original work. It is against the law to fraudulently claim a copyright on a video you do not own under the DMCA or to abuse KZbin’s copyright claim tool. Copyright concerns and takedown requests can be submitted to: [e-mail]

[@danven1256]

You just saved me from believing that I might be crazy. As a young grease monkey In the mid '70s a car rolled in the door at the Lincoln Mercury store I was working at. The customer was experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning when he drove the car and ended up in the hospital. The car was an Italia. It turned out to be an easy fix, The trunk gasket was missing which allowed the exhaust to roll into the trunk area and then into the passenger compartment. At the time we worked on a lot of Pantera's but that was the only Italia that I ever worked on, and I always wondered after almost 50 years if I remembered the name correctly.

[@joey193650]

I will admit at 50yrs old and a mechanic most of my life. I have never heard of or seen one of these. Thank you for the info.

Beautiful car! Has the perfect lines like the old Ferraris and Jaguars. Love that V8 too.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

Indra? Yes please. Looks freaking awesome!

[@rarecars3336]

It does look sweet too, such a different design than the Italia which is fascinating

[@jackreacher.]

My 1965 MG with its shoe-horned 289 and C4 was the cat's meow.

[@Rogers1977]

Sort of related, I used to work at an electronics store in Monrovia, CA (it's no longer there). One Saturday, a guy shows up in a gorgeous GT car that I've never seen before. My manager helped him find some components and inquired about the car, it was an Iso Grifo. One of those rare Italian cars that had American muscle! Had a Chevy 454 packed under the hood and it sounded fantastic.

[@paulqueripel3493]

There was a car auction house near me, they often used the local supermarket car park (parking lot, but this is England) to unload. There was a Bizzarrini 5300GT on the back of a trailer (he designed for Iso as well) there one day. The rarest car I spotted was the Pink Panther car, only in the showroom for 1 night.

[@machupikachu1085]

What do you mean? Monrovia is still there.

[@fredbuckles919]

Iso made the Grifo and previously produced the Rivolta with Chev V8 and wonderful Italian styling with luscious glove leather interior.

[@kerrypierre9494]

This is absolutely a beautiful car but, for me, the DeTamaso Pantera will always be my favorite.

[@rarecars3336]

Very fair to be honest - the Pantera is one of the greats!

[@briangraver1973]

Growing up in Willow Grove, Pa. in 1970 I was 12 years old and our neighbor had an 1970 red Italia convertible. They had a colonial era farm house with four bay carriage house that he put the Italia away in storage in 1972 and then bought a 1972 blue Pantera as his daily driver!

[@SullyOrange]

RE Pantera- ‘Me Too’ In 1979 I was doing about 85 MPH on the 60 fwy in SoCal, East of Riverside. No other cars on the road. I saw a very rapidly approaching yellow car in my rear-view. I stayed where I was and that bright yellow Detomaso Pantera BLEW MY DOORS OFF. He must’ve been doing 150MPH or more as he blew past my Datsun 510. Very impressive! I’ve loved them ever since.

[@kerrypierre9494]

@@SullyOrange Cool story, my first encounter with a Pantera was around the same time period. My dad had a friend who was a doctor and he drove his 74 Pantera to our house one day, which also happened to be yellow. I had never seen one before and was all over the car, looking at the engine, the interior.and the wide tires , just being a kid who loved cars. Then he said, the key is in it, take it for a spin around the block. Although I never got out of second gear, I was hooked, been my dream car ever since.

[@alexanderdeburdegala4609]

Thank you for not being an F'n AI channel

[@rcpmac]

Yes! We need a filter for that.

[@wills2140]

A filter for AI channels and videos would be a very good thing... :)

[@adamweston4152]

The Buick 215 was sold to rover cars in the UK and became the rover 3.5 litre which is an iconic engine here in the UK.

[@indyvignale-wu9qk]

Would be great to hear about the Indra!

[@deborahbabcock5309]

I remember those cars I was a foreign car mechanic in the early 70s we said it was the best of both worlds. American muscle with an Italian sports coat.

[@siroyalflush]

Great vid! 👍 .. Yes please make a video on the Indra 🚘

[@kerrypierre9494]

With ya 💯👍

[@rarecars3336]

Will do!

[@user-kc9dc7yt6p]

I was feeling like I was the only person that had an Italia. 1973 coupe with the Cleveland engine. 8,000 on the tach with no redline. Rally Motors in Paramus New Jersey used to sell them. My friend George had the Yellow Convertible. Thanks for the memories.

[@supertwin1]

In the mid-80s I lived/worked in San Diego and had the pleasure of being employed as a mechanic at an import car dyno shop that specialized in Ferrari/Lambo & air cooled Porsche. It was called "Woodies Place" and was owned/run by James Woodhouse & "Mo" Winicki. I was handed a work order to fit a GMC style roots blower onto a 289 cu in. Italia Mecchanica, which meant pulling the heads to be "O"-ring to support a higher compression level. After numerous cylinder head re-torques I finally got the coolant to stay in the engine and was ready to take the vehicle out for it's test drive. What a test drive that was.....I was gone for no less that an hour absolutely grinning from ear-to-ear. This beautifully sculpted silver Italian car had become a supercar with that blower! Sadly I took no photos & only have memories of that fascinating era and that car.

[@sdfswords]

Very cool for sure. I lived in Point Loma at the same time, where was Woodies in SD? Loved it during that period, but it got over developed, now like Orange County.

[@supertwin1]

@@sdfswords Woodies was downtown SD at the intersection of State St. and W. A Avenue. The '80s were a remarkable time to live in SD and yes, it's decidedly different these days, i.e. people living on the street & in their cars, etc. The shop later moved to Dennis Connors' wife's interior design building off I-5 near Olde Towne.

[@sdfswords]

@@supertwin1 Oh cool, I lived in Point Loma and used to see Stars and Stripes sail out of the harbor, and got to get on board once, as it was tied up at the SD Yacht Club. SD kind of breaks my heart these days, I feel like I caught a magic four years 79-83 of great people and good times.

[@Porsche996driver]

As a kid working at Ralph’s (market) I picked up all the new car mags each month. I remember trying to follow that twisted history over time. Another one was the Monteverdi

[@LivingOnCash]

I was born in 1956 and was a car freak since a little kid. I religiously read Car and Driver, Road & Track, and other car magazines but don't remember ever seeing this car before. Thanks for the info.

[@thomfult7956]

I had a Iso Rivolta 1964 all Chevy running gear hand built Italian!

[@rarecars3336]

Oh wow no way those are so cool - how long did you have it for?

[@thomfult7956]

@@rarecars3336 Had 5 or so years, it was in excellent mechanical shape but had suffrered a interior fire so had no glass or interrior but drove fine. Cost of glass and interior restoration was out of my finacial ability.

[@lbsvw2526]

A yellow Italia convertibile appears into 1971 Walt Disney movie "The Million Dollar Duck". Interestingly, into the more known 1969 "The Love Bug" - another Disney movie - appears an Apollo GT.

[@rarecars3336]

Wow that is some great insight - both of those cars with Reisner having a hand in them I wonder if he knew someone who knew someone that could help place cars in film

[@davidpedwardsiii5581]

Bring more Intermeccanica please

[@stephencurry8552]

Yes to the Indra video. So very interesting to hear and see the details of rare cars.

[@kerrystagmer]

I actually own the very first 2 cars of this series. The prototype Griffith 600 still retains the 289k while the rest (6 cars or so) received other manufacturers engines. The following 33 Omega are also Ford powered.

[@terrybeavan4264]

Great video! Some years ago I saw one of these up close in a parking lot, it was a white convertible, I talked to the owner who was happy to educate me on what it was, loved the looks and the sound of the V8! Also no small wonder that car is as good looking as it is--I loved reading Robert Cumberford's articles in Automobile Magazine doing critiques of various cars' styling, and with his eye for design I'd figure if he drew it, it would have to be greatness!

[@kerrypierre9494]

Loved the vid, please keep them coming.👌🤘👍🔥

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks for watching - will do!

[@steve-ey3rx]

"The youth of today" will never be able to afford sports cars. :( Good video. Thanks!

[@charlieandhudsonspal7031]

No tax on tips, no tax on social security. Next comes income tax cuts! The best is yet to come! They’ll have whatever they want. I hope so.

[@steveroughley6622]

I saw a blue Italia in a customer's garage in the 80's. So beautiful!

[@dinoallbaugh2050]

Great info ! thanks looking forward to more videos

[@davidkyle5017]

Fun stuff, well done vid. Those were the days when you'd find all sorts of strange but fun vehicles. I recall my neighbor on Long Island had a garage for exotics back in the early 70's and he asked my dad to stop by the shop for some reason (which we had never done before). I was 11 or 12 and asked my dad if I could tag along and when we got there I saw a bunch of strange cars I'd never seen before and among them we saw a pair of Lotus Europas. One was in excellent condition and the had been crashed. My dad couldn't fit inside but I took full advantage of the opportunity. I had never seen anything like it before, and that was the moment my fascination with exotics began.

[@f.kieranfinney457]

In 1987 I was offered a rough Apollo 3500GT with a poorly running engine for $2500 Canadian. I paid $500 instead for a Sprite. In pieces but with a NOS block. My financial acumen has always been highly tuned….

[@donaldekhoff7999]

Nice presentation. I had a 1970 Italia that had been the feature car from Disney's "Million Dollar Duck". It had then been used as a movie car run off a pier into NY Harbor. It died of terminal rust under bondo although was a beautiful car til the rust did it's one way magic. It had a 180mph speedo that didn't come off the peg until 30mph. That was in the Carter 55mph national limit years so the speedometer moved maybe 3 degrees from indicating at all, to illegal! Good Times!

[@nunyabusiness4188]

Yes, Indra! I'm surprised you didn't mention look alike cars - NART Syder, Maserati Indy, Fiat Dino, etc. There were a lot of cars with similar profiles/proportions in the 60s.

[@650Max]

As a kid in primary school I walked past an AC 428 coupe parked outside a near neighbour's house, basically a lengthened Cobra chassis with beautiful Frua bodywork, this was early 1970's.

[@formula112967]

Was that a Shelby Cobra?

[@650Max]

@@formula112967 No, it was very much a luxury GT, similar in styling to the Maserati Mistral or Iso Grifo. Only around 80 were ever built.

[@pauljones2031]

Thank you! I actually learned something.

[@84C10JEFF]

I seen Bob Lutz’S convertible at a small show in my hometown and it was beautiful.

[@Rex_Racer]

One of these shows up at my local cars and coffee.

[@brokenmotorwagen1328]

4:10" - "heavily inspired by Ferraris" and shows us the Fiat tail lights. :D Great timing!

[@carlover9548]

I learnt about this car this week because of an Italia Spyder listed this week on Bring a Trailer. I suppose this one also grow your curiosity!

[@rarecars3336]

I actually saw one listed on a local Marketplace listing and that inspired me to do so! I did also see the BAT listing - these cars need more widespread love!

[@SelectCircle]

So well done I subbed.

[@equteachme]

I think if you have a rare and beautiful well muscled car it will always have a niche position as desirable to the collector / enthusiast.

[@rarecars3336]

I agree - style above everything else

[@bmflmf]

Thank you for showing me yet. Another beautiful car that I’ll never have.😂😂

[@andrewevans7184]

If you wanted to an in-depth story on the Indra, you had best talk to Henry Reisner Frank's son. He took over his father's business, which was based out of Vancouver Canada from the late 80s.

[@christophecamus3295]

Great looking car, very interesting video thanks ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@silvermane1741]

I been a fan of the fusion of Italian coachwork and American muscle.

[@studio-flash]

The best of them all is the ISO Griffo.. gorgeous inside and out .. faster than Ferrari and Lambo and better looking plus better performance. Ferraris we’re not reliable enough only a Corvette engine could provide that plus the performance with Corvette/Italian styling it was unbelievable.

[@AMCmachine]

Cool car and story, never came across one in person.

[@loyalUSguy]

I have actually seen one of these. A '69 with a 302. Had different wheels. Nice little car!

[@JustanOlGuy]

A gorgeous Automobile!

[@rarecars3336]

Amazing looking car - so underrated it almost hurts lol

[@jrm2fla]

Please…. Do a story on the Indra! That body is crazy cool!

[@rarecars3336]

Will Do, I agree the visuals on that car are crazy!

[@1spiralout]

5:49 Between the pet store/barber shop and the Warhammer shop Ann Arbor, MI

[@uncleronny6748]

Great video thanks. I used to work for Automobili Intermeccanica in the late 70's, post Speedster replica, when we built Mustang convertibles outta early Fox bodied coupes. Ford wouldn't build a drop top again until 1983 1/2 .

[@rarecars3336]

Wow that is awesome - how was it working for them?

[@uncleronny6748]

@@rarecars3336 It wasn't that much different than working at a kit car place like Manta Cars for example ( a lot less itchy!). My first day on the job we loaded up all the Speedster molds and they went to Florida (Gazelle? I believe bought them). I installed the drop in tubs for the top compartment and a massive aluminum header where the roof had been. Intermeccanica also was the distributor for a particular moped at the time so there was a full on parts warehouse inside our building.

[@rv6ejguy]

A friend of mine had one of these with the 351. Nice looking and fast for the times but I remember the frame developed cracks here and there.

[@BlairAir]

As you brought us through the convoluted history, some cars were more outstanding than others. The convertible iterations were lookers, certainly. But I could not stop looking at wheel placement in the body. Sometimes near perfection, other times so off, it reaked "kit car"

[@racketman2u]

Nice! reminds me a bit of the similarly-conceived australian Bolwell Nagari, another excellently styled small volume manufacturer.

[@TeaParty1776]

That name is as marketable as platypus.

[@phillipmitchell5879]

I remember the Intermeccanica Italia well. There was a dealer in the late '60's in Evanston, IL, on Green Bay Rd. 'Would occasionally drop by there, drooling all the while...

[@nmarks]

That Apollo GT is incredibly pretty.

[@jasonolszanicky4035]

Yeah you should do the indra video. Strangely I have heard of this but I am a lifelong car enthusiast.

[@automotiveaffairsshorts]

Yes, yes… do a video on the Indra

[@jazzafly257]

Please tell us about the Indra! LOVE this car....initially thought it might have been a Ginetta, out of England. A contemporary of TVR

[@ebinmaine]

Definitely be interesting to hear about the GM cross as well.

[@slicedbread9003]

My dad's friend had an Italia in yellow. While it was a beautiful car and you would think that the combination of Italian coachwork and American power would be great. It was constantly breaking down. One time he pushed it down the road to our house. I think that the enthusiasts that have them now have corrected most of the initial issues that the car was born with. They had a poor reputation at the time the cars were current.

[@RUfromthe40s]

the italia had the alloy whels built by Fiat at the time, you can see them today in the Fiat Dino ,some years ago only some knew about the Fiat Dino no matter how many time ,the italian job movie with the mini´s would be showed on tv for the next 50 years, the cars showed here have a lot similar body panels with Ferrari, TVR or Triumph and Datsun

[@asquare9316]

One of my neighbors years ago had an Italia and an Apollo GT. The Apollo was basically the hardtop version of the Italia. So, yes, I have heard of these cars and have even ridden in them. btw, my second car was a TVR.

[@rarecars3336]

Wow that is an insane collection he had - did he hold onto them?

[@asquare9316]

@@rarecars3336 It was a long time ago, he is deceased. I do not know what happened to the cars.

[@rickc661]

way back I lived within 20 mi of Watkins glen so every fall several ' exotics' would be around. I always loved Ferrari Dino 246 I think it was. so gorgeous. prob. ran like ...

[@scottaaat]

I’d love to hear about the Indra.

[@mattm9619]

That is a great looking car.

[@rarecars3336]

100% Agreed

[@robertward8794]

Trivia. In the mid 50s US car maker Hudson sold a car called the Italia. Pininfarina designed and built 20 or so bodies on the floor pan and running gear of Hudson's plain jane Jet sedan.

[@Harvey_Pekar]

Now THAT is a car.

[@bryanayers6104]

Many of us are familiar with the Reisners & Intermeccanica... and their cars.

[@herchelleonwood7463]

the buick 215 v8 is what buick created the Grand National 3.8 v6 from.

[@pugs1377]

I learned today🎉

[@TeaParty1776]

Wow! Ive studied sportts cars since the early? 60s and I never heard of the Italia. Beautiful. Looks somewhat like a Ferrari 330GTS or a BMW 507.

[@TAM-gz5tc]

loverly car

[@Wolfson47]

I remember seeing one as a kid in NY. A very sexy desirable car, especially to a teenager.

[@christophecamus3295]

The indra sounds interesting too

[@realshady16]

What an good looking car

[@rarecars3336]

Agreed, it is an absolute LOOKER

[@Schlipperschlopper]

Unfortunately, the Federal Exhaust Gas Funneling Prohibition Ordinance (BABVVO) and the Federal Transport Tourism Emission Restriction Ordinance (TEBBVO) will soon ban the driving of combustion engines in public outside of verifiable commuter trips and transport trips, as exhaust gas fungling will then be a traffic offense!!!!!!

[@TeaParty1776]

I saw a Chrysler Maserati a few years ago. Not a sports car but more of a sports sedan.

[@trwsandford]

Wow! That’s almost as pretty as a 1974 Fiat 124 sport Spider!

[@Mac10Daddy]

Interesting car. It’s like a mix between a Datsun 240z and a Ferrari

[@Captain_Commenter]

I'd never leave Canada, but to each their own.

[@rickrocknrollliconti3729]

In 1974 i was selling my 1969 280SL i was Approached with one of these cars as a trade and I looked at it and said what is it and said never heard of it so obviously, I did not take the trade

[@thomasmireles4910]

Tell us about the Indra please

[@rarecars3336]

Will do!

[@zounds13]

I have too heard of it. 😁

[@larrylarry739]

Reminds me more of early C3 Corvette (1968/69) than a Ferrari.

[@48Boxer]

Hilarious that they used a prancing bull

[@relaxitsme_alex9104]

I’ll be honest I don’t think too many of my generation wouldn’t care too much too about these cars from the 60s and earlier let alone these unique coach built cars at the rate of seeing the newer generations not caring too much

[@RUfromthe40s]

i have a lot of american made cars in my colection but i would call them unecessary huge and giant engines without power and europeans like, well thought cars and the best engines and more powerfull also work like a swiss made clock

[@techo61]

8:12 was that supposed to be the interior view? You do know light bulbs are a thing, right?

[@matthewowens1451]

id like to know what the desire is for cars that are just 2 door like a 4 door is bad ..weird

[@AlBeZed]

How sad, genius' hardly ever manage to work together. Have a look at Renzo's Iso Grifo. Rivolta got Bizzarrini and Giugiaro to join in. Wonderful

[@rarecars3336]

True - this era of boutique GT cars and sports cars were truly some of the prettiest ever.

[@alanrobinson4318]

Does anyone think the rear fender lines were stolen by Corvettes ?

[@jaysonschor]

Its pronounced Ren-know not Ren - alt

[@kevinp3550]

Indra? Please!!!

[@oldnatty61]

I'll stay w/ Cobra.

[@marvinheemeyer6660]

"Frank" looked like someone that would have to explain to Chris Hanson why he just walked in a house looking for 14 year old girl....

[@bourbonslurpee]

He pioneered cup holders in the centre console their original purpose was to hold boiled lollies.

[@TeaParty1776]

@@bourbonslurpee Boiled?!

[@bourbonslurpee]

@@TeaParty1776 I think in America boiled lollies is called rock candy

[@TeaParty1776]

@@bourbonslurpee I had an aunt Helen but everyone called her Lolly. I dont know why.

[@TeaParty1776]

@@bourbonslurpee I may have eaten some as a young teen.

[@Retroscoop]

No one can have anything against a price just half of Ferrari, and not all the hassle of expensive spare parts and even not being allowed to buy a new model if you did not previously already owned a Ferrari. Having said that, the Intermechanica does NOT reach the beauty level of Ferrari's or let's say the De Tomaso Mangusta. It comes close, but you don't have to be an expert to see it's only a wannabe. Somehow, Italian designers always seem to manage to add that little extra; a bit chrome here, a logo there and not elsewhere, a real or fake air intake.... The difference between very good and perfection. (When it comes to the Mangusta, I'm only speaking about the exterior, the interior is a disappointment)

[@grantbuxton]

Spitfire mg look very similar

[@RUfromthe40s]

but all european countries made at this time their own sport cars with help of other brands parts like these showed here, even in the 50´s a Portuguese factory of street lamps and garden benches and water drinker´s, for public gardens or avenues not like today but as in the old days built a similar sport car and it had success in races but only two were fabricated

[@alexandermikhailov2481]

9:05 Tapir would be a good name for this styling abomination

[@geofftimm2291]

Datsun 240 Z took over the market, had the looks, and greater reliability.

[@Geoff_G]

Indra video please.