Bizzarrini P538

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Bizzarrini P538 Bizzarrini P538S
1967 Bizzarrini P538 #002, fitted with a 3.5-litre V12
Overview
Manufacturer	Scuderia Bizzarrini
Production	1966 (4 + 1 produced)
Assembly	Livorno, Italy
Designer	Giotto Bizzarrini
Body and chassis
Class	race car
Body style	2-door barchetta
Layout	rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	5.4 L (327 cu in) Chevrolet small-block V8 3.5 L–4.0 L Lamborghini V12
Transmission	ZF 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,515 mm (99 in)[1]
Length	3,998 mm (157 in)[1]
Width	1,930 mm (76 in)[1]
Height	830 mm (33 in)[1]
Curb weight	950 kg (2,094 lb)

The P538 or P538S was a rear-engined race car launched in late 1965 or early 1966 by Scuderia Bizzarrini of Livorno, Italy. At least two P538s were built with the Chevrolet Corvette's 327-cu.in. V8 engines and two more with 4.0 and 3.5-litre Lamborghini V12 engines. Five-speed manual transaxles were used, with gearing specific to the race for which each car was constructed. Braking was via inboard four wheel disc brakes, with a fully independent suspension. The body was made of fiberglass over a tubular steel chassis.

The first V8-powered car debuted at Le Mans in 1966, with Swiss drivers Edgar Berney and Andre Wicky, but records indicate both retired after three hours with a cooling problem. A second team in a production-based Bizzarrini A3/C, driven by Sam Posey and Massimo Natili, was disqualified after a pit lane violation, possibly while returning with serious frame damage.^{[citation needed]}

American Ferrari driver Mike Gammino then commissioned a Lamborghini 4.0-liter V12 powered car, which he raced once. The workshop of Neri and Bonacini and bodywork company BBM were involved in constructing this car.^[2] Bizzarrini attempted to build a second, 3.5-litre V12 car for Le Mans, but was unable to complete it before bankruptcy.

Continuation P538s[]

Beginning in the mid-1970s and continuing at least through the 1990s, former Bizzarrini engineer Salvatore Diomante at Autocostruzione SD, Torino, began building continuation P538s on commission for private buyers. These may be distinguished from 1960s-built cars by the use of square as opposed to round tubing. Giotto Bizzarrini and his wife likely assisted in construction of the early cars, and they were built using some original Sixties Bizzarrini components as available.^[3][4][5] The first two cars of this series using square-tube construction bear serial numbers #002 and #003; the 3.5-litre V12 Van Horneff car also uses serial #002, and was last known to be located in England. Engines vary, but include Chevrolet V8s, Lamborghini V12s and possibly a six-cylinder Fiat. Diomante constructed an unknown number, using original fiberglass body molds, probably fewer than 8.^{[citation needed]}

References[]

Sources[]

• The Phantom Bizzarrini; Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car, ISSN 1555-6867, published July, 2008, pages 18 to 23. http://www.hemmings.com/hsx/stories/2008/07/01/hmn_feature7.html retrieved 12 August 2008 (UTC)
• Bizzarrini P538 Duca d'Aosta Coupe http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/2992/Bizzarrini-P538-Duca-d-Aosta-Coupe.html retrieved 12 August 2008 (UTC)