The fact that this “test” created by Boneschi coachbuilder for the 1961 Turin Motor Show remains a unique specimen speaks volumes about the reception it received from the public.
The reception was rather lukewarm, if not chilly, and the reason isn’t hard to understand: the very sleek and even awkward and angular lines, especially in the design of the front end, likely deterred those who were more captivated by the elegant and balanced lines of the version produced by Carrozzeria Touring. We agree with the public’s choices in this regard.
However, in the realm of collecting, uniqueness holds importance. Thus, the ugly ducklings of the past, after 60 years, become highly sought-after vehicles, regardless of their aesthetic appeal. In this regard, it’s almost a miracle that a unique specimen has made it to the present day. On a positive note, it should be mentioned that this specimen appears to have been restored exceptionally well. It’s not easy to assess the condition of a vehicle from a few photos, but we would speculate that this specimen is already at a level where it could compete in a high-level concours event. Find it for sale at $1,250,000 here in Zurich, CH.




Throw some blankets over the front and rear body treatments, and looking at it from a 3/4 front view, I might think the car was a miniature version of a 1963 or 64 Chrysler 300 convertible, especially the windshield
Take off the blankets and the front grill reminds me of a much later Russian ZIL 114. The back end, a series of styling gimmicks from other car makes, and they simply don’t work well together.
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