The Intermeccanica Italia Spyder is a stunning example of a rare classic car that marries American power with Italian style. Originally, fewer than 300 Italia convertibles were built, features a Ford 351 Windsor engine paired with a 4-speed top loader transmission, encapsulating the typical American engineering.

The Italia models have a storied history. After financial challenges faced by the initial Griffith models, the Italia emerged as a renamed version under the Torino and later Italia names, due to trademark issues with Ford over the use of the name “Torino.” The car’s design was the brainchild of former Formula One and Indy 500 chassis designer John Crosthwaite and designer Robert Cumberford, adding to its rich heritage and appeal.

The specific Italia Spyder described is a restoration project with a solid frame and good body, with much of the restoration metal work already completed. Although it needs further restoration on the wheel wells and nose, the car presents a fantastic opportunity for a quality restoration. The only real issue we see here is determining if there are any missing parts, and if so, which ones: finding them on the market could take years, given the rarity of the model, particularly for the small, uncommon details not shared with other vehicles. Find it for sale at $35,000 here in El Cajon, CA.