Manufattura Automobili Torino came up with a new ultra-limited automotive recreation line called ‘Jewelry’. The first car, announced Wednesday, certainly fits the bill.
Paulo Garella’s company, M.A.T. is mostly known for its New Stratos Series, based on a shortened Ferrari 430 Scuderia chassis. The firm also created the Glickenhaus SCG003 from scratch, did extensive development work on the electric Aspark Owl supercar, and is likely to take over the series production of the Jannarelly Design-1 sports car as well. Yet while we wait for that deal to go through, here’s something from Turin that may look like a stunning 1967 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, but is likely a touch faster than the original.
M.A.T.’s first Jewelry Line product was created using Franco Scaglione’s original drawings, following a deep dive into Alfa Romeo’s data on the iconic 33 Stradale’s chassis. However, every aspect of the car has been optimized using modern technologies, leading to a bespoke chassis, bodied in hand-beaten aluminum panels that were assembled using only traditional carozzeria methods.
Needless to say, every detail is up to the client. In this case, power comes from a 2.6-liter DOHC V-8, derived from the Alfa Romeo Montreal’s engine. This replaces the original 33 Stradale’s racing 2.0 V-8. Still, higher performance from M.A.T. is a given, especially since the Montreal V-8 now comes with carburetors instead of the SPICA mechanical fuel injection.
Company founder and CEO Garella says he was inspired not only by the tradition and craftsmanship of the Italian Carrozzieri, but also by Swiss watchmakers who only did a watch per year, by hand, during the winter.
What’s for sure is that you can’t rush making such processes. The original Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale program ended after roughly 18 chassis were made, partly because Alfa found production of the Stradale’s aluminum body to be overly time-consuming and expensive. As a result, five chassis were given to Bertone (for the Carabo and the Navajo), Pininfarina (for the P33 Roadster, the 33/2 Coupe Speciale and the P33 Spider Speciale Cuneo), and ItalDesign for the Iguana.
It’s unclear how much these Alfa recreations will run, but they probably won’t be cheap.