When it comes to building iconic cars, Italians are unmatched. Italian automakers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Alfa Romeo have been on top of the automotive world for the last century and have given us icons like the Lamborghini Countach, Ferrari F40, Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, and many other awesome cars that gearheads from all corners of the globe know and adore.
However, not all Italian cars get the same love and recognition as the Ferraris and Lambos of this world. There are plenty of superb Italian cars that remain as hidden gems to gearheads, most of which are built by small Italian automakers you’ve probably never heard of. Let’s explore ten little-known Italian cars that deserve more recognition.
10/10 Covini C6W
Covini Engineering is a small Italian automaker established in the ’70s to create high-performance sports cars. The most famous vehicle built by Covini is the C6W, which shocked many gearheads when it debuted in 2004. The C6W was unlike any other supercar built before it, as it had an extra pair of wheels.
Being a six-wheeled sports car, the C6W looked weird and was immediately added to the list of the ugliest Italian cars ever made. However, it still had a 434-hp V8 under the hood, and thanks to the extra pair of wheels, it reportedly handled better than other supercars.
9/10 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada
Giotto Bizzarrini is a renowned Italian engineer who’s been involved in the creation of some of the greatest Italian cars, including the Ferrari 250 GTO. Like many engineering greats, Bizzarrini wanted to leave his mark on Italian auto history, which is why he established Bizzarrini SPA to build cars.
The only car built by the company before it went under is the 5300 GT Strada. The 5300 GT Strada was easily among the most beautiful Italian sports cars of its day and had the power to match, thanks to a 365-hp Chevy-sourced V8.
8/10 Maserati A6 GCS
Maserati doesn’t have a great reputation among gearheads, but we can always expect them to come up with beautiful cars. One car that helped Maserati earn a reputation for making good-looking cars is the A6 GCS, which is one of the most beautiful cars of the ’50s.
Penned by Pininfarina, the A6 GCS wowed with its sleek, muscular design featuring a long hood, large grille with prominent Maserati trident, large wheels, and double side exhausts. With only 2 examples built, the A6 GCS is among the rarest Italian cars ever.
7/10 B Engineering Edonis
B Engineering is a low-volume Italian automaker established by several ex-Bugatti employees. The best car B Engineering has ever built is the Edonis, which is a supercar based on the Bugatti EB110 Super Sport.
The Edonis uses the Bugatti’s chassis and mechanical underpinnings, but it was given a redesign by Ex-Bertone designer Marc Deschamps, who gave it a more curvaceous design compared to the donor’s angular design. The Edonis also used the Bugatti’s V12 engine but enlarged from 3.5 to 3.76 liters to increase power.
6/10 De Tomaso Mangusta
Alejandro de Tomaso is an Argentinian racing driver and businessman who always wanted to build world-class sports cars. In the ’50s, De Tomaso founded a car-making business under his own name to follow his dreams.
Many gearheads have at least heard of the Pantera, which is the best car De Tomaso ever built, but most don’t know about the Mangusta that came before it. The Mangusta is yet another Giugiaro masterpiece and since it had a Ford V8 engine under the hood, it was a blast to drive.
5/10 Intermeccanica Indra
The Intermeccanica Indra is one of those cars that could have had a bright future but it was cut short too soon. The Indra was built during the glorious wedge-shaped era and was designed by the renowned Franco Scaglione.
The Indra came to be thanks to a collaboration between General Motors and little-known Italian automaker Intermeccanica in the early ’70s. The Indra was based on the Opel Diplomat but was equipped with a 250-hp GM V8 engine. If you’ve ever wondered what the Corvette would be like if it was made in Italy, the Indra is as close as it gets.
4/10 Ghia 450 SS
It’s always a beautiful thing when European automakers and their American counterparts come together and build an awesome car. That’s exactly how the Ghia 450 SS came to be. This beauty is basically a Plymouth Barracuda with Ghia styling elements, and we love everything about it.
However, although the 450 SS shares its mechanical underpinnings and engine with the Barracuda, it was built over a custom ladder chassis and was also shorter and lower than the Barracuda, giving it a sportier look. Sadly, not many Americans knew of Ghia at the time, and only 57 examples made it out of the factory.
3/10 Iso Grifo
Most gearheads have never heard of ISO, but the company has been around since 1938, albeit under different names. Iso has built many motorcycles and cars over the years, and the Grifo is the best of them all.
The Grifo is a superb limited edition grand tourer that Iso built to compete with GT options from the likes of Ferrari and Maserati in the ’60s. The Grifo is a great example of the greatness that can come out of an Italian-American partnership, as it had a sleek, muscular design penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, mechanicals designed by Giotto Bizzarrini, and powerful American V8 engines.
2/10 Siata 208S
Siata went out of business more than five decades ago, so it’s understandable if you’ve never heard of it. Siata was initially a parts supplier for Fiat, but it decided to start producing sports cars under its own brand after World War II.
The best Siata ever built came in 1952, and it was a gorgeous roadster called the 208S. Designed by the renowned Giovanni Michelotti, the 208S is definitely among the most beautiful classic roadsters. A 125-hp Fiat engine doesn’t sound like much, but with its lightweight aluminum body and four-wheel independent suspension, the 208S delivered an unmatched driving experience. The 208S was so good that legendary actor Steve McQueen bought one and dubbed it his ‘Little Ferrari’.
1/10 ATS 2500 GT
Enzo Ferrari will always be a legend, but he was famously hard to work with, which is why a group of his employees left his company to establish a competitor known as Automobili Turismo e Sport (ATS). ATS founders had one main goal – to beat Ferrari on all fronts, which is why they built the 2500 GT in 1963.
The 2500 GT was a revolutionary car, as it was the first Italian sports car with a mid-engined layout. With its 217-hp V8 engine, the 2500 GT was claimed to be among the fastest Italian sports cars. The future looked bright for ATS and the 2500 GT, but investors sadly withdrew support after only 12 examples.