THE BIZZARRINI OF BIZZARRINI: TOWARDS A BETTER-DOCUMENTED HISTORY

STARTING POINT
The history of chassis no. B 507 was already known in broad terms, especially as a car long associated with Giotto Bizzarrini and his family. More broadly, however, the GT Europa 1900 itself has long suffered from a lack of precise documentation, with contradictory accounts, scattered references, and frequent confusion between factory-built cars, later-completed examples, and cars described through recollections rather than verified records. Even basic aspects such as production numbers, specifications, individual identities, and the distinction between pre-bankruptcy and post-bankruptcy cars have often remained uncertain. In the specific case of chassis no. B 507, what was missing was not so much an awareness of its importance, but rather a more solid documentary framework capable of supporting and refining what was already known.

RESEARCH
The research made it possible a confirmation that B 507 belonged to the first group of Bizzarrini GT Europa 1900s built before the 1969 bankruptcy and did not form part of the bankruptcy assets was historically significant. A major contribution of the research was the recovery of new documents and photographs, including images of the car at the Bizzarrini family farm and workshop, as well as photographs of the car in Sweden with its registration plate. These findings gave stronger documentary support to the known history of the chassis and made it possible to substantiate important phases of its life with greater precision. Important results also came from direct contact with Stefano Volpi, who had worked with Giotto Bizzarrini at the time. His contribution helped confirm and refine the understanding of the car’s use within the Bizzarrini family. Further progress came from contact with Ian Nilsson, whose recollections helped clarify the Swedish phase of the car, including the duration of his ownership and useful details concerning the condition of the car at the time of purchase and its later preservation. The research also led to the compilation of a substantial bibliography in which the car appears, allowing its presence in the specialist literature to be mapped more clearly and systematically than before. The meaning of the “Scuderia Bizzarrini” script remains uncertain, and the possibility of “Corsa” specifications or a Conrero preparation cannot yet be treated as established fact. In that sense, the research did not overturn the known history of B 507, but confirmed, documented, and significantly strengthened it.