Construzione Automobili Intermeccanica started in 1959 in Torino, Italy, initially focusing on automotive tuning kits. Founded by entrepreneur Frank Reisner, the company later relocated to Canada.
Their early productions were Formula Junior racers equipped with Peugeot engines. However, Reisner soon began importing American V8 engines for their chassis, leading to the creation of the Apollo GT, followed by the Omega, and then the Italia.
The Italia debuted in the U.S. in 1968, capturing the attention of American sports car enthusiasts with its unique design and high price. Many viewed the Intermeccanica Italia Spyder as an automotive masterpiece. Featuring a “prancing bull” badge as a tribute to Torino’s coat of arms, its styling combined classic Italian design with vintage Ferrari influences.
The Italia boasted impressive performance, achieving 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph, thanks to a powerful Ford V-8 engine. Its hand-formed steel body and tubular steel chassis added to its allure.
Only about 350 Italias were produced between 1967 and 1973, making it a rare gem from a vibrant period in Italian car manufacturing. The Intermeccanica Italia Spyder stands out as one of the most attractive and potent Italian-American hybrids of the 1960s and 1970s, renowned for its sleek design and sophisticated engineering.
Photos by Darin Schnabel courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
