1988 ITALDESIGN AZTEC BY GIORGETTO GIUGIARO:
--Silver with Grey leather interior, Grey carpeting, 2,300 miles (3,700 Km) from new, 2.2 liter 5-cylinder turbocharged engine from Audi, 5-speed manual transmission, All Wheel Drive from Lancia.

Debuting at the 1988 Turin Motor Show to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Italdesign, the Aztec was penned by legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. Mr. Giugiaro needs no introduction with previous designs and contributions to the Aston Martin DB4, Maserati 5000 and Boomerang, Ferrari 250, BMW M1, DeLorean DMC-12, Lotus Esprit, just to name a few. Mr. Giugiaro also took the award of Car Designer of the Century in 1999 and was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2002. The Aztec is a spaceship-looking mid-engine two-seater from the future. Displayed as a concept car, reception was such that Italdesign built 15 examples. Giugiaro looked at what the future could be then pushed the envelope of the concept car into production. Stemming from a digital revolution of the late 1980s, Giugiaro took this futuristic concept and implied many “computer” aspects to the car. He is the “father” of finger-tip controls and wanted all the controls to be very user friendly.

The Aztec is a car you can not only enjoy driving, but can stare at for many hours. There are so many unique design features to enjoy such as the split cabin with individual canopies that create a fighter cockpit type feel (canopy covers can easily be stowed in the trunk), the rear wheel aprons to enhance aerodynamics, a full carbon fiber rear wing, the passenger-side “steering-wheel-like” grab handle with rally trip computer, external computer control panels for vehicle status, and many other various shaped panels that line the exterior. It is truly a marvel of design.

The Aztec is powered by Audi’s 2.2 liter 5-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 250bhp. It is mid-mounted for sportscar feel and better weight distribution. Power is transferred with a 5-speed manual transmission and uses an industry leading (for the time) Lancia all-wheel drive system from the Delta HF Integrale.

This Aztec was signed by Giorgetto Giugiaro himself on the rear quarter panel. This is car #1 and has been in well-known Japanese collections for many years and more recently has been collector owned here in the US.

The Aztec has been completely gone through and recently fully serviced including new timing belts, water pump and complete filters and fluids. The fuel tank has been upgraded to a fuel safe racing cell and there has also been a rear-view camera installed with a screen in the center console.

When driving an Aztec for pleasure or to enjoy at various automotive event where it would certainly be welcomed, there is no doubt that you will be the center of attention. A very rare creation manufactured in extremely limited quantity, it is sure to hold a place in history and offer future investment potential as the first of only fifteen.