“Look no further for the ultimate sporty city car – it’s right here before your eyes…”
This 1984 Sbarro Super Eight is a one-off model, designed by the Swiss manufacturer and designer Franco Sbarro. He began designing his own cars whilst working as chief mechanic for Scuderia Filipinetti, which he left in 1968 to set up his own workshop, the Atelier de Construction Automobile, in Grandson, Switzerland. Sbarro’s projects included converting Ford GT40 and Lola T70 racing cars into road-going versions, building various replicas, as well as several bespoke creations and styling studies. The Super Eight was derived from the 1982 Super Twelve.
It was created with the support of the industrialist Bernd Grohe, to whom it was delivered after being exhibited at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show. Acquired by its next owner from the Sbarro Museum, it subsequently formed part of a Swiss collection before joining the current collection, one of the most distinguished in Europe.
Based on the (shortened) chassis, drivetrain and mechanical components of a contemporary Ferrari 308 GTB, the Super Eight features a two-door fibreglass body painted in glittery red, with a louvred front bumper, widened wings and finned air intakes. It is powered by the engine from the 308 GTB, from which it borrows the chassis: the famous 2,927 cm³ fuel-injected Quattrovalvole V8, coupled with a five-speed manual gearbox. Other features include four-wheel disc brakes, unique BBS alloy wheels, a brown leather interior with stunning fabric inserts, and a Clarion audio system with a cassette player and equaliser – typical of the tuning craze and loud sound culture of the 1980s…
The three-spoke Momo steering wheel is wrapped in brown leather and sits in front of a Veglia Borletti dashboard featuring a speedometer calibrated up to 280 km/h, a rev counter up to 10,000 rpm, and gauges for fuel level, coolant temperature and oil pressure. The five-digit odometer reads just over 30,000 km, whilst the car had 26,000 km on the clock when it joined the current collection. So you’re not just buying a show car, or a concept car barely finished enough to be put on display, but a fully developed, high-performance and reliable car.
Measuring 3 m in length, with its luxurious interior and signature Ferrari gear lever, this mini powerhouse – delivering 240 ch and a top speed of over 200 km/h – is ready for the world’s most exclusive rallies and the most demanding competitions. The vehicle, which underwent a service in 2020 (including the timing belts; invoice on file), is sold with its valid Dutch registration document.