MBM Tourismo
| MBM Tourismo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | MBM |
| Production | (1961-1962) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Grand Tourer |
| Body style | 2-door 2-seater coupé |
| Related | Heron Europa |
The MBM Tourismo was a very low-production (probably only two were built)[1] automobile sold by Peter Monteverdi.[2] Monteverdi's small company MBM (standing for Monteverdi Binningen Motors) mainly focused on competition, but a "few" sports cars were also produced.[3]
The car's pretty body was bought from England, where a company called Heron Plastics had developed a fibreglass sports car called the Europa. It had a backbone chassis and coil sprung wishbone front suspension, with a Triumph Herald swing axle at the rear, although it is unknown what may have been different in the MBMs. The engine was a 997 cc Ford Anglia 105E unit, as was usual for the Heron as well.[4] A 1961 MBM Tourismo currently resides in the Monteverdi Museum.
In 1960 an open two-seat sports car called the MBM Sport meant for competition was shown. The little barchetta had a 1092 cc O.S.C.A. engine with 100 PS (73.5 kW), and was front-engined unlike the Lotus and Elvas with which it was meant to compete.[5] While offered for sale at SFr 22,000 (~US$95,000 in 2016), only the one car was built.
References
- ↑ "Monteverdi Hai 450 SS - An Enigma". Unique Cars and Parts. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
- ↑ Peter Madle. "Monteverdi-Museum: Part 1: Street Cars". Madle.org. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
- ↑ Mike Lawrence (1991). A to Z of Sports Cars. Bideford, Devon: Bay View Books. p. 215. ISBN 1-870979-81-8.
- ↑ Lawrence, A to Z of Sports Cars, p. 152
- ↑ Björklund, Bengt, ed. (March 1962). "MBM - Schweizisk sportvagn" [Swiss Sports Car]. Illustrerad Motor Sport (in Swedish). No. 3. Lerum, Sweden. p. 24.