Monteverdi Hai 450SS: A real one actually for sale!

[f328nvl]

Younger readers look away.

As a kid I had "Top Trumps Supercars". In it there were three cars that made you yearn for wealth: The Ferrari 512BB (The Daytona was in Top Trumps, but was then, I hate to admit, a bit old hat), The Aston Martin V8 Vantage (in Storm Red, showing how conservative we have all become nowadays when we all drive silver things) and the Monteverdi Hai 450SS. I can still remember that 450BHP beat everything that Italy, Germany or Britain could produce.

Flicking through Bonhams catalogue I was thinking - "a bit of a mixed bag here, nothing much of quality... OH my god it's a Monteverdi Hai 450SS.." I nearly p1ssed my metaphorical pants.

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/pu...

It's like finding a lost gospel in an oxfam shop. Surely it must go for more than Euro500k?

[derestrictor]

Seem to recall there was a GTS but no idea on any difference.

Smouldering gherkins...

[aeropilot]

f328nvl said:

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/pu...

It's like finding a lost gospel in an oxfam shop. Surely it must go for more than Euro500k?

My mate saw this in the flesh at Pebble Beach went it made it's appearance.

Being chassis number 1 and the only one every likely to be offered for sale, and the only Hemi powered one, I'd be surprised if it didn't fetch more than the estimate. the trouble is it's so unique, that it's never going to be a 'driver', which is a shame in a way.

[Vario-Rob]

This first surfaced a year or so ago with a dealer in California iirc and without trawling trough my inbox I seem to recall they were after about $500k but it is a very difficult one to call. That said the Monteverdi 375 that Bonhams sold in 2008 did very well under the gavel and given this beats rarity and overall ‘Thud’ factor who knows?

[Trommel]

375/4, please.

[tomtom]

Christ, John, here I am trying to see if a Hai has come up for sale recently (Googling 'monteverdi hai sale') and I dig up this old thread of yours. What are the chances?

[robsco]

Wow, that is a pretty car.

[bosscerbera]

Trommel said:

375/4, please.

Sat in one of those a few weeks ago.

Here's one for sale: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...

[andysgriff]

Seem to remember a review from ages ago about this Top Trump Legend that went something like:

"cooked its occupants and took off over 100mph"

[rallycross]

Have only ever seen these on my top trumps cards from the 70's!

[rpguk]

That is a very pretty car and I'd never heard of them before. Hints at Miura but with that back I'd say almost beats it.