Bizzarrini 5300 Aperta Lusso: A 60-Year-Old Giugiaro Design Finally Brought To Life

Bizzarrini has resurrected a 1962 Giorgetto Giugiaro design that never left the drawing board, turning it into the 5300 Aperta Lusso—a modern interpretation of the classic 5300 GT. This isn’t a chopped-roof relic; it’s a ground-up build with a semi-monocoque bonded chassis and a single-piece carbon-fiber composite body, blending vintage aesthetics with cutting-edge construction. Only 10 examples will ever exist, each hand-built to order, and the result is a car that looks like it rolled out of a 1960s Italian concours but drives like a contemporary masterpiece.

The Aperta’s cabin is a love letter to the past, with a thin wood-rimmed steering wheel, a massive single-piece wood dashboard, and an Italian tortoiseshell shift knob—all classic touches. Yet beneath the retro skin lies modern tech: air conditioning, an adjustable steering column, MagSafe wireless charging for iPhones, and discreetly integrated modern conveniences labeled as “hidden convenience.” Even the weather sealing is upgraded, promising a quieter, less leaky experience than most vintage Italian exotics.

Under the hood, the Aperta packs a 5.3-liter V8 mounted entirely behind the front axle, giving it a front-mid-engine layout. While the engine mimics the look of Weber carburetors, it’s actually a port-injected unit making 400 horsepower—up from the original 5300 GT’s 365 HP. The exhaust uses Inconel valves and a catalytic converter, ensuring it sounds glorious without the usual classic V8 stench. Bizzarrini confirms the engine is “the same proven small block unit Giotto Bizzarrino selected in the 1960s,” likely a modernized Chevrolet 5.3-liter V8 small block. Power goes through a Tremec TKX five-speed manual transmission (with a six-speed manual option for high-speed cruisers), a limited-slip differential, and adjustable final drive gear ratios tailored to each customer.

The brakes are a clever mix of old and new: four-piston front calipers and two-piston rears clamp ventilated discs, with inboard rear discs for a race-car feel—no servo assistance, just raw, modern stopping power. Suspension is double wishbones all around, with Koni “red” adjustable dampers valved specifically for the Aperta. It rides on magnesium Campagnolo center-lock wheels shod in 205/50 Pirellis up front and 255/60s at the rear.

Bizzarrini’s approach here isn’t about slapping a modern powertrain into a classic shell—it’s about respecting Giugiaro’s original vision while making it viable for the 21st century. The Aperta Lusso proves that a 64-year-old design can still feel fresh, functional, and thrilling, all while catering to a rarefied clientele. No price is listed, but with just 10 units planned, this is less a car and more a rolling piece of automotive art. If this is the standard Bizzarrini sets for its future projects, enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to.