DO YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING CLASSIC? If you want to feature your car on the channel please contact me! jack.pe@btopenworld.com I film near Burford and it takes around 2.5 hours.
This takes me back. I owned a 375 High Speed as a young man; this was over 40 years ago. Mine was slightly different than this car however. being a 2-seater (375S). My one clear memory was the engine cutting out during hard cornering. Otherwise it was a fun car, and reliable as well. Build quality was good. I sold it off after a few years and it is currently owned by Leno.
I once followed a Monteverdi on the M40 and had to pull off for fuel. The Monti followed me to the filling station and we both filled up and got back on the slab together and went tandem in the fast lane overtaking everything. I was driving a Bristol 411, so the cars were cousins, as they both had big block Chrysler V8s.
Hello Jack! I think this is the first road test of a The Monteverdi 375 High Speed I have seen. As a kid, I was fascinated by the looks, Chrysler power, and the PRICE of these cars. Finding this car to test is a feather in your cap. Congratulations! Love the dog in the back!
@@Number27 These things are called Wackeldackel in Germany, where it's a household name. It literally means "wobbling dachshund". It's a bit of a cult item, that for many brings back fond memories of the 60's and 70's.
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I'm from Basle, i have seen a 375 High Speed live (spectacular!) and i think you're right, probably the first road test ever. That just made my day!
Love the quick glance in the review mirror at the dog on the rear parcel shelf at 8:49 when talking about the steering and the fact that these types of boxes tended to “dog” cars of the era.
Despite the Seppo popularity, it's originally a German thing - called 'wackledackel'. 😄 It might suit an Allegro, but is totally out of character for a car that, when new, was the equivalent of £200 000+ now.
Hi Jack, from Sydney, Australia. I'm now 68 and grew up in Mosman, now and then Sydney's most expensive suburb , with wonderful water and Harbour views everywhere, as Middle Head, Mosman is the headland that one sees when entering Sydney Harbour via north and south head, the harbor's gateway. Back in the 50's,60's & 70's it was also the home of most Consul Generals, Ambassadors, or High Commissioners. I went to school back then with the Swiss Ambassador/high commissioners' daughter. They had a garage full of 4 Monteverdi's, a his and hers 375/4 the giant long wheelbase 4 door with the front half basically of the 375L as seen here one white and one silver with maroon leather, plus a 375L in dark blue with a creamy-white interior, plus a 375S the 2 seat short wheelbase coupe in bright chrome yellow with a rich blue leather interior. Here for over a decade, when the mum and dad left Australia and by then all their Kids were young adults, mum & dad took just the two, two doors with them and sold both the giant 4 door sedans, both are still on the road here in Australia. Their durability, reliability and exclusivity made Ferrari's seem like trash with dubious reliability. I know, as one of my Grandad's mates Les Miller, located at Willoughby mid-way on Sydney's north shore was known as the "Ferrari whisperer", who serviced all the Italian sports luxury brands. Back in the 60's Les bought something like 14 "dead" Ferrari's from owners who had killed their engines and could not afford, or, be "bothered" fixing them. Les tracked down great engines from European cars that had been scrapped due to body rust corrosion but had reasonable or serviceable engines. Now in his late 80's, Les and his son still own ALL of them to this day. Back in the 1960's a Ferrari with a dead engine in Australia was worth about half the price of a new poverty spec' HB Vauxhall Viva!! What did Les drive, a pair of Facel Vega's, a white HK500 coupe with red interior, and a beautiful pale ice green metallic, with deep metallic grey roof and almost eggplant leather giant 4 door Excellence, one of just to factory right hand drive Excellences ever imported into Australia, they have pretty much the SAME Chrysler running gear as the Monteverdi's. European style and flair, coupled to Detroit Iron V8's giving 200,000 plus miles of reliable service minimum. With their European exhausts the earlier 383ci/ 6.4 litre Chrysler hemi V8 & the later 440ci/ 7.2 litre wedge head V8 do not sound anything like an American V8 in either the Monti's or the Facel's
I used to live in Mosman! I knew the owner of a 375/4 (white), there is a gold 375L and a blue one in Oz. I was thinking about bringing a Safari into Oz but could not find one at the price I was willing to pay.
A teacher at Bega High School built a replica HAI 450 SS on a hq one tonne chassis in fibreglass ,i was a student there and my father helped him tune the 350 small block but truth be told it didnt look too good
The Monteverdi is still a very eye catching work of art, and the exhaust sound is too die for. What a brilliant piece of history at last put on the internet.
My dream car. Like many of 'our' age, we first heard of these cars by Top Trumps cards. I was involved in the sale of Peter Monteverdi's model car collection after the purchase by a Dutch classic car dealer. There were approximately 100 375Ls built. At one time I did have a list of the chassis numbers for the early years of production (up to early 1970s). One Monteverdi owner told me that Peter liked his customers to pay in cash, hence the issue of production numbers.
In 1974 I attended the season-end US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, and since I had to make a quick get-away I parked right by an exit from the circuit. As I was walking back to my seat in stands I saw a car I could not readily identify, despite the Ferrari badging. It had a ‘375S’ badge on it and it took a minute or two for the dime to drop. Monteverdi! I’ve always assumed the owner badged it as a Ferrari in order to avoid endlessly explaining what a Monteverdi was . . .
I remember we had such a nodding dog in the car, it must have been pre 1967, because by then we got a VW Beetle, lots of room behind the rear bench, but not for a nodding dog. I loved that nodding dog. Strange, it must be one of my earliest memories.
What a brilliant road test. I had a Dinky Toys Monteverdi 375 in a striking shade of red. I thought it was absolutely beautiful. Until now I had never seen one move or heard the engine noise. Photographs cannot convey the sheer good looks of this car in the same way that seeing it on the move in the sunshine does. Thanks so much for making my dreams come true. It’s just a pity that I don’t have £300 grand lying around to buy one.
Love it. I used to visit the Monteverdi museum in Basle as a kid. He was a brilliant man. He told Ferrari that customers would want an automatic car. Ferrari said no. Then he built this. And Ferrari made the 400 GT series.
I used to pore through big books, price guides, anything I could get hold of as a kid to find cars that I'd never heard of. Monteverdi were one of the marques 14 year old me was fascinated with. Thanks for bringing us one. Next, a Monica?
Me too. I first discovered it in the 'Observer's Book of Automobiles,' which I used to study constantly when I was a little boy. I also got the chance to sit in one when my dad took me to the Motor Show at Earl's Court.
As a callow youth in 1972, I commuted into Leeds (West Yorkshire) on my motorcycle. As I passed through the leafy suburbs of North Leeds (Alwoodley, Adel & Cookridge etc) I occasionally saw automotive exotica. A Lamborghini Miura pulled up alongside me at traffic lights on one memorable occasion and on another, a Monteverdi 375 was espied parked on a local garage forecourt. Oh, and a DeTomaso Mangusta once shot past me on a dual carriageway. My l'il Honda 175 didn't stand a chance so I let it go!
@@markusberzborn6346 I know he didn’t have a driving license his wife used to drive him around . He also owned a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow which he had converted to an estate so that he could carry his dogs around!
I know Charlie Watts had a pretty flash collection of cars, but didn't have a drivers licence,@@markusberzborn6346. Frankly, I wouldn't have picked _either_ Entwistle or Watts to be that profilgate. Sounds like more of a Keith Moon or Reg Dwight thing. 🙄
Monteverdi was like the Pagani of the 1960s. Insanely expensive and exquisitely built to individual specifications. Only Pagani seems to have found the winning formula for long term success, Monteverdi sadly didn't.
I like the European styling, American engine combination (DeTomaso, Jensen, Iso Grifo, AC Cobra). The best part is you don't need to be scared of mileage. Put as many miles on a Pantera or Interceptor as you want. Engine rebuild? Any decent machine shop can do it. Modify, enhance, modernise... Yep, if you want. How many Countach's or Daytonas have exceeded 60,000 miles/100,000km? Most are garage queens.
My fathers boss ‘Richard Luck’ bought one in the very early 70’s , dark blue in colour, flown to Switzerland for the seat moulding, it left a lasting impression on an 11 year old 😎👍🏻
in German: Hubraum ist durch nichts zu ersetzen. Ausser durch mehr Hubraum. (There is no substitute for displacement. Except through more displacement)
I seem to remember that an American car magazine titled a review of a Monteverde (or a similar car) : "All of the benefits of an Italian supercar, without the stigma of low price". That seems to sum it up pretty well!
Richard has a very cool garage, and I thank him for letting you drive these rare and interesting cars for your channel. Jack, you're unique in the cars and content you bring to your channel. It's really is appreciated, and I look forward to every Number 27 video. A very elegant car, this.
This car will always be in my heart for one reason.Many years ago i had a yellow muscle car looking diecast car that was yellow.I remember every single detail of the car but not the brand.Many years later I saw one ( same colour as my old diecast) passing me outside a holiday resort i used to work.Absolutely gorgeous.
It is interesting how at that time period, so many cars abandoned the swoopy styling of the early 60s for straight edges. Just look at how many late 60s vehicles adopted the full width grill with quad headlights set within.
Thanks Jack to you and Richard for a great review. Only Jay Leno has done another review to my knowledge and that was on the 375S which doesnt look as nice IMHO. Its a very exclusive car, and I have heard only about 66 of the 375L were ever produced. Peter Monteverdi was said to have taken an active role in the design with Frua and subsequently Fissore. So he was a great designer aswell as a racing driver of some note and an Entrepreneur. He tragically died at the relatively young age of 64.
Cadillac had the biggest engine 8litre in Top Trumps super cars and the Monteverdi Hai had the most power 450hp 😁 Now that would be a test drive to see the Hai 😉
Jack, herein a list of interesting cars you could do a video on; - Matra Bagheera and Murena (3 seats abreast, 20 years before Gordon Murray nicked the idea for McLaren F1) - Triumph Stag / Triumph GT6 - Renault 5 Gordini ( arguably the 1st proper hot hatch) - kit cars such as the Nova (VW Beetle based, inspired “UFO” si-fi exotic / Marlin (MGB based Morgan clone) or anything from Dutton which were all Ford based I think - MGA 1600 - Alfa Romeo Montreal
The 440 Chrysler was also in the Jensen Interceptor. That bonnet being slightly lifted on the front right corner (11:09) drove me nuts, I would get that fixed straight away.
"The Rolex of cars!" Ah ... OK. I understand. You went to the dealer and you had to buy an Espada, a Daytona, and a Jensen FF, and THEN, and only then, you would be put on a waiting list for the Monteverdi. In the meantime some other guy would jump the queue by paying twice the listed price, leaving you waiting for eternity! 😁
Amazing how low and sleek high performance the cars of this age look - barely up to your waist. Stunning car and compared to the vulgar slab-sided offerings of today it makes you wonder where it all went wrong.......
Nice to see a Monteverdi in the limelight! I totally agree that there is no reason to be snooty about American V8s, they do the job well, they are reliable, easy to live with and easy to fix. Its a different sort of engineering than a quad OHC Italian engine, but no less commendable.
Another great choice Jack and what a car, I love these hybrid GTs of the time, the like of which we'll never see again. John Entwhistle of The Who had a RHD drive one and Gerald Harper drove one in the early '70s series 'Hadleigh'.
Almost forgotten. Great video, this is beyond expectation, because they are so rare and rather unknown. The Monteverdi Hai 450 is one of the rarest cars worldwide. Only two batches were made originally with only two pieces each, with a distance of 20 years, so we got 4 cars altogether over time, they are all handmade.
Wow. Really like this era,in which a lot of fantastic sportscars were made.Like the Bizzarini 5300,the Iso Grifo,and the slightly younger Mangusta and Pantera,it just wórks:European design,with big American V8 engines.Absolute classic.Wish they still had that styling sense today...Just great looking things,all of them.Thanks for showing this one,really enjoyed it!! Keep up the good work,i think this is one if the very best youtube channels around.
Hi Jack. I went to the Monteverdi museum in Switzerland back in the late 80’s and he had every car there he had raced or produced. Still have the catalog. The HAI means SHARK. And it was a predictor. Capable of hunting down other Supercars of the day and just eating them. An awsome car. Hope someone had one you could do a test on.
Gerald Harper drove one of those in Hadleigh, a white one. Yorkshire Television must have had a hell of a lot of money in their programme budget in those days 🙂
They borrowed it from the UK importers - the white car was the UK Motor show car from 1970. It still exists - was subsequently painted red sometimes in its life and is currently being restored - it was in very poor condition.
@@byronmills5952Didn't know that, thanks... I did put the reg into the ULEZ checker to see if it was still knocking about, but TfL know nothing about it, it seems.
Absolutely love that centre console which continues right up and including the back seats! Another great video Jack. Thanks. Greetings from the Netherlands
What a treat to see this lovely Monteverdi in the flesh after reading about it in the latest edition of Classic Cars magazine. A proper Top Trumps experience 👏
I love it! It's just as "wrong" as the DT Pantera-like stickers on the side. I've seen one in my lifetime, on the Techno Classica in Essen; years ago. It was some greenish metallic I believe - and looked quite scruffy up close.
@@curlyspikes7114I was referring to the numbers produced and hand built Vs mass production actually.......p.s Rolex now use there own movements too.......
I'd go the other way and suggest it's a Swiss watch with a non in-house movement such as 1990s Breitlings powered by an ETA or Valjoux. Calling it a Rolex is an insult, calling it a A.Langhe & Sohne is blasphemy. The Monterverdi is a 'bastard'.
I'm not a watch wonk - err, _timepiece aficionado_ - but I'd say it's just another brain-fart by Jack, re. most of us plebs associating Rolex with Swiss quality.
I think it was through car card games I saw this. It was in a lovely gold/brown colour and I loved it. Together with the Maserati Khamsin which I also adore to this day. I was a child back then in the 80s but I fell in love with the GT muscle cars like this and the Khamsin rather than the Countach which was all the rave back then.
Amazing car, one of my all time favs. Congrats on getting to drive it and reporting about it. Just an opinion on the stickers: to me, the ones on this particular example seem to be common with the ones on the Berlinetta (a specific version of the 375L) and not the Hai 450, as shown.
I find it to be, in matter of factual content and additional audiovisual dimension, a welcome enhancement of this very car´s owners´ article in the recent Classic Cars magazine. For those, who might be interested, I recommend to to obtain it (issue Jun-24).
The dog on the parcel shelf is definitely nodding its approval and rightly so. I thought this was a stunning car when it was launched and the looks still stand out today.
I loved your comment about American V8s being looked down upon because they aren't highly strung Italian engines. Over here in America we're used to the big V8 engines, and not just the high performance engines, but also the detuned family car V8s. Most of these engines are attached to lethargic automatic transmissions, are programmed to shift well below their 4500 rpm redlines, and provide enough satisfying torque to get up to 55 mph (90kph) while still producing livable gas mileage. Most Americans get scared if the engine revs over 6000 rpm, so when they're in a car that revs to 7500 rpm (like my Subaru BRZ) they're confused because it doesn't drive like a V8 which produces gobs of torque beginning at the engine's 700 rpm idle. My BRZ has to be revved to close to 2000 rpm before it produces usable torque and doesn't 'come alive' until it's over 4500 rpm, an engine speed most Americans are afraid to exceed. My Uncle owned a Plymouth Roadrunner with that 440 Magnum engine. It had the "six-pack" carburetors and he raced it at the local drag strip.
I am so impressed by your videos, Jack! I can hardly believe what kinds of cars you are able to get your hands on. My jaw dropped with a loud waoooh when you published the video test driving the Iso Lele because it's so rare and exotic. But a Monteverdi 375 High Speed... incredible! I never saw one all of my life. Never, ever. The only bit I've ever seen was a photo in a classic car catalogue. I guess you can't find any car more exotic. All thumbs up and I'm very thrilled! Thank you!
Saw a 375 High Speed at the London Classic Car Show Syon Park about 5-years years ago in dark blue with cream leather - it looked sensational and sooo classy, better than red IMO. The famous old car dealer Simpsons of Wembley were the UK Concessionaire for Monteverdi in the early 1970's for a few years after the 375 made its UK debut at the Earl's Court Motor Show in 1969 (I think it was). A very small handful of RHD Monteverdi's were produced. They also made a beautiful Convertible version (375C) and a stretched 375/4 Limousine amongst other variants. All utterly fabulous & incredibly expensive machines.
Such a cool car ! I still have my 1970s Dinky toy . When I bought it I didn’t know what it was but I loved the look of it . I been fascinated by them ever since .
These are great, along with AC's 428 and the 7 litre Grifo. Fantastic style with unstressed American V8 reliability. I wonder how many Monteverdis were produced in right hand drive, if any ?
Wow! Another Number 27 first! Can’t say I’ve ever seen a road test on any Monteverdi - although I remember reading about them in the various car books I had as a child. Great combination of Italian style and American durability. Not sure about the original asking price though! I think I’d have saved some pennies and have gone for either a Jensen or an Aston DBS.
Brilliant! I saw and filmed this car at last years London Concours. The first one I ever saw, was a striking blue one at an earlier London Classic Car Show in Syon Park.
Agree it’s unusual to see these in red , remember seeing pictures of them in silver in the early / mid 1970s , I couldn’t imagine anything more exotic looking. I particularly liked the front chrome grill, like the original DBS Aston . Enjoyed the video
What a fantastic looking machine! It staggers me how you get you're hand on all of these obscure cars Jack! Outstanding content as always buddy 👍oh and I absolutely love the Nodding dog on the parcel shelf 😂.... Also I agree with the Red colour, I do love a red 🚗
First time I heard of Monteverdi was Top Trumps😮 and I had a Matchbox Monteverdi Hai the legendary 2 door super car. Great to see real off the wall classics like this! Well done Jack🎉
Monterverdi or Facel Vega, very rare, very special. Can't afford either but glad that they were built back in the day. I'll just keep trucking in my little 993! Thanks Jack for a very interesting vid! Cheers from a slightly damp Otford, Kent.
Monteverdi 375 L, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Jensen Interceptor are my 3 dreams, and also the English cars of the 30s and american brass era cars of early 1900
A lovely car and I agree, a great colour. I do remember Monteverdi from the time but I probably didn't pay too much attention. This is pure 1970's in style which is great, I love all the lines and it's stance. I don't mind the air conditioning unit as that was the sort of thing some fifties and sixties cars had as an optional extra in the USA. Now we tend to take it for granted even in the UK on many cars but I digress. I think he got the engine position right and the choice of engine was also correct, as you say Jack, easy to work on. A great review Jack, thank you keep up the good work. 👍👍
"Basil", Switzerland? Come on, Jack. It's BAH-zel in German and BAHL in French. It's just over the Swiss border from the Bottom-left corner of Germany. The border between France and Switzerland is the same as the city limits of Basel in some places. The joys of putting out TH-cam videos 😀😉 I remember the car from when it was released. One of my lust objects. Great review.
Thank you for this video. Another automotive great idea killed off by the Fuel Crisis. Of course Monteverdi tried to revive the company with the buyout of the Onyx Formula One team in 1990, but that collapsed into farce!
I've known this car since Martin Buckley published an article in a mag alongside a Jensen Interceptor. He said that despite their things in common (Italian design and American engine) the Jensen was much more mature.
DO YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING CLASSIC? If you want to feature your car on the channel please contact me! jack.pe@btopenworld.com
I film near Burford and it takes around 2.5 hours.
5565😂😂
This takes me back. I owned a 375 High Speed as a young man; this was over 40 years ago. Mine was slightly different than this car however. being a 2-seater (375S). My one clear memory was the engine cutting out during hard cornering. Otherwise it was a fun car, and reliable as well. Build quality was good.
I sold it off after a few years and it is currently owned by Leno.
Was the carb starved of fuel during hard cornering?
I think Leno did an updated video on his Monti.
@taunuslunatic404 could be, maybe the float didnt like lateral G
Thats the kind of car you don't sell, you put it in your garage and leave it to your kids, its a supercar.
I once followed a Monteverdi on the M40 and had to pull off for fuel. The Monti followed me to the filling station and we both filled up and got back on the slab together and went tandem in the fast lane overtaking everything. I was driving a Bristol 411, so the cars were cousins, as they both had big block Chrysler V8s.
Would love to see Jack road test a Bristol 411.
@@tomroot7961 Hear! Hear!
You were following him but he followed you into the gas station?
@@alexsetterington3142 You got me!
That explains why you both took the same time (presumably a LONG time) to refuel 😂
Hello Jack! I think this is the first road test of a The Monteverdi 375 High Speed I have seen. As a kid, I was fascinated by the looks, Chrysler power, and the PRICE of these cars. Finding this car to test is a feather in your cap. Congratulations! Love the dog in the back!
Thank you chap, I think the nodding dog toys originated in Switzerland!
Another belter Jack 👌
@@Number27 These things are called Wackeldackel in Germany, where it's a household name. It literally means "wobbling dachshund". It's a bit of a cult item, that for many brings back fond memories of the 60's and 70's.
I'm from Basle, i have seen a 375 High Speed live (spectacular!) and i think you're right, probably the first road test ever. That just made my day!
Love the quick glance in the review mirror at the dog on the rear parcel shelf at 8:49 when talking about the steering and the fact that these types of boxes tended to “dog” cars of the era.
The nodding dog is peak 70s. The perfect decor for such a car.
Indeed, or a dancing Hawaiian belly dancer.
I love the way he seems to be leaning into the corners and peering ahead on the straights. I think I need one. ;-)
Despite the Seppo popularity, it's originally a German thing - called 'wackledackel'. 😄
It might suit an Allegro, but is totally out of character for a car that, when new, was the equivalent of £200 000+ now.
Totally distracting.
@@assininecomment1630 People in Australia sometimes have various dance inspired oddities on their dash, such as Hawaiian hula dolls
Hi Jack, from Sydney, Australia. I'm now 68 and grew up in Mosman, now and then Sydney's most expensive suburb , with wonderful water and Harbour views everywhere, as Middle Head, Mosman is the headland that one sees when entering Sydney Harbour via north and south head, the harbor's gateway. Back in the 50's,60's & 70's it was also the home of most Consul Generals, Ambassadors, or High Commissioners.
I went to school back then with the Swiss Ambassador/high commissioners' daughter. They had a garage full of 4 Monteverdi's, a his and hers 375/4 the giant long wheelbase 4 door with the front half basically of the 375L as seen here one white and one silver with maroon leather, plus a 375L in dark blue with a creamy-white interior, plus a 375S the 2 seat short wheelbase coupe in bright chrome yellow with a rich blue leather interior. Here for over a decade, when the mum and dad left Australia and by then all their Kids were young adults, mum & dad took just the two, two doors with them and sold both the giant 4 door sedans, both are still on the road here in Australia.
Their durability, reliability and exclusivity made Ferrari's seem like trash with dubious reliability. I know, as one of my Grandad's mates Les Miller, located at Willoughby mid-way on Sydney's north shore was known as the "Ferrari whisperer", who serviced all the Italian sports luxury brands. Back in the 60's Les bought something like 14 "dead" Ferrari's from owners who had killed their engines and could not afford, or, be "bothered" fixing them. Les tracked down great engines from European cars that had been scrapped due to body rust corrosion but had reasonable or serviceable engines. Now in his late 80's, Les and his son still own ALL of them to this day. Back in the 1960's a Ferrari with a dead engine in Australia was worth about half the price of a new poverty spec' HB Vauxhall Viva!!
What did Les drive, a pair of Facel Vega's, a white HK500 coupe with red interior, and a beautiful pale ice green metallic, with deep metallic grey roof and almost eggplant leather giant 4 door Excellence, one of just to factory right hand drive Excellences ever imported into Australia, they have pretty much the SAME Chrysler running gear as the Monteverdi's. European style and flair, coupled to Detroit Iron V8's giving 200,000 plus miles of reliable service minimum.
With their European exhausts the earlier 383ci/ 6.4 litre Chrysler hemi V8 & the later 440ci/ 7.2 litre wedge head V8 do not sound anything like an American V8 in either the Monti's or the Facel's
What a great post, thank you.
I used to live in Mosman! I knew the owner of a 375/4 (white), there is a gold 375L and a blue one in Oz. I was thinking about bringing a Safari into Oz but could not find one at the price I was willing to pay.
Yes, also agree, great post. I have never heard of these cars before.
A teacher at Bega High School built a replica HAI 450 SS on a hq one tonne chassis in fibreglass ,i was a student there and my father helped him tune the 350 small block but truth be told it didnt look too good
Did you happen to know Thomas O'Shea, by any chance?
The Monteverdi is still a very eye catching work of art, and the exhaust sound is too die for. What a brilliant piece of history at last put on the internet.
For me, the ISO Griffo is the most desirable. What a fabulous design.
A slightly different class, but the Lambo Islero was the prettiest of the lot.
Yeah I have had a thing for the Grifo ever since I got the Matchbox in the 70's.
What a time for exquisite cars ,
The Iso Griffo, Jensen Interceptor , Aston Martin and Ferrari Daytona were some competition :)
True, the ISO Grifo with better styling, interior and of course the unbeatable Corvette V8 engine is the best one.
Unbeatable Corvette? Is this ironic?@@studio-flash
...and the Ferrari 365GT 2+2...............
@@studio-flash absolutely and the Grifo was £5,500 compared to the £10,450 Monteverdi!
My dream car. Like many of 'our' age, we first heard of these cars by Top Trumps cards. I was involved in the sale of Peter Monteverdi's model car collection after the purchase by a Dutch classic car dealer. There were approximately 100 375Ls built. At one time I did have a list of the chassis numbers for the early years of production (up to early 1970s). One Monteverdi owner told me that Peter liked his customers to pay in cash, hence the issue of production numbers.
In 1974 I attended the season-end US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, and since I had to make a quick get-away I parked right by an exit from the circuit.
As I was walking back to my seat in stands I saw a car I could not readily identify, despite the Ferrari badging. It had a ‘375S’ badge on it and it took a minute or two for the dime to drop. Monteverdi!
I’ve always assumed the owner badged it as a Ferrari in order to avoid endlessly explaining what a Monteverdi was . . .
I remember we had such a nodding dog in the car, it must have been pre 1967, because by then we got a VW Beetle, lots of room behind the rear bench, but not for a nodding dog. I loved that nodding dog. Strange, it must be one of my earliest memories.
What a brilliant road test. I had a Dinky Toys Monteverdi 375 in a striking shade of red. I thought it was absolutely beautiful. Until now I had never seen one move or heard the engine noise. Photographs cannot convey the sheer good looks of this car in the same way that seeing it on the move in the sunshine does.
Thanks so much for making my dreams come true. It’s just a pity that I don’t have £300 grand lying around to buy one.
I have a blue Matchbox Grifo with opening doors.
Love it.
I used to visit the Monteverdi museum in Basle as a kid.
He was a brilliant man. He told Ferrari that customers would want an automatic car. Ferrari said no.
Then he built this. And Ferrari made the 400 GT series.
I used to pore through big books, price guides, anything I could get hold of as a kid to find cars that I'd never heard of. Monteverdi were one of the marques 14 year old me was fascinated with. Thanks for bringing us one. Next, a Monica?
Me too. I first discovered it in the 'Observer's Book of Automobiles,' which I used to study constantly when I was a little boy. I also got the chance to sit in one when my dad took me to the Motor Show at Earl's Court.
A Sbarro episode would be great.
BITTER CD would be a nice choice too. The MONTEVERDI is a piece of automotive art. Thanks for this amazing video.
Love the nodding dog!
As a callow youth in 1972, I commuted into Leeds (West Yorkshire) on my motorcycle. As I passed through the leafy suburbs of North Leeds (Alwoodley, Adel & Cookridge etc) I occasionally saw automotive exotica. A Lamborghini Miura pulled up alongside me at traffic lights on one memorable occasion and on another, a Monteverdi 375 was espied parked on a local garage forecourt. Oh, and a DeTomaso Mangusta once shot past me on a dual carriageway. My l'il Honda 175 didn't stand a chance so I let it go!
You gotta love Enzo going around spawning the seeds of other manufacturers and projects around the world, this car is gorgeous too.
I can't imagine paying almost double the price of the gorgeous Ferrari Daytona for one of these.
Correct you can see why the sold so few at that price.
I couldn't even imagine paying half as much. I'd take an American muscle car over one of these any day.
The Who bassist John Entwhistle owned one. He bought LYX 491K new in 1971 it was believed to be one of only six RHD High Speed cars ever made.
Right. Although he did not have a driving license.
@@markusberzborn6346 I know he didn’t have a driving license his wife used to drive him around . He also owned a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow which he had converted to an estate so that he could carry his dogs around!
@@arrangrant4614 RIP, The Ox. Imagine that rock n roll way of living....!
I just did a tax check.... it's around, but sadly on SORN. Is bronze....
I know Charlie Watts had a pretty flash collection of cars, but didn't have a drivers licence,@@markusberzborn6346. Frankly, I wouldn't have picked _either_ Entwistle or Watts to be that profilgate. Sounds like more of a Keith Moon or Reg Dwight thing. 🙄
Monteverdi was like the Pagani of the 1960s. Insanely expensive and exquisitely built to individual specifications. Only Pagani seems to have found the winning formula for long term success, Monteverdi sadly didn't.
I like the European styling, American engine combination (DeTomaso, Jensen, Iso Grifo, AC Cobra).
The best part is you don't need to be scared of mileage. Put as many miles on a Pantera or Interceptor as you want.
Engine rebuild? Any decent machine shop can do it. Modify, enhance, modernise... Yep, if you want.
How many Countach's or Daytonas have exceeded 60,000 miles/100,000km? Most are garage queens.
My fathers boss ‘Richard Luck’ bought one in the very early 70’s , dark blue in colour, flown to Switzerland for the seat moulding, it left a lasting impression on an 11 year old 😎👍🏻
A review of the 70s Maserati Khamsin would be nice.
The phrase is "There's no replacement for displacement."
I think the Americans would say…. “Their ain’t no substitute for cubes”
in German: Hubraum ist durch nichts zu ersetzen. Ausser durch mehr Hubraum. (There is no substitute for displacement. Except through more displacement)
@@clashcityrocker2051 no; the op comment is correct.
@@clashcityrocker2051 As an American I can confirm no one here has ever uttered that phrase . . . not even in California.
Tbh, Jack doesn't plan anything he presents - it's usually just enthusiasm + incongruous phrases. 🤷♂️
That car was at the Bicester Scramble last Sunday and it's bloomin' lovely too!
I seem to remember that an American car magazine titled a review of a Monteverde (or a similar car) : "All of the benefits of an Italian supercar, without the stigma of low price". That seems to sum it up pretty well!
😂 That's some remarkably witty writing, from Murrrcan auto journalism.
And they couldn’t even spell the name correctly!
Richard has a very cool garage, and I thank him for letting you drive these rare and interesting cars for your channel. Jack, you're unique in the cars and content you bring to your channel. It's really is appreciated, and I look forward to every Number 27 video. A very elegant car, this.
This car will always be in my heart for one reason.Many years ago i had a yellow muscle car looking diecast car that was yellow.I remember every single detail of the car but not the brand.Many years later I saw one ( same colour as my old diecast) passing me outside a holiday resort i used to work.Absolutely gorgeous.
It is interesting how at that time period, so many cars abandoned the swoopy styling of the early 60s for straight edges. Just look at how many late 60s vehicles adopted the full width grill with quad headlights set within.
Thanks Jack to you and Richard for a great review. Only Jay Leno has done another review to my knowledge and that was on the 375S which doesnt look as nice IMHO. Its a very exclusive car, and I have heard only about 66 of the 375L were ever produced. Peter Monteverdi was said to have taken an active role in the design with Frua and subsequently Fissore. So he was a great designer aswell as a racing driver of some note and an Entrepreneur. He tragically died at the relatively young age of 64.
That was in my Top Trumps deck!!!! It was the card you wanted....
Exactly! I think it had the biggest engine of them all.
Top Trumps cards were the business back in the day
Cadillac had the biggest engine 8litre in Top Trumps super cars and the Monteverdi Hai had the most power 450hp 😁
Now that would be a test drive to see the Hai 😉
@@richardhoneybun5509 actually, having watched the whole film you're right - it was the Hai, not this one.
I remeber this from Top Trumps, thanks for bringing back good memories 😊
I worked at JCT 600 in 80,s when the sold Porsche and Ferrari and i was shocked how poor the build quality was on the Ferrari,s
Jack, herein a list of interesting cars you could do a video on;
- Matra Bagheera and Murena (3 seats abreast, 20 years before Gordon Murray nicked the idea for McLaren F1)
- Triumph Stag / Triumph GT6
- Renault 5 Gordini ( arguably the 1st proper hot hatch)
- kit cars such as the Nova (VW Beetle based, inspired “UFO” si-fi exotic / Marlin (MGB based Morgan clone) or anything from Dutton which were all Ford based I think
- MGA 1600
- Alfa Romeo Montreal
@jonathancollard3710. Would the Mini and 3 - litre Marcos, the Gilbern Invader and Genie and the Bond Equipe be up for consideration too?
The 440 Chrysler was also in the Jensen Interceptor. That bonnet being slightly lifted on the front right corner (11:09) drove me nuts, I would get that fixed straight away.
I would put that down to the lense angle which possibly accentuates the opening
"The Rolex of cars!" Ah ... OK. I understand. You went to the dealer and you had to buy an Espada, a Daytona, and a Jensen FF, and THEN, and only then, you would be put on a waiting list for the Monteverdi. In the meantime some other guy would jump the queue by paying twice the listed price, leaving you waiting for eternity! 😁
I love the obscure /exotic 60's/70's content. Monteverdi, Iso, DeTomaso, etc. Cool stuff.
Amazing how low and sleek high performance the cars of this age look - barely up to your waist. Stunning car and compared to the vulgar slab-sided offerings of today it makes you wonder where it all went wrong.......
safety regulations possibly
Nice to see a Monteverdi in the limelight! I totally agree that there is no reason to be snooty about American V8s, they do the job well, they are reliable, easy to live with and easy to fix. Its a different sort of engineering than a quad OHC Italian engine, but no less commendable.
Another great choice Jack and what a car, I love these hybrid GTs of the time, the like of which we'll never see again. John Entwhistle of The Who had a RHD drive one and Gerald Harper drove one in the early '70s series 'Hadleigh'.
OMG! Beautiful car!! You must have the greatest job in the world!! 🚙🚘🚗♥️
Enzo probably caused the creation of more car manufacturers than any other person, ever. And all through his personality and sunny disposition. /s 😁
And where are they now?? Meanwhile Ferrari is winning LeMans again, and by the looks, will see Ford disappear into bankruptcy. Haha
@@stephenscholes4758Fair point, but Ferrari didn’t build a reliable, engine drop free, car until when? 2010?
@@rumrnr78 And the '50's, '60's, '70's Ferrari's are worth how much?
@@stephenscholes4758 Depending on the model the prices are nuts. I regret not pulling the trigger on a early 70’s Dino (flairs/chairs) in 2012!
Almost forgotten. Great video, this is beyond expectation, because they are so rare and rather unknown.
The Monteverdi Hai 450 is one of the rarest cars worldwide. Only two batches were made originally with only two pieces each, with a distance of 20 years, so we got 4 cars altogether over time, they are all handmade.
I never thought I would ever see one of these wonderful cars on TH-cam. You very lucky boy Jaxk.
Wow. Really like this era,in which a lot of fantastic sportscars were made.Like the Bizzarini 5300,the Iso Grifo,and the slightly younger Mangusta and Pantera,it just wórks:European design,with big American V8 engines.Absolute classic.Wish they still had that styling sense today...Just great looking things,all of them.Thanks for showing this one,really enjoyed it!! Keep up the good work,i think this is one if the very best youtube channels around.
Hi Jack. I went to the Monteverdi museum in Switzerland back in the late 80’s and he had every car there he had raced or produced. Still have the catalog. The HAI means SHARK. And it was a predictor. Capable of hunting down other Supercars of the day and just eating them. An awsome car. Hope someone had one you could do a test on.
Beautiful car, with just a hint of a Bristol front end!
Gerald Harper drove one of those in Hadleigh, a white one.
Yorkshire Television must have had a hell of a lot of money in their programme budget in those days 🙂
They borrowed it from the UK importers - the white car was the UK Motor show car from 1970. It still exists - was subsequently painted red sometimes in its life and is currently being restored - it was in very poor condition.
@@byronmills5952Didn't know that, thanks... I did put the reg into the ULEZ checker to see if it was still knocking about, but TfL know nothing about it, it seems.
Absolutely love that centre console which continues right up and including the back seats!
Another great video Jack. Thanks.
Greetings from the Netherlands
I've had a lovely little Dinky toy model of one of these on my desk for years but never seen one on video before! Cheers!
What a treat to see this lovely Monteverdi in the flesh after reading about it in the latest edition of Classic Cars magazine. A proper Top Trumps experience 👏
This Monteverdi is simply gorgeous BUT the killer is the nodding dog on the back shelf. WTF!!!!!!!
I quite like that. Shows the car's owner has a sense of humour.
I love it! It's just as "wrong" as the DT Pantera-like stickers on the side. I've seen one in my lifetime, on the Techno Classica in Essen; years ago. It was some greenish metallic I believe - and looked quite scruffy up close.
I was gonna say; someone with such fine taste for a brand I'd never heard about and then spoil it with such a stupid fake nodding dog....😅
The nodding Dog. The perfect G force indicator.
Not a patch on a ISO Grifo though.
To put that price in context - the average UK house price in 67 was about £3500. Today the Monteverdi would have been 237k.
Definitely more A.Lange & Sohne than a bloody mass produced Rolex..😂
Lange don't use Seiko mechanisms, They have their own highly engineered ones. So not the best comparison.
@@curlyspikes7114I was referring to the numbers produced and hand built Vs mass production actually.......p.s Rolex now use there own movements too.......
I'd go the other way and suggest it's a Swiss watch with a non in-house movement such as 1990s Breitlings powered by an ETA or Valjoux. Calling it a Rolex is an insult, calling it a A.Langhe & Sohne is blasphemy. The Monterverdi is a 'bastard'.
I'm not a watch wonk - err, _timepiece aficionado_ - but I'd say it's just another brain-fart by Jack, re. most of us plebs associating Rolex with Swiss quality.
Rolex is entirely appropriate. A flashy Swiss exterior covering a rather prosaic power source, all for a rather excessive price.
Looks like the kind of car Jason King would have in his collection 👍
Peter monterverdi said his engines were very bad for looking but good for going.
Great video. The writing is from the Monteverdi Berlinetta by the way.
I think it was through car card games I saw this. It was in a lovely gold/brown colour and I loved it. Together with the Maserati Khamsin which I also adore to this day. I was a child back then in the 80s but I fell in love with the GT muscle cars like this and the Khamsin rather than the Countach which was all the rave back then.
ISO Grifo was the one to have.
Amazing car, one of my all time favs. Congrats on getting to drive it and reporting about it.
Just an opinion on the stickers: to me, the ones on this particular example seem to be common with the ones on the Berlinetta (a specific version of the 375L) and not the Hai 450, as shown.
lol @ the nodding dog 🤣🤣
I find it to be, in matter of factual content and additional audiovisual dimension, a welcome enhancement of this very car´s owners´ article in the recent Classic Cars magazine. For those, who might be interested, I recommend to to obtain it (issue Jun-24).
The dog on the parcel shelf is definitely nodding its approval and rightly so. I thought this was a stunning car when it was launched and the looks still stand out today.
I loved your comment about American V8s being looked down upon because they aren't highly strung Italian engines. Over here in America we're used to the big V8 engines, and not just the high performance engines, but also the detuned family car V8s. Most of these engines are attached to lethargic automatic transmissions, are programmed to shift well below their 4500 rpm redlines, and provide enough satisfying torque to get up to 55 mph (90kph) while still producing livable gas mileage.
Most Americans get scared if the engine revs over 6000 rpm, so when they're in a car that revs to 7500 rpm (like my Subaru BRZ) they're confused because it doesn't drive like a V8 which produces gobs of torque beginning at the engine's 700 rpm idle. My BRZ has to be revved to close to 2000 rpm before it produces usable torque and doesn't 'come alive' until it's over 4500 rpm, an engine speed most Americans are afraid to exceed.
My Uncle owned a Plymouth Roadrunner with that 440 Magnum engine. It had the "six-pack" carburetors and he raced it at the local drag strip.
I was lucky enough to visit the factory in 1969. It was like an operating theatre! The cars were fabulous
What a great episode. Love all Monteverdis! So rare and exotic
Another beauty I've never heared of.
Love this Channel.
The dog is getting all the love (and rightly so) but can we spare a small round of applause for those carpets?
I am so impressed by your videos, Jack! I can hardly believe what kinds of cars you are able to get your hands on. My jaw dropped with a loud waoooh when you published the video test driving the Iso Lele because it's so rare and exotic. But a Monteverdi 375 High Speed... incredible! I never saw one all of my life. Never, ever. The only bit I've ever seen was a photo in a classic car catalogue. I guess you can't find any car more exotic. All thumbs up and I'm very thrilled! Thank you!
Oh my God!!! You found a Monteverdi Fissore!! Wow wow wow!!!
Julian Grimwade owned one of these in period ....... i suspect this video will do really rather well
You certainly get some beautiful and rare cars to review, such a gem of a channel. Thank you for another great rare review.
Saw a 375 High Speed at the London Classic Car Show Syon Park about 5-years years ago in dark blue with cream leather - it looked sensational and sooo classy, better than red IMO.
The famous old car dealer Simpsons of Wembley were the UK Concessionaire for Monteverdi in the early 1970's for a few years after the 375 made its UK debut at the Earl's Court Motor Show in 1969 (I think it was). A very small handful of RHD Monteverdi's were produced. They also made a beautiful Convertible version (375C) and a stretched 375/4 Limousine amongst other variants. All utterly fabulous & incredibly expensive machines.
Such a cool car ! I still have my 1970s Dinky toy . When I bought it I didn’t know what it was but I loved the look of it . I been fascinated by them ever since .
I want a nodding dachshund for my car now! What a superb looking car!
These are great, along with AC's 428 and the 7 litre Grifo. Fantastic style with unstressed American V8 reliability. I wonder how many Monteverdis were produced in right hand drive, if any ?
Wow! Another Number 27 first! Can’t say I’ve ever seen a road test on any Monteverdi - although I remember reading about them in the various car books I had as a child. Great combination of Italian style and American durability. Not sure about the original asking price though! I think I’d have saved some pennies and have gone for either a Jensen or an Aston DBS.
8:41 "For a steering box, there isn't really much play... which is what tends to dog them," says Jack, checking the noddy-dog in the rear window.
Love it, please compare to Jaguar XJ-C V12 and the 1970s Bristol Beaufighter!
Brilliant! I saw and filmed this car at last years London Concours. The first one I ever saw, was a striking blue one at an earlier London Classic Car Show in Syon Park.
I have DM'd you a clip of the blue Monteverdi I saw a few year back.
So glad the HAI got a mention, my favourite TopTrumps card ever !!
Bravo Giacomo! È una machina spettacolare!
Cazzo anche fortunato per fare questo lavoro.
I would compare it to De Tomaso Longchamp and Maserati Kyalami ...
Agree it’s unusual to see these in red , remember seeing pictures of them in silver in the early / mid 1970s , I couldn’t imagine anything more exotic looking. I particularly liked the front chrome grill, like the original DBS Aston . Enjoyed the video
What a fantastic looking machine! It staggers me how you get you're hand on all of these obscure cars Jack! Outstanding content as always buddy 👍oh and I absolutely love the Nodding dog on the parcel shelf 😂.... Also I agree with the Red colour, I do love a red 🚗
apparently the nodding dog thing originated in Switzerland… which is why it’s there!
First time I heard of Monteverdi was Top Trumps😮 and I had a Matchbox Monteverdi Hai the legendary 2 door super car. Great to see real off the wall classics like this! Well done Jack🎉
I'd like to see your take on another lost cause - the Bitter CD.
Monterverdi or Facel Vega, very rare, very special. Can't afford either but glad that they were built back in the day. I'll just keep trucking in my little 993! Thanks Jack for a very interesting vid! Cheers from a slightly damp Otford, Kent.
Monteverdi HAI 450......my favourite matchbox car.....in 70's orange.
Another Italian masterpiece...........Bravi!
Monteverdi 375 L, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Jensen Interceptor are my 3 dreams, and also the English cars of the 30s and american brass era cars of early 1900
Thank you !! I never heard of this model before !! Thank you
A lovely car and I agree, a great colour. I do remember Monteverdi from the time but I probably didn't pay too much attention. This is pure 1970's in style which is great, I love all the lines and it's stance. I don't mind the air conditioning unit as that was the sort of thing some fifties and sixties cars had as an optional extra in the USA. Now we tend to take it for granted even in the UK on many cars but I digress. I think he got the engine position right and the choice of engine was also correct, as you say Jack, easy to work on. A great review Jack, thank you keep up the good work. 👍👍
What a very beautiful car, thanks for the insight!
"Basil", Switzerland? Come on, Jack. It's BAH-zel in German and BAHL in French. It's just over the Swiss border from the Bottom-left corner of Germany. The border between France and Switzerland is the same as the city limits of Basel in some places. The joys of putting out TH-cam videos 😀😉
I remember the car from when it was released. One of my lust objects. Great review.
Thank you for this video. Another automotive great idea killed off by the Fuel Crisis. Of course Monteverdi tried to revive the company with the buyout of the Onyx Formula One team in 1990, but that collapsed into farce!
I've known this car since Martin Buckley published an article in a mag alongside a Jensen Interceptor.
He said that despite their things in common (Italian design and American engine) the Jensen was much more mature.
Absolutely brilliant video jack ❤👍the only car I've never heard of and it's absolutely stunning looking what a beautiful car brilliant
great video nice complete explaining the history of the car, would have been nice to see door trims and more of the interior, like backseat.
These are an enigma...nice to see a vid about it - very interesting, thanks. And on Harry's road too!