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MBM Tourismo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
MBM Tourismo
Overview
ManufacturerMBM
Production1961-1962
Body and chassis
ClassGrand Tourer
Body style2-door 2-seater coupé
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout
RelatedHeron Europa

The MBM Tourismo was a very low-production (likely 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 body was bought from England, where a company called Heron Plastics had developed a fiberglass 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 Swiss Transport Museum in Luzern Switzerland.

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 22000 (~US$95,000 in 2016), only the one car was built.

References

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  1. ^ "Monteverdi Hai 450 SS - An Enigma". Unique Cars and Parts. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  2. ^ Peter Madle. "Monteverdi-Museum: Part 1: Street Cars". Madle.org. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  3. ^ Mike Lawrence (1991). A to Z of Sports Cars. Bideford, Devon: Bay View Books. p. 215. ISBN 1-870979-81-8.
  4. ^ Lawrence, A to Z of Sports Cars, p. 152
  5. ^ Björklund, Bengt, ed. (March 1962). "MBM - Schweizisk sportvagn" [Swiss Sports Car]. Illustrerad Motor Sport (in Swedish). No. 3. Lerum, Sweden. p. 24.

See also

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