History repeating
As new models become ever more bloated and indistinguishable from one another in their visual appearance, is it any wonder that car designers are inclined to look over their shoulders at their marques’ classics?
The modern Volkswagen Beetle, BMW MINI, Fiat 500 and Alpine A110 are perfect examples of this nostalgic crick in the neck.
While these cars are welcomed by those wearing rose-tinted spectacles, it could be argued that this trend represents a cul-de-sac for progressive automotive design.
Adopting a brand’s DNA is one thing, but blatantly recreating old masterpieces surely suggests a lack of imagination.
Yet there can be no denying that cars possessed more aesthetic character before more stringent legislation contaminated designers’ drawing boards.
Supercars in particular were endowed with achingly gorgeous bodywork, often by masters such as Pininfarina, Bertone, Italdesign, Zagato and the like.
It is therefore no surprise that designers, manufacturers and wealthy enthusiasts seek to pay homage to the golden era of supercars, albeit with a twist of modern technology.
Here are 10 of the best comebacks, many of which became instant classics in their own right.
1. Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
In seeking to create a halo model, Alfa Romeo struck gold with the 2023 33 Stradale.
Alfa wanted a car that was ‘evocative, not nostalgic’, and designers Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos and César Barreau combined the beauty of the 1960s original with the best of modern materials and technology.
Only 33 examples would be built by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, and they were quickly snapped up.
Each owner was able to customise their car, subject to Alfa’s approval in the interests of good taste, resulting in prices ranging from £1-2.5m.
Two power options were available: a 612bhp, 3-litre twin-turbo V6 driving the rear wheels, or a 740bhp, all-wheel-drive electric powertrain.
A 0-62mph time of less than 3 secs and a top speed of 200mph was claimed for both.
Anorak fact The 33 Stradale benefitted from some development carried out on an earlier, abandoned Alfa Romeo supercar project that morphed into the Maserati MC20. Consequently, the 33 and MC20 share the same carbonfibre lower monocoque
2. Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Countach LP500 prototype, Lamborghini launched this homage at California’s The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in 2021.
Unlike the earlier Miura Concept, this Countach celebration was a fully functioning production car, albeit limited to 112 units in recognition of the LP500’s project-code number.
Sant’Agata’s mantra ‘Inspired by the past, made for the future’ was justified by the hybrid technology employed.
Electric motor aside, the main thrust to all four wheels was provided by an 803bhp, 6.5-litre V12, which could fire the carbonfibre Countach from 0-62mph in 2.8 secs and on to 220mph.
An evolution of the Aventador-based Sián FKP 37, Lambo’s first hybrid, the LPI 800-4 echoed hallmarks of both the LP500 and production LP400.
Designer Mitja Borkert said it was important “to design a homage to the original, not a copy or a retro design, but a design in its own right”.
Anorak fact Lamborghini made a one-off reproduction of the 1971 LP500 for a favoured customer. The model appeared at the 2021 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
3. DS SM Tribute
DS was split from Citroën as a separate upmarket brand back in 2014, but it had no qualms about raiding its Stellantis stablemate’s extensive back catalogue for inspiration to mark its own 10th anniversary.
And what better than the idiosyncratic SM?
First shown to the public at the 2024 Chantilly Arts & Elegance, the SM Tribute possessed the unmistakable silhouette of the 1970s classic, with a glass-fronted snout and rear-wheel spats.
The brazenly modern interior was awash with touchscreen and projection technology, yet the memory of the original SM lingered in the form of the quirky curved seats and the digitised oval gauges behind the rectangular steering wheel.
Design director Thierry Métroz declared: “It’s not just a portrayal of the SM. We have done a reinterpretation of the SM.”
Anorak fact Lacking a complete drivetrain, the concept car drove around the Chantilly grounds by remote control
4. Iso Rivolta GTZ
Bizarrely, this car first appeared as a virtual concept in the Sony PlayStation Gran Turismo racing game in 2017.
Zagato had decided to resurrect the Iso brand name through the medium of a refreshed version of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s ’60s Iso/Bizzarrini A3 Stradale.
The car made its debut at the 2021 Hampton Court Concours of Elegance.
Attributed to Norihiko Harada, the GTZ was reportedly designed with a ‘neoclassical’ approach.
In a link to the past, the carbonfibre-clad supercar used the Chevrolet Corvette C7 Z06 as a mechanical base, along with its 660bhp, 6.2-litre supercharged V8 LT4 engine.
Performance of 196mph and 0-62mph in 3.7 secs was quoted. The car actually made it into production, but was limited to just 19 examples.
Anorak fact Andrea Zagato is married to Marella Rivolta, granddaughter of Iso founder Renzo Rivolta
5. ARES Panther ProgettoUno
Dany Bahar (ex-Red Bull, Ferrari and Lotus) founded ARES Modena in 2014, with the aim of designing, developing and manufacturing bespoke cars.
The first project initiated under the Legends Reborn service was “a comprehensive reimagining of the legendary 1970s Pantera”.
Based on a Lamborghini Huracán chassis, with its 5.2-litre V10 tuned to produce 650bhp, the Mihai Panaitescu-styled Panther ProgettoUno captured the soul of Tom Tjaarda’s De Tomaso masterpiece.
‘The car fuses traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge engineering and manufacturing technologies,’ ARES claimed.
The concept was first announced in 2017, followed by a public debut two years later at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
A starting price from €615,000 did not prevent the production run of just 21 cars quickly selling out.
In 2023, an Evo version was unveiled.
Anorak fact Due to the restrictive effects of legislation, this was the first new production car since 2004 to feature pop-up headlights
6. New Stratos
This tribute had an extraordinarily long gestation.
Stratos fanatic Chris Hrabalek, who owned the trademark, created the Toblerone-like Fenomenon Stratos design study for the 2005 Geneva Salon
One of the financial backers of the project, Michael Stoschek of the Brose automotive parts company, then approached Pininfarina in 2008 to adapt the Hrabalek design and fit a Ferrari 430 Scuderia engine.
Revealed in 2010, a production run of 25 cars was envisaged at $800,000 apiece, but Ferrari was not prepared to supply engines.
Eight years later, Stoschek tasked Manifattura Automobili Torino, founded in 2014 by ex-Pininfarina man Paolo Garella, with constructing the cars based on Ferraris supplied by customers.
This final New Stratos iteration made its debut at the 2018 Geneva show.
The tweaked Ferrari power unit produced 540bhp, enabling 0-62mph in 3.3 secs and a top speed of 170mph.
Anorak fact In 2000, Marcello Gandini created a modern interpretation of his 1970s classic. The Stola 581 Stratos featured similar orange paintwork to that of the HF prototype
7. BMW M1 Hommage
Despite the name, the M1 Hommage owes as much to Paul Bracq’s 1972 Turbo as it does to Giorgetto Giugiaro’s 1978 M1.
Fittingly, it was revealed at the 2008 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in company with both of its forebears.
The concept was the work of Chris Bangle and Adrian van Hooydonk, and the latter said: “The M1 Hommage showcases the creativity and potential of the BMW design team. A project like this is valuable inspiration for our daily work.”
No surprise, then, that it heavily influenced the i8.
There was speculation that the concept should be powered by a V8 or the M5’s V10, but it remained engineless.
The Liquid Orange paint was based on the colour of the Turbo.
Anorak fact At Pebble Beach in 2015, BMW unveiled the 3.0 CSL Hommage R to mark the 40th anniversary of the Batmobile’s IMSA racing victories and BMW North America
8. Ford GT
As Ford’s centenary loomed in 2003, the Blue Oval chose to revive one of its greatest hits, the GT40.
A concept penned by Ford’s Camilo Pardo was displayed at the 2002 Detroit show before the decision was made to build 4500 examples for customers.
With a nod to the 1960s racing programme, Carroll Shelby was involved in the development of the new car, which was powered by a 550bhp, 5.4-litre supercharged V8, good for 205mph.
Aluminium was used for both chassis and body, with carbonfibre and magnesium added for lightness.
Ford SVT director John Coletti boasted: “The GT is a showcase for Ford’s design and engineering capability – and its pure passion for building great cars.”
In the end only 4038 were built from 2004-’06, with an initial price-tag that was just shy of $140,000.
Ford also approved a GTX1 roadster conversion. A second-generation GT was produced from 2016-’22.
Anorak fact Ford didn’t own the GT40 trademark and could not agree financial terms with Safir GT40 Spares Limited to use the famous moniker
9. Ferrari SP12 EC
Rock-guitar legend Eric Clapton has owned a plethora of Ferraris, including three Berlinetta Boxers.
He is as passionate about Maranello’s products as he is about the Blues, and is one of the select few to have had a unique car made by Ferrari’s Portfolio Coachbuilding Programme.
It was inspired by the 512BBi – “because that was the car I had the best time with” – but Ferrari persuaded Clapton that the 458 Italia would be a more practical and flexible basis than the V12 he craved.
The 570bhp, 4.5-litre V8 was mated to a seven-speed F1 dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Centro Stile Ferrari, in collaboration with Pininfarina, styled the bodywork.
The SP12 EC was revealed in 2012 and was rumoured to have cost £3million.
Clapton said the project was “like being in front of a gigantic blank canvas that had to be painted on” and being involved was: “An incredible experience, one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done.”
Anorak fact The car’s numberplate, SP12 EPC, is an abbreviation of Special Project, 512BBi, Eric Patrick Clapton
10. Lamborghini Miura Concept
Lamborghini head of design Walter de Silva’s dream of redesigning the Miura saw the light of day at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, 40 years after the original’s debut, and the Miura Concept was faithful to Marcello Gandini’s curvaceous profile.
The car was built by Uedelhoven Studios and lacked running gear, but there was speculation that a production version would use a Gallardo/Audi R8 chassis and either the Gallardo’s V10 or the Murciélago’s V12.
However, production plans were little more than fantasy.
President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann was adamant: “The Miura was a celebration of our history, but Lamborghini is about the future. Retro design is not what we are here for. So we won’t do the Miura.”
The concept now resides in the Sant’Agata museum.
Anorak fact Miura was a breed of fighting bull, but the name originally derives from the surname of the family that owned the ranch which bred these Lidia bulls for the ring