1977 Monteverdi High Speed 375/4
The Monteverdi High Speed is a series of sports cars with different bodies produced from 1967-1976 by Swiss automaker Monteverdi. The High Speed series included several coupe models, a convertible and a sedan. In addition, the Coupé Berlinetta and the Cabriolet Palm Beach also belong to the model family.
The Frua-styled Monteverdi Hig Sppeed 375 was the manifesation of its maker’s huge ambition. Beneath that Italianate body beat the heart of a hefty Chrysler V8 – which developed up to 390bhp – and a tubular chassis held the whole ensemble together. Frua and Fissore both made bodies for the car. The later Berlinetta model was even more potent, thanks to the fitment of a Hemi engine from the mid-engined Hai. Its 450bhp was the recipe for thrills aplenty.
The first Monteverdis were elegant and generously proportioned 2+2s by Italian stylist Pietro Frua. Monteverdi adopted the model name ‘High Speed’ for these trans-European expresses, while ‘375’ referenced the horsepower available from the Chrysler V8. The mid-engined ‘Hai 450 SS’ of 1970 was a rare exception.
The company’s first vehicle was the two-seat High Speed 375S of 1967. In subsequent years the brand would attempt to grow its High Speed offerings, designing two models it never ended up releasing — the 375L and 400. Up to that point in the late Sixties, Monteverdi relied solely on Italian coachbuilder Pietro Frua to design and screw together its cars. Production capacity was quite limited, and Monteverdi had his sights set higher. He wanted to build around 100 cars per year. Frua, who hand-built everything they made, threw up their hands.
Monteverdi sought the simplest solution to continue on with business, and sent the Frua design to be built at Fissore. Frua promptly sued, barring him from producing further examples of the 375S at Fissore ( only 10 were made). Forced to design a model from the ground up, the 375 was reintroduced in late 1969. Its standard format was now a 2+2 coupe, which Monteverdi edited into a two-seat coupe (375S) and a convertible (375C). There was also today’s sedan, the 375/4. Numbering 30 in total, it was the company’s only unique sedan offering.
The longest, most outrageous, yet still effortlessly stylish and very fast saloon ever made? We think so. Prepared to concours-winning standard, in top mechanical condition and genuinely entertaining to drive, this 375/4 High Speed is one of the finest surviving Monteverdis, one of barely a handful of four-doors extant. Road trip, concours lawn or the ultimate drive to the night club, trust ‘Monty’ to get you there in style.
