Lazzarino Sport Prototipo Was the Ferrari of Argentina
Wait, a what?
Carrozzeria Lazzarino was an Italian coachbuilding shop in Buenos Aires, Argentina founded by Italian immigrant Bautista 'Tino' Lazzarino, according to an article in Hemmings last year. The teenaged Bautisto had moved to Argentina with his family in 1927. When they arrived, they opened an auto shop and patriarch Juan Lazzarino, Bautista's father, taught young Tino the art of making custom bodies, a skill the father had learned in their native Turin.
Young Tino's big break came when he rebodied a Packard for Cardinal Pacelli—soon to be Pope Pius XII—when His Eminence visited Argentina for the 1934 Eucharistic Congress. It was good publicity, and soon Bautista the younger was making aerodynamic bodies that transformed the many large American cars of the day into race cars.
By 1952 he had advanced to making complete cars, this one here—possibly—being his best example.
'The 1952 Lazzarino Sports Prototipo is a cornerstone of Argentina's motorsport heritage, embodying the fearless and daring spirit of 1950s racing culture in Buenos Aires and beyond,' reads the breathless sales copy at throttlestop.com. 'It was a time of bold risk-takers—both on the track and behind the scenes—who gathered from around the world to battle for supremacy.'
Remember, Fangio was an Argentine, and this car was said to have raced in the same events as the five-time world champion.
'Built with the ambition of elevating Argentina's global racing reputation, the Lazz went head-to-head with Europe's finest competition cars, often under the watchful eye of President Juan Perón. Frequently mistaken for a Ferrari, it shares visual cues with the Ferrari 375 MM and 500 Mondial, yet its conception predates both. The visionary Lazzarino coachbuilding family was ahead of its time, creating innovative, handcrafted automobiles—none more significant than this singular creation.'
It does look cool.
This one was commissioned by the president of Ford of Argentina, and was thus originally equipped with a Ford flathead V8. Later it had a Chrysler slant six. But it's back with the flathead now.
From its creation it was raced. Throttlestop lists its provenance:
Winner of the Gran Jornada Automovilística 'Presidente Perón' (August 1954)—Sponsored by the Argentine Association of Race Car Drivers and supervised by the Argentina Automobile Sports Commission, as documented by automotive historian John Gunnell.
Competed extensively throughout Argentina and South America during the 1950s and 1960s.
Maintained in one-family ownership for 30 years in Argentina.
Participated in notable international events, including:* 4,200-mile Pan-American Rally ('The Great Race'), Philadelphia to San Francisco* Mount Washington Hill Climb, 'Climb to the Clouds' (2005)* Bridgehampton Road Rally (2006)
Throttlestop describes it as being in 'Exceptional & Authentic Condition!' saying it has a 'Superb restoration to its original racing configuration and Certified for authenticity via Declaración Jurada by the President of the Cámara Argentina de Comerciantes de Vehículos Antiguos, confirming it retains its original manufacturing characteristics.'
It's also FIA-certified as a historic race car, meaning it's eligible to compete in historic races like the Mille Miglia.
It's done well on the concours circuit, too, Throttlestop noting that it was:
Commissioned by Gucci for a series of advertisements featuring actor James Franco.
Displayed at:* Amelia Island in 2012 and 2024* The Quail Motorsports Gathering in 2012* Nationwide Concours d'Elegance, Elkhart Lake in 2016* Milwaukee Concours d'Elegance 2016*The Amelia Eight Flags Road Tour 2024
But no one knows about it. It doesn't show up at all in either of my last two Classic Car Auction Yearbooks between entries for Lasalle and Lexus. Conceptcarz.com shows two previous sale prices listed at $130,200 in 2011 and $135,000 in 2014. Throttlestop is now asking $349,900. Is that a lot? It does have a 'Superb Restoration,' remember.
Most people will think it's a Ferrari, and that may be fine. But you and I will know. If I had 350k I'd buy it. How about if you buy it and let me drive it? I'll write a story about it, adding to its provenance! 'Driven by famous Autoweek author and fearless test driver…'
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