One to Buy: ex-Giorgio Moroder 1988 Cizeta-Moroder V16T Prototype

The collaboration to create a V16-powered monster by automotive engineer Claudio Zampolli and music producer Giorgio Moroder was arguably the most ambitious of all the supercars formulated during the late 1980s boom.

Based around a Lamborghini-derived normally aspirated 90° V16 mounted transversely in a custom steel tube chassis, the Cizeta was draped in a sleek body designed by Zampolli and legendary stylist, Marcello Gandini.

Launched in Los Angeles during December 1988 amid a red hot collector car market, the $300,000, 200mph V16T should have been a commercial hit. However, delays getting the car into production saw Moroder pull out before the first customer cars were delivered. Ultimately, just nine copies were completed after the prototype.

With the partnership having been dissolved, only chassis 001 ever bore the Cizeta Moroder moniker with all subsequent examples having been branded simply as the Cizeta V16T.

At RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction scheduled for August 13th to 15th, chassis 001 will be going under the hammer.

Following appearances at the 1989 Los Angeles and Geneva Motor Shows, chassis 001 was retained by Giorgio Moroder until 2022. During this time, Moroder had the car recommissioned by Bruce Canepa in Scotts Valley, California. Since then, the car has resided with the consigning owner who has had further mechanical and cosmetic work carried out by Rex Nguyen of Chatsworth, California.

Chassis 001 heads to auction with a little over 400km on the odometer.

For more information visit the RM Sotheby’s website at: https://rmsothebys.com/