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Wednesday, December 1, 2021

One-off Marciano of 1970s You've never heard before

Wild Card - In the bustling world of automotive wonders, many exotic cars never bask in the spotlight of mainstream media. These cameras often prefer to capture well-known brands, leaving some unique creations in the shadows. One such gem is the Marciano 268A, a car that remains relatively unknown despite its fascinating story.
1972 Marciano 268A built by a small Italian workshop based in Ponsacco in Tuscany named Marciano Prototipi owned by Vincenzo Marciano. (Picture from: Marciano Prototipi)
The Marciano 268A was crafted in 1972 by a small Italian workshop in Ponsacco, Tuscany, named Marciano Prototipi. The workshop was owned by Vincenzo Marciano, who was only 23 years old at the time. The car's name, 268A, reflects its specifications: a 2.6-liter, 8-cylinder engine, with "A" signifying its anterior (front engine) placement. According to DrivesToday, the journey of this hand-built exotic car began when Vincenzo decided to transform a crashed Alfa Romeo Montreal into his dream vehicle.
1972 Marciano 268A was built by hand and inspired by the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, Ferrari 250 LM and all the Italian sports cars of the 1970s. (Picture from: Coachbuild)
Vincenzo Marciano and
his personal dream car
Marciano 268A Prototype.
(Picture from: MarcianoPrototupi)
Vincenzo meticulously designed the tubular chassis and incorporated usable components from the original Montreal. The aluminum bodywork, crafted by hand, drew inspiration from iconic Italian sports cars of the 1970s, including the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale and Ferrari 250 LM. The Marciano 268A became a blend of classic beauty and innovative engineering. 

Various parts of the Marciano 268A were sourced from other renowned sports cars. The rear suspension was borrowed from a Jaguar E-Type, the 13-inch wheels came from the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, while the windshield, headlights, and taillights were from a Ferrari 250 LM. This eclectic mix of parts gave the car a distinctive character.
1972 Marciano 268A was built by hand upon a crashed Alfa Romeo Montreal and several components taken from many exotic sports car such Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, and Ferrari 250 LM. (Picture from: Coachbuild)
The drivetrain of the Marciano 268A featured a 2,593 cc V8 engine derived from the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, paired with a ZF gearbox. With a light weight of around 800 kg, the car could accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 6 seconds and reach a top speed of 150 mph. This impressive performance showcased Marciano's engineering prowess.
1972 Marciano 268A's interior has a simple and focused dashboard with a pair of four-point harnesses leather bucket seats. (Picture from: Marciano Prototipi)
Inside, the Marciano 268A was simple yet purposeful. It boasted leather bucket seats with four-point harnesses, small sliding sections in the windows, and aluminum doors opened by simple straps. The dashboard, equipped with Alfa Romeo instrumentation, lay behind a Luisi wooden steering wheel, creating a driver-focused environment.
1972 Marciano 268A is powered by a 2,593 cc V8 engine coupled with a ZF gearbox. (Picture from: DrivesToday)
The project began in 1972 and wasn't completed until the late 1990s, as it was a part-time endeavor for Marciano. Despite the slow progress, the car made its public debut at Alfa Romeo's 100th anniversary celebrations in 2010, where it garnered significant praise and attention. The Marciano 268A stood out as a testament to high-quality craftsmanship, different from most other home-made projects.
1972 Marciano 268A has a fairly light weight of around 800 kg is capable of accelerating from rest to 62 mph in 6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 150 mph. (Picture from: Coachbuild)
There was a time when Vincenzo Marciano considered putting the car into production. However, due to financial constraints, this dream was never realized, and the 268A remained a unique, one-off creation.😉 Its story is a reminder of the passion and dedication that drive automotive enthusiasts to create something extraordinary, even if it doesn't always make it to the mainstream.
As we look back at the tale of the Marciano 268A, it becomes clear that some of the most remarkable automotive creations are those that remain hidden, crafted with love and precision away from the limelight. The Marciano 268A is not just a car; it's a piece of art, a labor of love, and a symbol of what can be achieved with a vision and unwavering determination. *** [EKA [01122021] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MARCIANO PROTOTIPI | HISTORICAUTOPRO | DRIVESTODAY | LOVECARS | COACHBUILD | GEARHEADSANDMONKEYWRENCH ]
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