It turns out that Moto Guzzi once made sports cars

Record Breaker Moto Guzzi is an Italian company that produces various kinds of motorcycle products. The company is headquartered in Mandello del Lario and was founded in 1921. The motorcycle-maker company has been making increadible motorcycles ever since, which officially makes them the longest continually-operating European bike manufacturer to this day.

The 1955 Nibbio 2 record breaker is enjoying its all quiet days as one of the collections of the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile (National Museum of Automobiles) in Turin.  (Picture from: TwoWheelsPuls)

You probably know they've made some incredible cafe racer motorbikes over the years, but they've also made a bold V8 race bike and powered a couple of cars to land speed records. Currently the company is part of the parent company Piaggio Group along with several another Italian companies such Aprilia, Gilera, Derbi, etc.

The Nibbio 2 was built for Giovanni Lurani in 1955 with Moto Guzzi engine and body by Ghia, designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi.  (Picture from: Coachbuild)

As mentioned above, it turns out that in the past this Italian company had initiated a four-wheeled sports car project in order to break land speed records called the Nibbio 2, which you've not known before. It was initially built for the sole purpose of setting speed records around Italy’s legendary Monza race track. When it succeeded, and led to something even wilder, such pushed further this car to break land speed records.

The 1955 Nibbio 2 record breaker is featured with an independent 4-wheel suspensions, and powered by a Guzzi one-cylinder 350 cc motorcycle engine, mounting Ghia bodywork as continuation of the 1930s Nibbio.  (Picture from: MAUTO)

Regarding to the name, the 'Nibbio' (Kite, as in the bird) is a Count Lurani-Cernuschi commissioned sports car is powered by a 500 cc Guzzi engine, and had set four speed records on November, 1935. The Nibbio I was then further modified, receiving a 250 cc compressor engine.

The Nibbio I is a Count Lurani-Cernuschi made for sports car is powered by a 500 cc Guzzi engine, and had set four speed records on November, 1935. (Picture from: Perico001 on Flickr)

And the Nibbio 2 is a special record-breaker built for Giovanni Lurani in 1955, featured with an independent 4-wheel suspensions, and powered by a Guzzi one-cylinder 350 cc motorcycle engine, mounting Ghia bodywork designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi,  as continuation of the 1930s Nibbio. 

As quoted of the Mauto, the Nibbio 2 set up some international 350 cc class speed records at Monza in the hands of Giovanni Lurani, Piero Campanella and Angelo Poggio during 1956 and 1958. It turns out that the effort to break the land record by this sports car powered by the Moto Guzzi engine does not stop here.

The 1962 Stanguellini Colibri streamliner now sat on display at the Museo Stanguellini (Stanguellini Museum) in Modena. (Picture from: MotorValley)

In the 1962, when the Italian Drivers Association or Associazione Nazionale Corridori Automobilisti Italiani (ANCAI) awarded Vittorio Stanguellini the world trophy for manufactures of Formula Junior cars. Then the world speed records were set another challenge to Vittorio to be broke, as Piero Campanella and Angelo Poggio took their Nibbio 2 record breaking veihicle with its Guzzi engine to Modena-based Automobili Stanguellini workshop, for fine tuning with the aim of 24 international records.

The Stanguellini Colibri streamliner reach speeds over 180 kph while driven by Pietro Campanella and Angelo Poggio at the Monza track in October 1963 to set 6 world speed records.. (Picture from: AntiqBrocdelaTour)

It's called Stanguellini Colibri with bodywork designed by Franco Scaglione, built on a Stanguellini tubular chassis. The all aluminum body was produced by Vaccari & Baccrini-Carrozzeria Gransport. It was built on the wave of success, this vehicle with extreme aerodynamic characteristics, intially designed to house the powerfull and growndbreaking eight-cylinder Guzzi 500 engine.

The 1962 Stanguellini Colibri streamliner driven by the more modest and classic single cylinder Guzzi 250 engine and had 29 hp but only weighed just over 600 lbs. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

Although it driven by the more modest and classic single cylinder Guzzi 250 engine and had 29 hp but only weighed just over 600 pounds, and was so aerodynamically slick it topped 200 kph and clocked up six world records on the high speed track in Monza (October 1963).

Currently the Nibbio 2 record breaker is enjoying its all quiet days as one of the collections of the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile (National Museum of Automobiles) in Turin. Meanwhile the Stanguellini Colibri now sat on display at the Museo Stanguellini (Stanguellini Museum) in Modena. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS OSURCES | THRILLIST | CARMODEL | GAUKMOTORS | MAUTO | WIKIPEDIA ]

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