When Italian made American muscle cars

Forgotten ONES This time we start this article with a matter of taste. It's undeniable that Italian cars are very beautiful, but it doesn't automatically stop the Italians from liking American muscle cars. The question is how do the Italians interpret the American muscle car after they realized into real?

The LMX Sirex was an Italian 2-door, 2-seater sports car, and known also the only model produced by LMX Automobile S.R.L. (Linea Moderna Executive), a company founded by Michel Liprandi and Giovanni Mandelli. (Picture from: Medium)

In general, it could became some kind of an American muscle cars with Italian tastes. For example the Italian GT car as follow, although it really has nothing to do with it, due to coincidently it has similar shape, using the same engine or even both. Well, maybe you've never heard of this Italian sports car brand before.

No wonder, due to this is a not-so-famous brand owned by a Milan-based automotive company called Linea Moderna Executive (LMX) Automobile S.R.L. The company was founded in the mid-1960s by an Italian entrepreneur Giovanni Mandelli and a French engineer Michel Liprandi.

The LMX Sirex produced by LMX Automobile S.R.L. (Linea Moderna Executive) during 1969 to 1973 (in total of 50 units) and available both in convertible and coupé bodywork. (Picture from: TheAutopian)

In short, the production of the sports car later named the LMX Sirex was initiated by Liprandi who happened to be a composite expert, which was quickly approved for production by the Milan-based automotive company in 1968. Uniquely, in the course of this sports car production process ranging from the design stage up to production, there are many stories that link it with several famous names in the world's automotive from Italy.

The LMX Sirex bodywork is built on a frame originally designed by Gioacchino Colombo, and Liprandi made modifications to cut weight down to just 163 lbs. (Picture from: Medium)

For example, the LMX Sirex sports car was built on a frame originally designed by Gioacchino Colombo, the famous mastermind behind the Ferrari V12s bearing his name. However, Liprandi made modifications to the frontal area of the frame’s design, and also drilled a number of holes into the steel to cut weight down to just 163 lbs. 

The first production of the LMX Sirex done by Eurostyle starting in 1969 and forced stop production in 1973 after managed to produce only 35 cars. (Picture from: TheAutopian)

Reportedly, the fiberglass body which clearly has an American touches was designed by Franco Scaglione himself. Maybe this refers to the time when the famous designer was a freelancer at the time. Although the Scaglione story is rather hard to confirm, what’s for sure is that the famous designer was already working on many fiberglass bodied sports cars by 1966. 

Reportedly, the fiberglass body which clearly has an American touches was designed by Franco Scaglione himself. (Picture from: TheAutopian)

Such stories were made possible because this company fronted by a French gentleman who knew about fiberglass teamed up with an Italian entrepreneur who happened to know many his fellow Italians who could supply them with everything from chassis designs to fashionable contemporary American muscle car bodies.

The LMX Sirex is powered by a Ford Taunus 20M P7, which meant a 2.3-liter Cologne V6 engine with 126 horsepower. (Picture from: TheAutopian)

If we look at its appearance, the proportions of this car's design remind us of the 1967 Chevy Camaro, combined with a touch of 1967 Alfa Romeo Montreal concept by Marcello Gandini of Bertone at the rear. So you would be forgiven for thinking Sirex came from Detroit rather than the Italian fashion capital Milan.

The LMX Sirex debuted at the Turin Motorshow held in November of 1968. (Picture from: Motor1)

Meanwhile its powertrain got lifted from a Ford Taunus 20M P7, which meant a 2.3-liter Cologne V6 engine with 126 horsepower. The choice of this engine to be planted as an LMX Sirex drivetrain was inseparable from the company's limited funds at that time. It was understandable that Ford engines were cheaper and also promised ease of service if compared with the Ferrari, Alfa Romeo or Fiat engines.

The first production of the LMX Sirex done by Eurostyle starting in 1969 and forced stop production in 1973 after managed to produce only 35 cars. (Picture from: Medium)

And the LMX Sirex debuted at the Turin Motorshow held in November of 1968. Well, because the company was a small entreprises only, so it could not afford an official stand at that time, the car was shown outside the exhibition hall. However, its presence still attracts attention of the expo visitors.

A further production process of 12 to 15 cars were built afterward from leftover parts by another company called Samas. (Picture from: TheAutopian)

After the expo ended, the car production began and by the summer of 1969, the LMX Sirex was ready for the market. At the time, construction of the fiberglass body and its fitment onto the chassis were delegated to a Turinese firm called Eurostyle. The cars available both in convertible and coupé bodywork, plus the consumer could also choose a different engine if they wished.

Unfortunately, the company's financial condition worsened, coupled with slow sales, which forced it to stop production in 1973 after managed to produce only 35 cars. A further production process of 12 to 15 cars were built afterward from leftover parts by another company called Samas. That brings the total production tally up to an estimated 50 cars, of which about half are still known to exist to this day. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THEAUTOPIAN | MEDIUM | MOTOR1 | WIKIPEDIA ]

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