Monteverdi Hai 450 SS Coupe
The Monteverdi Hai 450 SS is one of the rarest and most dramatic supercars ever created — a mid-engine Swiss exotic powered by a thunderous 7.0-liter Chrysler Hemi V8, built by the flamboyant Peter Monteverdi at his small factory near Basel, Switzerland.
Peter Monteverdi was a larger-than-life character — a Swiss entrepreneur, racing driver, and car enthusiast who had fallen out spectacularly with Enzo Ferrari over a dealership dispute. Determined to prove he could build a car superior to Ferrari's offerings, Monteverdi created a series of front-engine GT cars in the late 1960s before attempting his masterpiece: the mid-engine Hai.
The Hai (German for 'Shark') was designed to compete directly with the Ferrari 512 and Lamborghini Miura. The body was designed by Fissore and was strikingly beautiful — low, wide, and aggressive, with a mid-engine profile that was unmistakably exotic. The body was constructed from hand-formed aluminum panels over a tubular steel space frame.
The powertrain was pure American muscle transplanted into a European chassis. The 7.0-liter Chrysler Hemi V8 produced 450 hp, an extraordinary figure for the early 1970s. Mated to either a five-speed ZF manual or Chrysler TorqueFlite automatic transmission, the Hai was claimed to reach 290 km/h — faster than virtually any other production car of its era.
The fully independent suspension used double wishbones all round with coil springs, and Girling ventilated disc brakes provided stopping power. The combination of massive American torque and European chassis dynamics was unique — nothing else offered this combination of brutal power and sophisticated handling.
However, the Hai's ambitions exceeded the capabilities of Monteverdi's small operation. Only two Hai 450 SS coupes were completed (some sources suggest one or three — exact numbers are debated). The car was too complex and expensive for a small manufacturer to produce in any volume, and the 1973 oil crisis further undermined the market for thirsty supercars.
Today, the surviving Monteverdi Hai 450 SS is among the most valuable and coveted exotic cars in existence — a one-of-two Swiss supercar that represents the audacious ambition of one man's vision to challenge the Italian establishment with American muscle and Swiss precision.
One of the rarest cars in the world — only 2 exist. Any sale would be by private arrangement at an exceptional price. Authentication requires extensive research including Monteverdi factory records (now held by the Monteverdi museum in Basel). The Chrysler Hemi V8 parts are available through the American muscle car aftermarket, but chassis and body components are entirely bespoke. The Monteverdi Car Collection museum in Basel is the primary authority.
Only 2 examples completed (some debate exists about exact numbers — 1, 2, or 3). Built at Monteverdi's Binningen workshop near Basel. Body by Fissore. Chrysler 426 Hemi V8 engine. Tubular steel space frame with aluminum body. ZF 5-speed manual or TorqueFlite automatic transmission options.