Monteverdi Hai 450 SS Mid-Engine
The Monteverdi Hai 450 SS is one of the most extraordinary and least known supercars ever created. Conceived by Peter Monteverdi, a Swiss automobile manufacturer, racing driver, and entrepreneur, the Hai (German for 'shark') was a mid-engine supercar that combined the raw power of Chrysler's 426 Hemi V8 with a chassis and body of genuine sophistication. Only two examples were ever completed, making it one of the rarest automobiles in the world.
The Hai's conception was driven by Peter Monteverdi's desire to create the ultimate road car. Having already established a successful business building front-engine grand tourers with Chrysler V8 power, Monteverdi conceived the Hai as a mid-engine machine that could compete with the Lamborghini Miura and Ferrari 512 BB. The 426 Hemi V8, producing 450 horsepower in road trim, was mounted longitudinally behind the driver, driving the rear wheels through a ZF five-speed manual gearbox.
The body was designed by Fissore, an Italian coachbuilder, and featured a low, dramatic profile with a sharply raked windshield, pronounced rear haunches covering the rear wheels, and a distinctive Kamm tail. The overall design was purposeful and aggressive, with excellent aerodynamic efficiency for the era. The body panels were constructed from steel, with the doors and hood in aluminum to save weight.
The chassis was a tubular steel spaceframe, designed specifically for the mid-engine layout. The suspension used double wishbones at all four corners with coil springs and adjustable dampers, providing the precise handling control demanded by a car of this power level. Girling four-wheel disc brakes, ventilated at the front, provided the stopping power necessary for a car capable of approaching 290 km/h.
The Hai's performance was extraordinary. With 450 horsepower propelling just 1,200 kilograms, the power-to-weight ratio was among the best of any road car in 1970. The claimed top speed of 290 km/h would have made the Hai one of the fastest production cars in the world, though with only two examples built, the term 'production' is generous.
The story of the Hai's limited production is bound up with the economics of small-volume supercar manufacturing. The development costs were enormous for a small company, and the market for cars at this level was intensely competitive. Monteverdi built the two prototypes but never committed to series production, instead focusing on his more commercially viable front-engine grand tourers.
The two Hai 450 SS examples that were built remain in existence and are among the most valuable and historically significant Swiss automobiles. They represent the ultimate expression of Peter Monteverdi's engineering ambition and Switzerland's brief but fascinating chapter in the supercar story.
With only two in existence, the Hai 450 SS is virtually priceless. Any transaction would be a once-in-a-generation event requiring extensive provenance verification through the Monteverdi Museum in Basel. The car is of enormous historical significance to Swiss automotive heritage.
Only two Monteverdi Hai 450 SS examples were ever completed. The first was a running prototype, and the second was a refined version with minor improvements. Both survive today.