F.C. Leonesse Turbo 3 by Ferruccio Covini

[fyreline]

A few years back (about 2004 or so), a six-wheeled supercar proposal made the rounds of the auto magazines. It was done by an Italian designer named Ferruccio Covini, and was called the C6W. The story was that he had started working on the car in 1978 or so, but ran into the usual development and financial issues that keep so many of these cars from ever reaching the market. The drawing in your puzzle looks quite a bit different from the 2004 car presented at the shows (which was a real car, not just a drawing). I am going to guess that your quiz car is a proposal for the original 1978 or so design for the car that eventually became the Covini C6W many years later. . . although I haven't been able to find a picture of the Covini that matches your drawing. There were - and are - few enough 6-wheelers around that I figure it's worth a guess.

[Bizzarrini Rossa]

Yes ,this is a Covini. Do you know the name of the project?

[fyreline]

I have found nothing definitive so far . . . even on Covini's own web site. I have found a few obscure references mentioning names like "speedster" and "Meta" (which appears to have been a joint project with Fiat) . . . even a web page showing the old 1960s Ford Motor Company "Seattle-ite" 6-wheel concept car, and claiming it to be a Covini. Lots of mention of their ties to Tyrell and Panther, but to answer your question, no, I cannot find any other name for this drawing other than to call it a preliminary design for the C6W . . . so far. I'll keep looking. Any hints?

[Bizzarrini Rossa]

No Speedster or Meta. The project was to have a different, specific name.

[fyreline]

OK. Can you tell me if it was an actual name, or one of those alpha-numeric things like T44, T46, B24, T40 or C36?  These were all designations of various Covini cars, but so far I haven't found any other names except for an Israeli site that doesn't even call the quiz car a Covini, but a Kubin.

[Bizzarrini Rossa]

Unfortunately your list does not have the correct name. I can think of but in this case, the puzzle will not be counted towards you.

[fyreline]

OK, one last try . . . I found a photo of Ing. Covini doing a video presentation in front of a big screen, and this photo was displayed behind him:



I'm not 100% certain it's even the same car, but it's as close as I've been able to find. In any case, the caption below the picture called the car the "Leonesse turbo 3", so that's my guess.

[Bizzarrini Rossa]

Yes!

[fyreline]

Great puzzle - really enjoyed solving that one, and learned a bit along the way. Can't ask for more than that.

[Bizzarrini Rossa]

Thanks!!!

Only one item from my collection of original rare items.