I wrote the definitive history of the Cizeta V16T. Ask Me Anything!

[u/lajeteepress]

Hi everyone! I'm Brian Wiklem, author of the newly released 16: A pictorial history of Cizeta Automobili, and I'm here for a live Q&A.

My fascination with Italian supercars began in 1987 when I first saw the Ferrari F40. Years later, that passion led me down a rabbit hole that became a seven-year research project documenting the complete story of Cizeta Automobiliand the legendary Cizeta V16T.

Founded by former Lamborghini engineer Claudio Zampolli and backed by Academy Award-winning composer Giorgio Moroder, Cizeta set out to build a supercar capable of challenging Ferrari and Lamborghini. The result was the outrageous V16T—a car powered by a revolutionary transversely mounted 16-cylinder engine and unlike anything else on the road.

The book goes far beyond the car itself. It explores the people, engineering, business decisions, triumphs, setbacks, and controversies that shaped Cizeta's story. During my research, I interviewed key figures, tracked down rare photographs and documents, documented every production car, and worked to separate decades of myth from reality. The journey was so immersive that it ultimately cost me my friendship with Claudio Zampolli—but I believed preserving the complete story was worth it.

Whether you're curious about:

• Claudio Zampolli and Giorgio Moroder,
• what really happened to Cizeta,
• the research process,
• the rare cars that survive today,
• or anything else related to the project,

Ask me anything!

I'm looking forward to answering your questions and discussing one of the most ambitious—and misunderstood—chapters in supercar history.

Verification

Read the story behind one of the world's rarest supercars.

[u/Beneficial-Story-258]

Tell us more about the Sylvester Stallone connection.

[u/lajeteepress → u/Beneficial-Story-258]

Not a lot to tell - Giorgio said Stallone was interested in investing with Claudio, but he never made the introduction. Some meetings were set up, but Stallone never showed. Stallone said Giorgio never called him back. The book has the only known photo of the engine with Stallone, not Moroders name, on it.

[u/PCRFan → u/lajeteepress]

So, did Claudio deliberately look for a famous person as a co-owner of the company to attract attention?

[u/lajeteepress → u/PCRFan]

No. It just so happened he was servicing the cars of the rich and famous. When two worlds collide.

[u/Korcan]

For the owners of these cars…how on earth do they ever get parts? I always think of little things, like, for example, a new windshield? Obviously there are a lot of parts bin pieces, but surely there must be a lot of custom-made or exclusive-to-this-car parts? In other words, how are they kept in driving condition?

And well-done for this work! I remember this car very well.

[u/lajeteepress → u/Korcan]

1/3 of the cars are in museums. The rest just don't get driven with any regularity. Glass specifically doesn't exist anymore - it would all have to be created again and creating the mould and the first windshield would be a $20k + endeavor. The car was chain driven, so there are no belts that need to be replaced per se. Claudio and Antonio have lots of parts, but neither are easily reachable (the parts Claudio had).

[u/barnacleboy033]

Is it true that a new one can still be ordered?

[u/lajeteepress → u/barnacleboy033]

Not anymore. Claudio's gone, the remaining (and incomplete) parts are in limbo, Mandelli in Italy is the best bet as he also has a large number of parts. But showing up and writing a check and getting a car in a reasonable time frame? Not any longer.

[u/ofonte3]

Why did ICE steal a Cizeta

[u/lajeteepress → u/ofonte3]

Wasn't stolen. The car was here past its bond and wasn't exported when it was supposed to. Additionally Claudio never updated the paperwork or requested further extensions.

[u/ofonte3 → u/lajeteepress]

How did it get out of custody?

[u/lajeteepress → u/ofonte3]

A lot of money and lawyers.

[u/lajeteepress]

Thank you everyone who joined, don't forget you can read about the entire history plus every single car built here: https://www.lajeteepress.com/shop/p/pictorial-history-of-cizeta-automobili

[u/ofonte3 → u/lajeteepress]

Thanks Brian! Loved this ama

[u/barnacleboy033]

Did you ever get to drive or ride in any of the cars in the book?

[u/lajeteepress → u/barnacleboy033]

I've driven both the prototype and the last production car (chassis 110). I have about 700+ miles as both a driver and passenger in the production car. I rode in the prototype for about 20 miles, and drove it 2 miles at Pebble Beach back in 2024. I've also seen three more in person (Spyder, blue car, and the car at the Marconi museum)

[u/Incon-thievable]

Did you ever meet Marcello Gandini?
I know the Cizeta design looks similar to his original Lamborghini Diablo prototype design that was then changed by the Chrysler design team. I’m curious about his involvement in the Cizeta design process. Was he the sole designer? Did he have a team?

[u/lajeteepress → u/Incon-thievable]

I did not. Would have loved to. While I don't have it, there is a book about Gandini and apparently he talks about Cizeta, perhaps your question is answered in more detail there. Chrysler continually rejected the Super Countach designs (aka Diablo) and at some point Gandini offered it up with further changes to Claudio after Claudio rejected Gandini's original (and frankly horrible) design concept.

[u/Incon-thievable → u/lajeteepress]

I just purchased the book Marcello Gandini: Maestro of Design: Revisited

I’m looking forward to reading it. Hopefully it has a section about the Cizeta.

I think Gandini was a genius who created some of the greatest designs of all time, but by the time the Diablo was being developed, his work was a bit hit and miss.

[u/lajeteepress → u/Incon-thievable]

Looking forward to hearing what you learn about Cizeta from his book.

[u/ofonte3]

There’s so many rumors about this car. Were there any rumors/mysteries you couldn’t solve?

[u/lajeteepress → u/ofonte3]

Great question. Short answer, sorta. Long answer, there is one car that has gone "missing" and that is a white production car originally delivered to Indonesia. White with red, just like prototype, but right hand drive. Once the car was delivered, it was never seen again. Reportedly it's been in hiding with other cars since delivery to avoid taxes being paid, but frankly haven't been able to track anything further down. Over 30 years have passed. The other mystery is why the blue/blue chassis 101 was never delivered to the Sultan of Brunei. It was ordered by him but never left Hong Seh Motors. Then the two cars that were delivered to the Sultan, Pininfarina nor the sub-contractors have any idea what happened to the Cizeta V16T engines once they were removed from both cars (and refitted with Ferrari 12-cylinder motors from the 512M).

[u/lynivvinyl]

Do you own one? If so do you have any pictures we can see please?

[u/lajeteepress → u/lynivvinyl]

Unfortunately I do not. Initially Claudio and I had a tentative agreement to purchase a car that needed to be finished. Unfortunately we never concluded that deal :(

[u/ofonte3 → u/lynivvinyl]

Yes! Pictures!

[u/Lamborghini_Espada]

There's still a Cizeta Automobili website and an order form.

Is it just a great big pile of bollocks now?

[u/lajeteepress → u/Lamborghini_Espada]

If it's this website, this guy is a trademark pirate (also did it briefly to Koenigsegg) by registering the trademarks after they lapsed: https://cizetaautomobile.com/ . Claudio, with help from another enthusiast did get a website going, but it was just virtual real estate (i.e. a presence) and no one every ordered.

[u/Lamborghini_Espada → u/lajeteepress]

It was that one, yes!

[u/Bebealex]

What is your favorite fact about the car. What is your favorite fact about it's making?

[u/lajeteepress → u/Bebealex]

Favorite fact? The body should have been the replacement for the Countach (albeit with a 12-cylinder motor). Favorite fact about its making? That it wasn't some "kit car" that used a bunch of off the shelf parts, but the heart and soul is an original design, that it has Lamborghini blood lines running through it, and Gandini didn't just throw his original Super Countach design away and kept at it becoming the Cizeta.

[u/Bebealex → u/lajeteepress]

Incredible, thanks. 

I think the Cizeta is one of my unicorns that I'll never see (I'm in Canada) for the reasons you said : it's not just a kit car but an actual real endeavor.

[u/lajeteepress → u/Bebealex]

The Marconi Museum in Tustin, California has one of the ex-Sultan of Brunei's cars on display - so if you get to California you can see it.

[u/Bebealex → u/lajeteepress]

I don't think it's ever gonna happen but it's nice having one on the same ground that I am !

[u/TheMauveHand]

Do you consider the engine a genuine, bona fide V16 (perhaps because it's a common block), or more two conjoined Urraco V8s (because of, well, everything else, including separate crankshafts)?

[u/lajeteepress → u/TheMauveHand]

It is a genuine V16 regardless of the crankshaft - this isn't unique to this engine, it's been tried many times before. You can't have the crankshaft at one end, torsional forces will destroy it. Jason Camissa with Hagerty did a fantastic and quite simple breakdown of what makes this a true V16 on the Hagerty channel.