Monteverdi Safari and Sbarro Windhound
In the late 70s, off-roading was big business. Buoyed by interest in international off-road competitions like the Baja 1000. Everyone wanted to drive a rugged, macho truck — especially after the fuel crisis finished.
But there was a problem. See, Ford Broncos and Jeeps were alright, but they didn’t exactly hold luxuries in high regard. And with the growing popularity of big Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Rolls Royce, and Bentley sedans (and the rise of a more distinct upper-class), what was the rich playboy to drive when he wanted to go skiing?
Monteverdi and Sbarro had the answers.
Take a traditional off-road machine (Monteverdi chose the International Harvester Scout and Sbarro the Mercedes-Benz G-Class), dress them up in evocative bodywork, fit nicer interiors, and sell them to jet-setting Europeans. (International produced a range of special editions aimed at individuality-seeking Americans, including the Scout “Aristocrat.” Hmm.)
The Land Rover Range Rover was one option, but still wasn’t quite as appealing as a coachbuilt special from, say, a Swiss dealer, Peter Monteverdi. The Monteverdi Safari followed from the Sahara — both based on one of the best 4WD vehicles of all time. Because the International Scout was such a stout basis for the luxury rig, Monteverdi just had to re-design the bodywork (designed by coachbuilding house Fissore) and pop in an attractive interior.
Even today the Safari is an attractive, all-terrain luxury SUV. Power came from a 5.7L Chrysler V8, allowing their oil baron owners to go from place to place very quickly. Or, for the truly mad, Chrysler’s 7.2L V8 was optional. If you’re interested, there is a Monteverdi museum and a few websites offering classified listings for these trucks.
As interesting and attractive as the Safari is, however, it pales in comparison to the (also Swiss-made) Sbarro Windhound. In my opinion, it offered the greatest exhaust system layout ever. It was available in two or four-door versions, and you can still find artifacts of its existence today, like brochures on eBay or a listing of its entry into the 1980 Paris–Dakar off-road race.
In total, nine were built — plus one 6×6 version called the Windhawk for King Khaled of Arabia.
Even now, evidence of these once-stunning off-road machines still exists in the spirit of what many manufacturers are building into their off-road machines. Expect a story soon on more strange, rare, and interesting off-road machines.
