Espera Sbarro Pontarlier

Diva (2006)

The Alfa Romeo Diva, presented at the 2006 Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance, is the fruit of collaboration between Wolfgang Egger (head of Centro Stile Alfa), the Fiat Group's research center, and Franco Sbarro. The car was designed by Egger himself and built by Sbarro and students from the Espera school. Officially commissioned by Alfa Romeo, the Diva remained a unique model that could have been produced in small series. (read more...)

Taïpan (2024)

In March 2024, Espera Montbéliard students presented the Taïpan, a buggy named after one of the world's most venomous snakes. The Taïpan is powered by a Ford V6 engine placed in a central rear position. Covered in a magnificent green matte paint, this buggy is certainly Spartan, but promises sensations beyond the ordinary. (read more...)

Dilemme (2018)

100% electric prototype on the theme of single-seater racing. The 22 students in the class of 2017/2018 imagined and realized this project in 12 weeks of intense work, from drawing to rolling and functional prototype. Powered by two YASA electric motors, each rated at 100 kW and 750 Nm of torque, the vehicle is 2 m wide, 5 m long and has 19-inch wheels, this formula is made for the racetrack. (suite...)

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Saviris (2022)

There'll be no Geneva Motor Show in 2022, but the students of the class of 2021-2022 presented their first prototype in Montbéliard, the Saviris small car powered by a 100 hp motorcycle engine. (suite)

10 years ago, Espera Grand Prix

In 2014, Espera students presented Grand Prix, an evocation of the Grand Prix cars of the thirties. This magnificent prototype was powered by a twelve-cylinder BMW. (read more...)

Sbarro

All the cars

Sbarro P4 (1986)

When Franco Sbarro was a mechanic at Scuderia Filipinetti, he had the opportunity to prepare and maintain a Ferrari P4. So it's only logical that a few years later, having become a manufacturer, he should set about building an evocation of this sublime car. In fact, the Sbarro P4 is not really a replica, insofar as the proportions are slightly different. Based on a Ferrari 308, the Sbarro P4 is homologated for use on open roads (read more...)

Sbarro Stash, already 50 years old

50 years ago, Franco Sbarro presented the Stash coupé. This model, an evolution of the SV1, was produced in five examples, with a variety of Volkswagen and Mercedes engines, offering power ranging from 105 to 286 hp. One of the models was modified by Pierre Cardin, with a painted lamellar rubber interior and striped carpets. The Stash HS is a Porsche Targa-style convertible.  (read more...)

Monster G (1987)

In 1987, Franco Sbarro responded to a customer's request for an off-road vehicle that was out of the ordinary. A 6.4-litre Mercedes V8 engine was installed on a Land Rover chassis. The bodywork is made of Kevlar. And to make it truly out of the ordinary, the wheels come from a Boeing 727 aircraft. This unique model lives up to its name: Monster  (read more...)

Sbarro 328 turns 50

It was at the 1974 Geneva Motor Show that Sbarro presented the replica BMW 328, which would become the most widely sold Sbarro in ten years. This model played a major role in establishing Franco Sbarro's reputation. (read more...)

advertising BMW 328

While researching on the web, I came across this old advertisement for Autosuisse, the Italian importer of the BMW 328 Sbarro. I found the slogan "Per pochi. Anzi, per pochissimi", or "For a few. In fact, for very few".

A modular electric bike

Following the cancellation of the Geneva 2020 show, Franco Sbarro was unable to to present his new projects. It was to the Swiss newspaper La région that he showed the one that was to take pride of place on his stand: a modular electric motorcycle that incorporates two two ideas already used by Sbarro: a motor in the front wheel in the front wheel and the famous hubless orbital wheel in which a helmet can be stowed. When stationary, the seat folds down and the footboard disappears.  (read more...)

Sbarro 4x4+2 (2018)

Franco Sbarro introduced the 4x4+2 in 2018, a ruggedly styled off-road car based on a Porsche Cayenne. Two additional non-drive wheels enhance the crossing capabilities of this vehicle designed for extreme rallies (read more...)

Sbarro Super Eight

Franco Sbarro's cars are often difficult to trace. In 2019 Vintage Car magazine found the Sbarro Super Eight on the stand Speed 8 Classics at InterClassics Brussels. The car had only 26,254 km and was on sale for around €100,000 (read more...)

Technique

Reinventing the wheel !

Empty a wheel and make it still turn. No hub, just empty space. It's a perfectly thought-out idea that led Franco Sbarro to reinvent the wheel. The spectacular aspect is only a consequence. The aim was to reduce as far as possible to the ground rather than the central hub.

The orbital wheel has been fitted to three motorbikes, as well as to a spectacular car, the Osmos. Equipped with a Jaguar V12 engine with visible exhaust pipes and a spoiler positioned in the in the vacuum wheel (suite...)


What if we put the engine in the wheel !

After invented the empty orbital wheel, Sbarro is reinventing the the wheel again, but this time filling it with... a motor! (suite...)

Le châssis Dual-frame

It is to separate the dynamic structural functions (the mechanical part) from the structural functions of protection and comfort (the trim section). Between these two parts are pneumatic spheres that inflate and deflate according to road conditions or driving style. (suite...)

Archives

Discover the world of Sbarro

Franco Sbarro has built hundreds of cars since 1959. Here are a few random models to give you an idea of the Franco Sbarro's wealth of ideas..


Some images of Franco Sbarro's time at the Scuderia Filipinetti.

Le Mans, GT40, Ferrari...

How to sum up a busy life life in a few words.

Behind every great man is a woman. This adage applies perfectly to Françoise Sbarro.