1987 - ACA SBarro

Sbarro Monster G - 1987

A t the request of Thomas Gehrig, Franco Sbarro's customer and owner of a Mercedes 6.9 Gullwing and a Windhound, Sbarro's objective was to design an off-road vehicle that would go beyond the norm. And when we say off-road, we really mean beyond the limits. And so the Monster G was born, with wheels taken from an airliner!

The Sbarro Monster G fears no terrain (photo by Dingo for Option Auto magazine)

Boeing 727 wheels

The outline of the Monster G was sketched out fairly quickly. But the bestial side of the car needed to be accentuated with large wheels. As fate would have it, an airliner, a Boeung 727, crashed without casualties at Geneva airport. Franco Sbarro simply acquired the landing gear and installed it on the Monster G. The wheels, 20 inches high and 14 inches wide, were adapted and lightened (originally 200 kg each) and fitted with special tires designed by Goodyear.

To support all this, a Land Rover chassis was used, in which Sbarro installed a Mercedes 8-cylinder engine with a 6.3-liter displacement and 350 horsepower. Four-wheel drive, of course. The eight exhaust tailpipes protrude aggressively from the hood.
A monster with Boeing wheels and eight tailpipes (photo by Dingo for Option Auto magazine)

Kevlar

Sbarro is one of the world's leading polyester specialists. And yet, according to Option Auto magazine, the Monster G's hull was made from Kevlar, a synthetic fiber used in bullet-proof vests. Its use in automobiles is not so common. Its advantage is its lightness and strength. But then, when you're wearing Boeing wheels, you're only a few kilos off! On a more serious note, Franco Sbarro mentioned that the Kevlar option was available on his Ferrari 550 wide. For the record, it seems that the rear lights are four Citroën BX lights.

A huge rear overhang that doubles as a tipper.

In case of trouble

Should you ever break down, far from anywhere, Sbarro has placed a generator in the trunk, as well as a mini-bike to the nearest garage.

In fact, the only problem Sbarro encountered was financial. Circumstances prevented him from affording this monster, which was sold to a Japanese collector along with four other Sbarro prototypes!
Perfect for a remake of the film Duel.

A hymn to madness

The Sbarro Monster G is an ode to madness. Madness of grandeur, with its oversized airplane wheels. Technical madness, with its assembly of so many different mechanical parts. Financial madness, even if I don't know the price. A monstrous desire for madness. I was lucky enough to see this monster a long time ago in Strasbourg, and it has stayed with me ever since. One of my favorite Sbarros for sure.
In brief
1- The most monstrous of all-terrains
2- Boeing 727 wheels
3- One-of-a-kind model
  • 8-cylinder Mercedes engine
  • Displacement 6400 cm3
  • 350 horsepower
  • Four-wheel drive