Sbarro Super Twelve - 1982

The Super Twelve was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1982. Until then, Franco Sbarro had been known mainly for his BMW 328 replicas and a few original models, such as the Windhound and Windhawk off-roaders and the Stash sports coupé. All in all, rather imposing cars. The Super Twelve, on the other hand, is surprisingly small, presenting itself as a concentrated sports car: twelve in-line cylinders developing 240 hp wrapped in 3.10 meters of polyester, and weighing just 800 kg.

The rear fenders are as wide as a Renault 5 turbo, and the sides are as wide as a Ferrari Testarossa.

A ball of nerve

The Super Twelve has virtually the same dimensions as an Austin Mini, with the exception of its width: 1.75 m versus 1.40 m for the Mini. That's an extra 35 cm that doesn't go unnoticed! The aggressiveness is also due to the transition from a very straight front-end design to round shapes at the rear, reinforced by a gradient paint finish (by Andréini). The wide side air intakes, as on the Ferrari Testarossa to be released two years later, indicate the presence of an engine placed in a central rear position. The car is fitted with Gotti wheels (15" front, 16" rear) shod with Pirelli P7. The slatted grille is typical of Sbarro designs from this period. The rear lights, tinted body color like the windows, are perfectly integrated, giving a smooth appearance to the Super Twelve's stern: only the four chromed exhaust tailpipes and the metal plate with ten holes connecting them protrude.
The four tailpipes look menacing, like rifle barrels (Dingo photograph).

Rough but luxurious

The interior is entirely covered in beige leather. The seats, Recaro buckets with harnesses, are separated by a wide center console. The high-end audio system is located on the ceiling, while a trip computer is within easy reach of the passenger.
A twelve-cylinder engine, transversely positioned at the rear, the result of the assembly of two Kawasaki motorcycle engines.

Not controllable

One-off, the Super Twelve with its distinctive engine is not a model of smoothness and proves rather difficult to master. Franco Sbarro would say that the engine lacked torque and that the low weight was too sensitive. That's why Sbarro, with the support of Bren Grohe, built a second model with a more conventional engine: the Super Eight presented in March 1984.
In brief
1- Small, luxurious but brutal to drive
2- A 12-cylinder engine formed from two motorcycle engines
3- A gradient paint finish that makes it instantly recognizable
Main sources
1- book "Franco Sbarro. La mécanique dans le sang. Tome 1"