The Super Twelve was unveiled at the 1982 Geneva Motor Show. Until then, Franco Sbarro was best known for his BMW 328 replica and some very original vehicles: the Stash Coupé, the all-wheel-drive WindHound, and WindHawk. All Sbarro's cars were big. In stark contrast, the Super Twelve is a supermini, the smallest supercar made in the eighties. Twelve cylinders were developing 240 BHP in 3.1 meters of polyester weighing-in at 800 kg—a concentrated sports machine.
The Super Twelve is roughly the same size as the Austin Mini except for its width. At 1.75 m, a shameless 35 cm wider than the Mini! The geometric front blends into a bulbous rear resulting in an aggressive stance reinforced by Andréini's paintwork. The large lateral air intakes, seen two years later on Ferrari's Testarossa, indicate a mid-engined machine. The car rolls on Gotti alloys (15 in front, 16 in rear) and with Pirelli P7 rubber. The grille is typical eighties Sbarro design. The body-colored tail lights are integrated into the smooth rear shape, broken by four exhausts and an aluminum skid plate punctuated by ten large holes.
The passenger compartment is upholstered in beige leather with a large center console separating two Recaro seats and harnesses. A luxury audio system is built into the roof, and there is an onboard computer within reach of the passenger.
The rear window pane or hatch has no frame like the Citroën AX. Once opened, the leather engine cover can be removed, revealing a 12 cylinder in-line transverse-mounted motor. This unusual power plant comprises two six-cylinder 1300 cc Kawasaki motorcycle engines. Each retains its own five speed gearbox and a special linkage system allows the boxes to be operated synchronously with a single gear lever. Each engine drives only one wheel and is connected to the other engine by v-belts, which minimizes engine speed variations. The car can be run on one engine in case of mechanical difficulties. There is 240 BHP on tap for this 800 kg vehicle. This gives weight to power ratio of just 3.3 kg/BHP (4.3 kg/BHP for its contemporary, the Lamborghini Countach LP500!). The acceleration is excellent, 0 to 62 mph in 5 s. but has been achieved at the expense of top speed, which is nevertheless 125 mph.
Sbarro only built one Super Twelve. Its special engine makes it a ferocious car and a handful to drive. That's why Sbarro built another version with a more conventional engine. It was called the Super Eight and was introduced at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show.
Features:
engine: 12 cylinder in-line (two Kawasaki 6 cylinder)
configuration: transverse mid-engined
displacement: 2600 cc
power: 240 - 250 BHP @ 8000 rpm
transmission: rear-wheel drive (chain)
gearbox: 2 manual 5-speed (1 per engine)
weight: 800 kg
brakes: 4 discs
dimensions: length 3,15 m ; width 1,75 m ; height 1,30 m ; wheelbase 2,20 m
tires: 195/50 x 15 front ; 235/50 x 16 rear
top speed: 125 mph ( 200 km/h)
0-62 mph: 5,0 seconds
Source: Sbarro Super Twelve, 1981. http://sbarro.phcalvet.fr/voitures/SuperTwelve/supertwelvegb.html
Images: Espera Sbarro