The late ’60s and early ’70s were an important period for exotic-car design. Four cars defined the era and set the stage for the wedge-shaped supercars that would later symbolize the ’80s. Those show cars were the Alfa Romeo Carabo, the Lancia Stratos Zero, and the Lamborghini LP 500 concept, all designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, along with Pininfarina’s spectacular Modulo, styled by Paolo Martin.
Growing up, the Modulo was always the one that stuck with me. First, it was a Ferrari. The basis for the Modulo, remember, was a 512S chassis and drivetrain. But man, that styling—the partially hidden wheels, the forward-sliding canopy—it looked like something that belonged in the shuttle landing bay of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The design grabbed you and parked itself in your consciousness. It instilled passion.
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As of today, the car has a new owner: Jim Glickenhaus. Enthusiasts needn’t be concerned that one of Pininfarina’s treasures is headed to private ownership. If there’s one person on earth who appreciates everything that car represents, it’s Jim.
A couple of weeks ago, he sent us a note saying, “Against long odds I’ve gotten Pininfarina to sell me Modulo, which we will awaken and make roadworthy as we did with Dino Competizione.”
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You see, the thing with Jim Glickenhaus is that he doesn’t believe in trailer queens. He drives all of his cars, because that’s what cars are for, after all. So he’ll work carefully with his team to make Modulo a true runner. That process will take place in Europe, and it won’t be rushed. Jim told us that the first stop for the revived Modulo will probably be Villa d’Este.
In due course, it’ll make the trek back to New York, where it will be registered, fitted with an appropriate vanity plate, and join Jim’s carefully curated stable of unique, rare, and important cars.
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After that, it’ll excel at making other drivers fumble for their phones when it gets taken it out for a spin. Note to those folks: Please refrain from plowing into the spaceship on wheels that you’re desperately trying to Instagram. After all, it’s the only one there is.
This story originally appeared on roadandtrack.com
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