Unicorn: 1970 Porsche Tapiro

In the world of automotive design, few collaborations have captivated car enthusiasts quite like the 1970 Porsche Tapiro. Born from the innovative minds at ItalDesign, under the visionary Giorgetto Giugiaro, this concept car made a design statement.

Volkswagen-Porsche Tapiro - Image: wheelsage.org

Unveiled at the 1970 Turin Motor Show, the Porsche Tapiro immediately commanded attention with its futuristic and aerodynamic silhouette.

The sleek body blended elements of Porsche's iconic design language with a touch of Italian flair. The sharp lines and aggressive angles hinted at the car's performance potential, promising a thrilling sports car of the future.

image: wheelsage.org

Underneath its captivating exterior was a 2.4-litre flat-six engine sourced from the 1969 Porsche 914/6. It promised potent performance that matched the car's aggressive styling. With 155kW on tap, the Tapiro's 0-60 mph (0-96km/h) sprint was estimated at 6.5 seconds, which is pretty quick for the time.

Image: wheelsage.org

The Porsche Tapiro stands as a bold testament to collaboration and creativity. For a design that is approaching 55 years old, it has stood the test of time.

Sadly, the concept car itself wasn't so robust. After being sold to a private collector who used it as a daily driver, the Tapiro is now back in ItalDesign's care, but in a disastrous state.

How it ended up that way is the subject of much conjecture. Some reports claim it was destroyed in a terrorist attack; others say it was involved in a car accident and burned beyond repair.

The 'truth' as far as our research suggests, is a little bit from both column A and column B. The Spanish Industrialist who bought the Tapiro concept came under personal attack from labour activists protesting his company's labour policies and planted a bomb in the car.

Image: wheelsage.org