Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is the complicated history of the first hypercar, the Cizeta V16T — also the world’s first 16-cylinder sports car. Designed by ex-Lamborghini engineers, it was Maximum Countach — outrageous Gandini styling, brutal horsepower, and just enough luxury to function as a car.
Buy the book: cizeta-v16t.com
From the publisher: lajeteepress.com
The brainchild of Italian-born, American-based engineer Claudio Zampolli, the Cizeta’s centerpiece was a 6.0-liter, 8000-rpm, 8-camshaft, 64-valve, twin-crankshaft V16 mounted transversely behind its two seats. To eliminate damaging crankshaft torsional vibrations, the engine’s power was taken from the middle of the cranks — sent to a traditional dogleg 5-speed transaxle driving the rear wheels.
That's right, a V16 and a dogleg manual transmission. With four popup headlights. (And four more driving lights.)
For decades, there’s been speculation that the engine was just two Ferrari V8s (from the 308 Quattrovalvole) or two Lamborghini V8s (from the Urraco P300) — but it’s neither. The cylinder block is one cast V16 — though it borrows much from both the Lamborghini and Ferrari V8s.
A total of 10 Cizeta V16Ts were produced — this prototype is the only one badged Cizeta-Moroder, as chief investor and famed music producer Giorgio Moroder pulled out of the venture before the production cars were built. Almost winning a comparison test against the Ferrari F40, Porsche 959 and Countach, its reviews were exceedingly positive.
However, the man whose initials are spelled out "Cizeta" in Italian, cast a sometimes negative light on the car, becoming embroiled in a $150,000,000 lawsuit against Jay Leno. Not to mention all the parties who sued Zampolli — including his own lawyer, whom he double-crossed.
It's a fascinating story of the creation of one of the most outrageous supercars ever built.
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This is the complicated history of the first hypercar, the Cizeta V16T — also the world’s first 16-cylinder sports car. Designed by ex-Lamborghini engineers, it was Maximum Countach — outrageous Gandini styling, brutal horsepower, and just enough luxury to function as a car.
Buy the book: cizeta-v16t.com
From the publisher: lajeteepress.com
The brainchild of Italian-born, American-based engineer Claudio Zampolli, the Cizeta’s centerpiece was a 6.0-liter, 8000-rpm, 8-camshaft, 64-valve, twin-crankshaft V16 mounted transversely behind its two seats. To eliminate damaging crankshaft torsional vibrations, the engine’s power was taken from the middle of the cranks — sent to a traditional dogleg 5-speed transaxle driving the rear wheels.
That's right, a V16 and a dogleg manual transmission. With four popup headlights. (And four more driving lights.)
For decades, there’s been speculation that the engine was just two Ferrari V8s (from the 308 Quattrovalvole) or two Lamborghini V8s (from the Urraco P300) — but it’s neither. The cylinder block is one cast V16 — though it borrows much from both the Lamborghini and Ferrari V8s.
A total of 10 Cizeta V16Ts were produced — this prototype is the only one badged Cizeta-Moroder, as chief investor and famed music producer Giorgio Moroder pulled out of the venture before the production cars were built. Almost winning a comparison test against the Ferrari F40, Porsche 959 and Countach, its reviews were exceedingly positive.
However, the man whose initials are spelled out "Cizeta" in Italian, cast a sometimes negative light on the car, becoming embroiled in a $150,000,000 lawsuit against Jay Leno. Not to mention all the parties who sued Zampolli — including his own lawyer, whom he double-crossed.
It's a fascinating story of the creation of one of the most outrageous supercars ever built.
===
Visit our website for an insurance quote, to join Hagerty Drivers Club, and for daily automotive news, cars stories, reviews, and opinion: hagerty.com
Stay up to date by signing up for our email newsletters here: hagerty.com/media/newsletter
Follow us on social media:
Facebook | facebook.com/Hagerty
Instagram | instagram.com/Hagerty
Twitter | twitter.com/Hagerty
Contact us:
Suggestions and feedback - videoquestions@hagerty.com
Press inquiries - press@hagerty.com
Partnership requests - partnerships@hagerty.com
