Portrait of Peter Monteverdi

Peter Monteverdi was a racing driver, car builder and founder of the Swiss car brand Monteverdi. His successful career from mechanic and car fan to self-built designer and from dreamer to racing driver and later to manufacturer of exclusive luxury cars is documented in the film "Monteverdi – The Last Swiss Car Builder" and in the Monteverdi book published in 2020.

Peter Monteverdi

Peter Monteverdi was born on June 7, 1934 in Binningen (BL/Switzerland) and died there on July 4, 1998. He was a private Swiss racing driver, car constructor and founder of the automobile marque MONTEVERDI. His father, Rosolino Monteverdi, had operated a service garage and truck-repair business from 1924 to 1956.

1950-1952: MONTEVERDI Special

Peter Monteverdi built his first car, the “MONTEVERDI Special” with an originally constructed, hand-built chassis and body in the span of time dating from 1950, when he was 16 years old, to 1952.

The MONTEVERDI service garage

After graduating from school Peter Monteverdi undertook his apprenticeship as an automotive mechanic at the tractor manufacturing firm of Vevey and completed his training at the Swiss commercial vehicle manufacturer Saurer in Arbon. Following his father's death in 1956, when he was 22 years old, Peter Monteverdi took over the company in Binningen and, changing its nature, developed it into a dealership for luxury-class automobiles and as a manufacturer of racing cars of his own design. As of 1967 originally designed GT-, sports cars and luxury vehicles were produced under the name of MONTEVERDI.

Peter Monteverdi as Racing Driver

1956-1961: Peter Monteverdi drove in approximately 80 competitive automotive events throughout Europe between 1956 and 1961, comprising hillclimbs, closed-circuit- and long-distance races such as the “Nürburgring 1000 Kilometers”. He drove a privately entered Ferrari in twelve races during 1957 and from 1959 onwards attained numerous high places with a Renault Gordini, a Lotus Formula 2 monoposto and a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR.

MBM (MONTEVERDI BINNINGEN MOTORS)

1960: Only original MONTEVERDI designed cars were employed in diverse events by Peter Monteverdi as of 1960. These racing cars comprised various Formula Junior monoposto designs designated MBM (MONTEVERDI BINNINGEN MOTORS) as well as the first Formula 1 car ever built in Switzerland.

Accident at the Hockenheimring

Following a serious accident at the Hockenheimring Peter Monteverdi decided to cease his racing activities and devote all his energy to the future development of his firm.

Peter Monteverdi as Entrepreneur

1957: Due to his continual employment of Ferraris in his racing activities Peter Monteverdi was awarded the Maranello marque's concession for Switzerland in 1957, thereby becoming the world's youngest Ferrari importer. During the following years Peter Monteverdi acquired local dealerships for a number of other international automobile marques which included BMW, Lancia, Bentley and Jensen.

Monteverdi: Swiss Automobile Marque

1965: Peter Monteverdi's decision to build his own marque of exclusive GT automobiles in 1965 was crowned with the appearance of the first of the series built in Binningen during 1967. Initially designated as an MBM, it was finally offered for sale with the elegantly sounding name of MONTEVERDI high speed 375 S.

Second New Building

1970: A further enlargement and augmentation to the premises became necessary. The production facilities for Automobile MONTEVERDI were moved to the newly constructed building.

The 375-palette

New additions were continuously made to the high speed range, including a four-door luxury sedan and various GT coupes and convertibles.

The MONTEVERDI hai

1970: The MONTEVERDI hai 450 SS rear-mid-engine GT coupe represented a highlight in the firm's history when it made its debut at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show.

Four-door luxury sedan

1971: MONTEVERDI high speed 375/4 luxury sedan

1972: MONTEVERDI Berlinetta

The Monteverdi Berlinetta replaced the High Speed 375 S.

MONTEVERDI Safari

1976: Due to the world-wide oil crisis Peter Monteverdi launched the luxurious MONTEVERDI Safari SUV in 1976, which was immediately crowned with great success.

The newly created S-Series was augmented step by step with further models such as a compact touring sedan designated MONTEVERDI Sierra and the 4x4 MONTEVERDI Sahara SUV.

MONTEVERDI Sierra

Monteverdi couldnʼt resist the temptation that overcame him with the renewed demand for luxury cars, as had just transpired at the auto show. And so he began to plan a second-generation luxury sedan. it made its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show in March, 1977.

The Sahara

1978: MONTEVERDI Sahara

The MONTEVERDI Military Series

Peter Monteverdi designed and built a special series of military vehicles for Swiss Army utilization in 1979 and sold the rights to the project to the Swiss commercial vehicle manufacturer Saurer at Arbon.

MONTEVERDI Tiara

1982: Peter Monteverdi had increasingly devoted his efforts with regard to producing creative designs for outside customers ever since the early 1980s, a case in point being that of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class-based MONTEVERDI Tiara luxury sedan of 1982, the ultimately produced automotive venture of his MONTEVERDI Design endeavors. The automobile marque MONTEVERDI as well as the name of MONTEVERDI Design are well known standards worldwide today.

The MONTEVERDI Car Collection

1985: Peter Monteverdi had opened his private car collection to the general public with the founding of the MONTEVERDI Car Collection in the former production facilities during 1985. At that time it had comprised more than 130 automobiles of 35 marques representing the post-war era, as well as a number of racing cars.

The MONTEVERDI Onyx F1-team

1990: Peter Monteverdi bought the ONYX Grand Prix Formula 1 team together with his associate, the well known Swiss entrepreneur Karl Foitek, and renamed it as the MONTEVERDI Onyx team. It participated in a number of Formula 1 events under his management during the 1990 F1 racing season.

MONTEVERDI hai 650 F1

1992: A super sports car, the MONTEVERDI hai 650 F1 GT coupe was based on the F1 technology of Peter Monteverdi's previous MONTEVERDI Onyx F1 car. It represented the second hai generation and was the last car built by Automobile MONTEVERDI.

The MONTEVERDI Car Collection was established in its present guise during the mid 1990s, enabling visitors to view every MONTEVERDI vehicle designed and constructed by Peter Monteverdi.

Monteverdi Design

The book

The movie