Manual V12s, be it in front-engine GT form or midships, have long been considered one of the most emotional and cherished automotive formats in history. The layout itself can be traced back to the 1960s and has long been the benchmark for driver engagement. But as modern emissions regulations and dual-clutch gearboxes took over, true analog V12s have lost relevance. However, a new wave of low-volume hypercars and restomods continues to keep the format alive today.
British outfit, Garagisti & Co, is the latest to join that line-up of niche automakers. The company is the brainchild of Mario Escudero, a man who once racked up 8,078 miles in a single year driving his Lamborghini Countach. He founded Garagisti & Co. with one mission: to imagine what supercars might have become had the analog era continued to evolve. The GP1 is an all-carbon supercar that packs a good old naturally aspirated V12 with a manual transmission and no oversized screens in sight.
At its heart lies a bespoke 6.6-liter V12 engine that produces 789 horsepower. Developed by Italian powertrain experts Italtecnica, known for their work on Maserati’s MC12 GT1, this flagship V12 powerplant is a nod to motorsport’s golden era, with dry-sump lubrication, gear-driven timing, and a 9,000 rpm redline. Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission developed by Xtrac, a firm steeped in racing heritage.
The GP1 weighs a claimed 2,205 pounds dry, thanks to its full carbon monocoque chassis. Ground-effect aerodynamics produce an impressive 1,874 pounds of downforce. For some context, that’s about the same as a 992.1 911 GT3 RS (at 177 mph), but unlike the Porsche, it produces that downforce without relying on massive wings or aggressive fins. The result is a clean, wedge-shaped form that is a nod to legends like the OG Lamborghini Countach LP500, the iconic Lancia Stratos Zero, and the Lamborghini Diablo, all of which were designed by the great Marcello Gandini.
Angel Guerra, who styled the W16 Bugatti Mistral, the Bugatti Tourbillon, the Delorean DMC-12 reboot, and the all-electric Rimac Nevera, was responsible for designing the GP1. Its wide hips and aerodynamic cab-forward stance are retro-futuristic. Wheels come in two flavors: either a minimalist five-spoke design or teledial-inspired throwbacks. Inside, you find a driver-focused cockpit trimmed in leather and carbon fiber.
Only 25 examples of the GP1s will be built, with each priced at $3.13 million before tax. The first 12 buyers will also get hands-on access to the engineering process. Now, although what we see here are digital renderings, engineering of the GP1 is well underway, with partners like Brembo and Öhlins on board.
We recently reported on the upcoming Giamaro Katla, a purist quad-turbo V12 creation aimed squarely at the driver. It joins an elite group of modern manual V12 hypercars, including the Pagani Utopia, Gordon Murray Automotive T.33, Aston Martin Valour, and the TWR Supercat. While each takes a different approach, all share the same philosophy: put the driver back at the center of the experience. In that context, Garagisti & Co. is onto something and will join the aforementioned club of a small group of low-volume V12 manual supercars.
Source: Garagisti & Co