Switzerland designed a supercar to take on Ferrari and Lamborghini, this is its story

Switzerland was once home to the lesser-known supercar known as the Monteverdi Hai 450 SS.

In the 1960s, Swiss carmaker Peter Monteverdi aimed to challenge Ferrari and Lamborghini with this ambitious project.

Just coming into the market and challenging the top players was a really audacious idea, and would take some serious effort.

That said, the Monteverdi Hai 450 SS really had the potential to become something big.

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Monteverdi Hai 450 SS made by Peter Monteverdi

Despite the car’s striking design and powerful performance, it failed to generate interest when it was presented at the 1970 Geneva Auto Show.

Thus, the Hai 450 SS remained a concept and never moved into production.

The story of the Hai 450 SS is similar to the Stola Phalcon, another ambitious project that ultimately didn’t succeed.

But the initial failure didn’t stop Peter Monteverdi, and he made another attempt in the 1990s with the Hai 650 F1, which had a 650hp Ford-Cosworth V8 engine.

Unfortunately, this model did not make any significant impact either.

Peter would have made another attempt to make his next creation a success, but sadly, he passed away in 1998, having never seen his dream of competing with Ferrari and Lamborghini come to fruition.

Despite failing, the Monteverdi Hai 450 SS remains a beloved – and slightly unusual – part of automotive history.

A car with a lot of potential

Looking at the design and impressive power of the supercar, it feels strange that it couldn’t impress car enthusiasts.

It was powered by a Chrysler Hemi V8 engine, which was known for its impressive performance.

Monteverdi aimed for the Hai 450 SS to boast 450 horsepower, achieve 0 to 62mph in just 4.2 seconds, and hit a top speed of 180mph.

These figures might not seem extraordinary by today’s standards, but it should be remembered that it was one of the company’s initial cars, built in the 1970s.

Maybe if someone with the same drive and vision as Peter Monteverdi had continued his legacy, the brand’s future might have turned out quite differently.