Switzerland had a failed supercar but when you see the pictures you'd wish it was a success
Published on Jul 21, 2025 at 3:21 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jul 17, 2025 at 9:05 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Switzerland had a failed supercar called the Monteverdi Hai 450 SS, yet the images will make you wish that it had been a success.
It’s true that Switzerland isn’t a country you’d typically associate with fast cars, given that for many years it banned motorsport after a tragic crash at Le Mans.
But the Monteverdi Hai 450 SS was a stunning-looking car that had big power under the hood, and could have rivalled the best from Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Sadly, it never managed to gain traction, but we wonder what might have been.
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What made the Monteverdi Hai 450 SS so striking?
Straight away, the Swiss car looks like it means business.
The Monteverdi Hai 450 SS was built by the company run by Peter Monteverdi.
His company initially began as a supercar dealer in Switzerland.
But growing frustrated with the likes of Ferrari, Monteverdi wanted to take them on at their own game.
This is what led to the creation of the Hai 450 SS, making it the supercar debut for the company.
Monteverdi chose a sleek, Italian-style body for the car.
That ensured it looked very similar to those from Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati.
The car was long, curvaceous, and not entirely dissimilar to a Lamborghini Miura.
Yet under the hood, it had brutal American power from a 7.0-liter Chrysler V8 producing 450hp.
Why the Swiss beauty became a failed supercar
Sadly, despite Peter Monteverdi’s vision and ambition, the Hai 450 SS was never a commercial success.
Incredibly, the company wasn’t inundated with buyers, despite a promising debut at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show.
The design and the concept as a whole seemed to resonate with the public and potential customers.
Yet, the car couldn’t muster a single order.
Various reasons could explain why the Hai 450 SS failed.
The lack of heritage within the name and its $200,000 asking price were the primary culprits.
Undeterred, the company tried again a few years later with the Hai 650 F1.
But it too struggled against its rivals, such as the Ferrari F40.
Sadly, the company had once again produced a failed supercar.
That has left the automotive world to wonder what might have been with the gorgeous Monteverdi Hai 450 SS.
Had it been a success, who knows what the future might have held?
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
