Now here's a turn-around for the books - an Italian car inspired by an American classic!
This is the Puritalia 427 roadster, which company founder Paolo Parente says was inspired by the 1965 Shelby Cobra - and yes, it has a five-litre V8 lump that churns out a quoted 327kW and 530Nm, driving the rear wheels via a six-speed manual 'box and a limited-slip differential.
Or, if you ask nicely, Parente will bolt on a supercharger that boosts output to 445kW and 640Nm.
Nice.
The chassis is made of chrome-moly steel tubing with aluminium peripherals, running on 19 or 20” alloys shod with Pirelli P-Zero rubber, and the body is a mix of carbon-fibre and composites.
Each car will be hand-built to order, and Parente promises a “truly unique piece of art”.
He also says there's nothing like it on the market. We disagree - any number of kit car companies will build you an updated Cobra, or you can just buy a BMW Z4, to which the Puritalia bears more than a passing resemblance anyway, but there is always room in this world for a sexy two-seater with a muscular big-inch engine.
We think the late Carroll Shelby would have approved.