New Addition to the Collection: Civetta Bolide Longtail GTR Prototype

The Civetta Bolide Longtail GTR Prototype in the garage

On the 10th of July, I arrived in Croatia, Zagreb by air, from where I continued my journey by rail to meet Andrej Horvat, who had offered me a rather intriguing vehicle - a Civetta Bolide Longtail GTR prototype.

What made this particular example especially interesting is its nature: while the car itself is regarded as a prototype, this primarily applies to its mechanical components. The engine and underlying systems were part of an experimental development phase, whereas the bodywork appears to have been assembled later using a combination of early Bolide elements. In essence, it represents a functional test platform rather than a finalized, production-intent design - something that only adds to its uniqueness.

I arrived at the agreed meeting location at around 7 in the morning. Shortly after, Árpád Török joined us, bringing along a rented car transporter to facilitate the vehicle’s journey home. After a brief introduction, we quickly moved on to the matter at hand and reached an agreement regarding the purchase. I would prefer not to disclose the final price.

Processing img r9k7skkanlch1...

What followed was a surprisingly pleasant time; drinks, conversation, and a shared appreciation for rare machinery all day. It is always a special experience to meet individuals who understand the significance of such vehicles.

Processing img 0nsdu0thnlch1...

Next day by around 10 o’clock, the car had been carefully loaded onto the trailer. With the paperwork completed and handed over, we began our journey back toward Italy, passing through Slovenia along the way. The Slovenian Alps, provided a truly remarkable backdrop to the start of this new chapter for the car.

Processing img cj9gp15onlch1...

Saying goodbye to Andrej before starting our journey back to Italy

Driving in the Slovenian Alps

The H-Series broke down - it did not like the Alps

At the time of writing, we have made a brief stop at a small café, enjoying a coffee before continuing onward.

Good looking AW Type 1 I found in the café's parking lot

After Török finished repairing the car we made a selfie together

Huge thanks to Andrej Horvat u/Big_Platypus7209 and Árpád Török u/zetex76 for making this possible! It was a great time, and I will definitely visit Andrej again! I will post again when we get back to Castelletto.

Have a nice day, everyone!