- A 1982 Guanci SJJ prototype is currently up for auction with bidding starting at $4,200.
- The mid-engine sports car features a European-inspired design as well as a 250 hp 4.0-liter V8.
- It has only 209 miles on the odometer, making it an incredibly low-mileage collector’s item.
The electric age has ushered in countless automotive startups, but this is hardly a new phenomenon. Quite the opposite as dozens of companies have tried to build the next great sports car.
One of them was Guanci, which is little known today. However, one of the company’s prototypes is up for auction on the Hagerty Marketplace. According to the listing, this is the third and final vehicle built by the firm and it was finished in 1982.
More: 505 HP Hummer H3R Concept Brings Its LS7 To The Auction Block
While Guanci Automobiles was founded in Woodstock, Illinois in 1977, the SJJ has an unmistakable European flair thanks to a sporty fiberglass body that was reportedly crafted by Chrysler designer Mike Williams with input from Alejandro de Tomaso. The resulting design still looks good today as there’s a sleek front end with a slender intake and hidden headlights.
Moving further back, we can see prominent side scoops and flying buttresses. They’re joined by a “two-piece hatchback” as well as 16-inch wheels that look like they were lifted off a rental car.
The interior is a tad spartan, but features a three-spoke steering wheel and two-tone upholstery. We can also see rudimentary controls as well as a Blaupunkt audio system.
This particular prototype has only been driven 209 miles (336 km) and the listing says it features an aluminum and steel monocoque. While the car was originally equipped with a mid-mounted turbocharged Buick V6, it was eventually replaced by a 4.0-liter V8 from an Oldsmobile Aurora. It produces 250 hp (186 kW / 253 PS) and is connected to a three-speed automatic transmission.
While the SJJ certainly looks interesting and made a splash at the 1979 Chicago Auto Show, Guanci Automobiles soon faced a tough reality: building cars is incredibly complex and expensive. The company eventually faded away, but this prototype remained in the Guanci family.
According to the listing, John J. W. Guanci III donated the car to the Genius Garage Student Racing Team in Bowling Green, Ohio earlier this year. It’s now up for sale, but doesn’t have a title and is, presumably, not street legal.
