Few people today must have heard of Sbarro, founded by Franco Sbarro, but in the 1980s and 1990s it used to be one of the attractions at the Geneva Motor Show, where its daring and even bizarre creations were a constant presence. Among the numerous that he presented, we have the Sbarro Super Eight , what we can define as a demonic hot hatch.
Well… look at him. Compact and very muscular, it seems to have come out of the same gauge from which “monsters” such as the Renault 5 Turbo, the Peugeot 205 T16, or the smaller, but no less spectacular, MG Metro 6R4, which both intimidated and fascinated in rallies, emerged — including the infamous Group B — from the 1980s. Like these, the Super Eight's engine was behind the occupants.
Unlike these, however, the Super Eight did not need four cylinders or even a V6 (MG Metro 6R4). As the name suggests, there are eight cylinders that it brings, and in addition, from the most noble of origins: Ferrari.
If Ferrari made a hot hatch
We can say that the Sbarro Super Eight must be the closest thing ever to a Ferrari hot hatch. Underneath its compact hatchback body (length is not much superior to that of an original Mini), and lines that wouldn't be strange to see in any rival of the aforementioned Renault 5 or Peugeot 205, hides not just a V8 Ferrari, like a (shortened) chassis of a Ferrari 308.
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Like the 308, the Super Eight places the V8 transversely behind the two occupants, and the link to the driving rear axle is ensured by the same five-speed manual gearbox — the beautiful metal base with the double-H pattern so typical of Ferrari sets it apart. in the luxuriously clad interior of this Super Eight.
The 3.0 l V8 of capacity produces 260 hp — this in a car much smaller and lighter than the new Toyota GR Yaris, of practically identical power — and we only regret not knowing how fast it accelerates. The 308 GTB was just over 6.0s up to 100 km/h, certainly the Super Eight should be able to match this value. What it can't do is walk as fast as the original donor: it's estimated to run 220 km/h against the roughly 250 km/h of the original Italian model.
This unique copy, unveiled in 1984, is now on sale at Super 8 Classics in Belgium. It has just over 27 thousand kilometers on the odometer and was the subject of a recent review and has Dutch registration.
Super Twelve, the predecessor
If the Sbarro Super Eight seems like a “crazy” creation, it is actually the second most “civilized” and conventional chapter on this topic. In 1981, three years earlier, Franco Sbarro had completed the creation of the Super Twelve (presented in Geneva in 1982). As the name suggests (Twelve is 12 in English), behind the occupants are — that's right — 12 cylinders!
Unlike the Super Eight, the Super Twelve's engine is not Italian, but Japanese. Well, it is more correct to say "the engines". In reality there are two V6s, with 1300 cm3 each, also mounted transversally from two Kawasaki motorcycles. Motors are linked by belts, but can operate in isolation.
Sbarro Super Twelve
Each of them retains its own five-speed gearbox, but both are controlled by a single mechanism. And each engine powered only one of the rear wheels — in case of trouble, the Super Twelve could only run on one engine.
In total, it delivered 240 hp — 20 hp less than the Super Eight — but it's also just 800 kg to move, guaranteeing 5s to hit 100 km/h — don't forget, this is the early 1980s. A Lamborghini Countach at the time it would have been difficult to keep up with him. However, it would quickly catch up, as the short staggering of gears limited the top speed to just 200 km/h.
Reports at the time say the Super Twelve was a beast close to indomitable, which is why it made the more conventional — but even more powerful — Sbarro Super Eight.
