When Enzo Ferrari had a falling out with his top associates, said associates chose to leave Ferrari’s side and go their separate ways. One of the more famed companies to come from this massive falling out was ATS. No, not the Cadillac ATS, but rather the Italian sports car manufacturer Automobili Turismo e Sport. Carlo Chiti started the company to produce both racecars and road cars, but the racing side didn’t work so well.
The 2500 GT, which was a blessing passed down from the pen of Franco Scaglione, made its debut at the 1963 Geneva Auto Show as one of the first ever mid-engine vehicles. For the era, the 2.5-liter V-8 engine’s 210 horsepower was a marvel and its 241 km/h (149.75 mph) top speed was almost unsurpassed.
The precise number of these cars built between 1962 and 1965 is not really known, though some say it was a total of 12 units. What is known, however, is that only five units remain today. This is all about to change, as after 47 years, the ATS brand and the 2500 GT is being risen from the ashes and presented as a new model to contend with the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini.
So, can this resurrected ghost of automotive past actually compete with its ultra-powerful fellow automobili Italia?
Click past the jump to read our full review on the ATS 2500 GT to find out.
