The AM Rina Is A ’60s Throwback With A V8 Heart And A Gated Manual

Do you hanker for the days when driving a car was a proper physical experience, not something dulled by trivial things like doors and windows? Us too, which is why our attention’s been drawn to the AM Rina, a new ’60s-inspired speedster from a low-volume startup in Italy.

We first saw the Rina teased by Automobili Mignatta – AM for short – earlier this year, but the company has this week unveiled the finished product, a curvaceous carbon-bodied speedster with a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre all-aluminium V8.

AM hasn’t said where that V8 has come from, but its size, bore and stroke all match up with those of the 5.0-litre ‘Coyote’ unit from the Ford Mustang. While the company hasn’t confirmed power numbers yet, the engine’s been treated to new intake and exhaust systems, which, if nothing else, should make a lovely noise.

It powers the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, mounted in a transaxle setup out over the rear axle, and there’s a proper mechanical limited-slip diff too. There is power steering, but unlike most modern systems, it’s hydraulic, which should provide greater feedback.

Underpinning everything is a carbon fibre monocoque tub, integrating both seats and weighing just 71kg. Attached to its subframes is all-round multi-link suspension with adjustable shocks, while the wheels are a forged design created especially for the Rina, with 19-inch rims up front and 20s at the back. Brembo brakes are standard, with 360mm discs and six-pot callipers at the front and 350mm discs and four-piston callipers at the back. Carbon ceramics are optional.

The bodywork is made entirely from Kevlar-reinforced carbon, helping keep the estimated dry weight down to 1000kg, and underneath, there’s a flat floor that AM says produces downforce and helps with high-speed stability.

The interior – or as much as it can be called an interior in something with no roof or windscreen – features seat pads trimmed in Italian bull hides and a floating analogue gauge cluster with the rev counter sitting front and centre. Apparently taking a leaf out of Mini’s book, the big analogue speedo sits in the centre of the dash, with a row of toggle switches beneath.

Undoubtedly, the best bit of the cockpit, though, is the open-gated manual, for maximum clickety-clacketiness.

Should all of this sound like it’s up your strada, AM only plans to build just 30 Rinas per year at its facility in Piedmont, Italy, with the usual apparently endless customisation choices offered on low volume stuff these days. Price? Nobody knows, but let’s be honest: it’s not going to be cheap, is it?