Lucchini sports prototypes (1980–2008)
Lucchini Engineering of Porto Mantovano built open sports prototypes from 1980 to about 2008, most of them with Alfa Romeo V6 power. They range from steel-framed 1980s barchettas to carbon-tub SR2 and LMP2 cars. Buyers today run them in Italian hillclimbs, historic sprints and track days, where Alfa V6 and Hewland know-how keeps them alive.
History
Giorgio Lucchini set up Lucchini Engineering at Porto Mantovano, near Mantua, in 1980 1. The first cars were S280 barchettas for Italian national sports-car races. The archive shows them at Monza, Vallelunga, Varano and Magione between 1980 and 1983, with a best finish of sixth 7. Through the 1980s the SN and SP cars used a steel tube frame with aluminium panels and a fibreglass body 1718. Power came from the Alfa Romeo Busso V6 in 2.5 or 3.0-litre form, through a Hewland FT200 five-speed 1318. Hillclimbs became the natural home for these cars. Philippe Darbellay took a European hillclimb title in an S289 in 1991 1.
The SP91 of 1991 moved to a carbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque with pushrod suspension. It weighed 659 kg and made about 315 hp 3. Only three were built 3. One won the Vallelunga 2 Hours in November 1991, and chassis 084 finished 30th at Le Mans in 1993 6. The P3 (1994–1996) and P1 (1997–1998) followed for the FIA CN class 1. The P1-98 carried the Alfa 3.0 V6 at about 450 hp, a Hewland NMT six-speed sequential and 720 kg 4.
From 1999 the SR2 line raced in the SportsRacing World Cup and then the FIA Sportscar Championship, in the SR2 (LMP675) class 2. Engines were the Alfa Romeo V6, a BMW inline-six or a Nissan VQ V6 2. A wet Spa in 2000 gave Salvatore Ronca and Filippo Francioni a class win after the leading Ferrari 333SP retired 9. The team then took the SR2 team and constructor titles in 2002 and 2003, against thin opposition 19. Lucchini next built Judd-powered LMP2 cars, the LMP2-04 and LMP2-08, for the Le Mans Series 10. Chassis 152 finished only two of its eight races between 2004 and 2007 8.
The CN4 of 2008, with an Alfa 3.0 24V and a Hewland FTR gearbox, was the last hillclimb design. Chassis numbers had reached 167 14. Production probably stopped in 2009 1. The older cars now run in Italian historic hillclimbs, and a P1-98 still appears in CIVM E2-SC entry lists 202122.
Palmarès
A Lucchini SP91 won the Vallelunga 2 Hours in November 1991 and chassis 084 finished 30th at Le Mans in 1993 6. Philippe Darbellay won a European hillclimb title in an S289 in 1991 1. Ronca and Francioni took an SR2 class win at the 2000 Spa round of the SportsRacing World Cup 9. A Lucchini SR2 finished sixth at Daytona in 2001 11. Lucchini won the FIA Sportscar Championship SR2 team and constructor titles in 2002 and 2003 19. Filippo Francioni won the 2006 Italian prototype championship in a Lucchini Alfa Romeo 12V 1. The racingsportscars.com archive counts 4 overall wins and 26 class wins for the marque between 1980 and 2009 5.
What to check before you buy
Ask for the engine builder's invoice and hours since overhaul: Sellers quote Galetti overhauls; a bare claim without paperwork is worth little on a Busso V6. Ask when the Hewland was last stripped and which ratios are included: Listings advertise revised FT200 or reconditioned FTR units and separate ratio sets. Ask whether bodywork moulds or spare panels come with the car: No factory supply exists; one SP90 sale included moulds, a new body and a rear wing. Match the chassis number to the known list and race archive: Chassis numbers run 008 to 167; racingsportscars.com records entries per chassis. Check the HTP or technical passport date and class: Historic hillclimb classes (4th Raggruppamento) and CIVSA need a current passport. Decide the target class before buying: A 3.0 Alfa P1-98 runs in CIVM E2SC-SS-3000 against Nova Proto and Osella; older cars suit historic groups. Ask when the car last ran under its own power: Auction cars have sat for years; a shakedown reveals fuel, brake and damper faults. Inspect dampers and rocker bearings: Pushrod and rocker suspension is used from SP91 onward; Koni 2-way dampers are fitted to the CN4.
Versions and evolutions
| Version | Years | What changed | How to identify |
|---|---|---|---|
| S280 / SN85 / SN89 | 1980–1989 | Steel tube frame, aluminium panels, fibreglass body. Alfa Romeo 2.5 or 3.0 V6, Hewland FT200 five-speed. 17 | Three-digit chassis plate (008 to about 063); FT200 gearbox; separate frame visible under the body. |
| SP90 / SP91 | 1990–1991 | First carbon and aluminium honeycomb monocoque. Alfa 3.0 12V, Hewland FT200. SP91 made for LMP rules, three built. 3 | Chassis 072–085; SP91 has Le Mans-style bodywork with headlights. |
| P3 / P1 | 1994–1998 | FIA CN class cars. Alfa 3.0 V6 at about 450 hp, Hewland NMT six-speed sequential, 720 kg. 4 | Chassis 102–136; sequential gear lever; 4,500 mm long, 1,900 mm wide. |
| SR2-99 / SR2000 / SR2001 / SR2002 | 1999–2003 | SR2 (LMP675) class. Alfa V6, BMW inline-six or Nissan VQ V6 options. Four built. 2 | Chassis 139–148; full endurance bodywork with lights; FIA Sportscar Championship history on racingsportscars.com. |
| LMP2-04 / LMP2-08 | 2004–2008 | Closed-rules LMP2 cars with Judd engines. Early car had a Pankl gearbox; the 2008 car used Xtrac. 10 | Chassis 152–166; Judd engine; LMP2 bodywork. |
| CN4 | 2008 | Hillclimb car with Alfa 3.0 V6 24V, EFI electronics, Hewland FTR sequential, FIA crash-tested tub. 14 | Chassis 167 known; sold in hillclimb or track configuration. |
Known issues
- Alfa Romeo Busso V6 needs a specialist rebuild — Cars are advertised with a fresh overhaul by Galetti; spare engines sold with cars often need a rebuild before use. 18
- Long storage before sale — A 2018 auction lot had not been driven for several years and the house advised testing before use. Expect perished seals, stale fuel and tired dampers. 16
- Fibreglass bodywork from private moulds — No factory supply since production stopped. One seller includes moulds and new panels with the car; without moulds, a damaged nose or tail means a new mould. 13
- Hewland gearbox wear — FT200, NMT and FTR units are sold as revised or reconditioned. The first LMP2 car suffered a Pankl gearbox problem. 14
- Tub and frame repair after a crash — 1980s steel frames with aluminium panels are cheaper to repair than a monocoque. SP91-onward carbon and honeycomb tubs need a composite shop. 18
- Suspension and finishing record on endurance cars — An SR2 retired with suspension failure in 2001; LMP2 chassis 152 finished two of eight races. Check rockers, pushrods and wishbone joints. 11
- Paperwork for historic entry — Historic hillclimb entries need a valid technical passport (HTP). Sellers advertise an updated HTP as a selling point. 15
Checklist before you buy
- Ask for the engine builder's invoice and hours since overhaul — Sellers quote Galetti overhauls; a bare claim without paperwork is worth little on a Busso V6. 13
- Ask when the Hewland was last stripped and which ratios are included — Listings advertise revised FT200 or reconditioned FTR units and separate ratio sets. 14
- Ask whether bodywork moulds or spare panels come with the car — No factory supply exists; one SP90 sale included moulds, a new body and a rear wing. 13
- Match the chassis number to the known list and race archive — Chassis numbers run 008 to 167; racingsportscars.com records entries per chassis. 1
- Check the HTP or technical passport date and class — Historic hillclimb classes (4th Raggruppamento) and CIVSA need a current passport. 15
- Decide the target class before buying — A 3.0 Alfa P1-98 runs in CIVM E2SC-SS-3000 against Nova Proto and Osella; older cars suit historic groups. 22
- Ask when the car last ran under its own power — Auction cars have sat for years; a shakedown reveals fuel, brake and damper faults. 16
- Inspect dampers and rocker bearings — Pushrod and rocker suspension is used from SP91 onward; Koni 2-way dampers are fitted to the CN4. 14
Running costs 13
| Rebuild interval | Not published; sellers normally advertise a fresh engine overhaul at sale rather than quoting hours 1314 |
|---|---|
| Typical rebuild cost | unknown |
| Consumables | 13-inch Avon tyres on OZ centre-lock wheels on 1980s cars; 25-litre fuel tank on an SP90 1813 |
| Spares availability | No factory activity confirmed since about 2009 1. Alfa Busso V6 and Hewland parts come from general specialists; bodywork depends on private moulds 13 |
Where it races today
- Campionato Italiano Velocità Montagna (CIVM) · E2SC-SS-3000 — A Lucchini P1-98 was entered in E2SC-SS-3000 at the 33rd Trofeo Scarfiotti (2024) 22. 22
- CIVSA / TIVM historic hillclimb · 4th Raggruppamento (historic) — SP90 and SN 3000 cars placed 2nd and 3rd in group at Monti Iblei 2022; an SP90 was 2nd in the historic event at Sarnano 2026 2120. 21
- Campionato Italiano Sport Prototipi · Not eligible — ACI Sport made the series a Wolf GB08 one-make championship from 2018 24. 24
- FIA Sportscar Championship (historic reference) · SR2 / LMP675 — SR2 cars raced here 1999–2003; the series no longer exists 211. 2
Market prices
- Lucchini SP90 Alfa Romeo 3.0 12V 1990, Galetti-overhauled engine, spares and moulds, CMS Racing Cars, Pisa: 43,956 USD (2025-03) 13
- Lucchini CN4 2008 Alfa V6 24V, chassis 167, fully overhauled, CMS Racing Cars: POA EUR (2025-03) 14
- Lucchini SP 90 chassis 68, restored 2020, updated HTP, Gruppo Promotor, Ferrara: POA EUR (2026-05) 15
- Lucchini SR mod. 2002 (SR2 class), Alfa 3.0 V6 24V, Cambi Casa d'Aste Genoa, estimate: 40,000–60,000 EUR (2018-11) 16
- Lucchini SN85 chassis 025, 2.5 Alfa V6, two spare engines, USA, offers invited: offers invited USD (2023-08) 18
As of November 2026, few cars trade openly: one priced SP90 at about USD 44,000 (March 2025) and two POA listings on racingcarnetwork.com. An SR2-class car carried a EUR 40,000–60,000 estimate in 2018, so expect the carbon-tub cars to sit above the 1980s steel-framed barchettas.
Reference prices are dated and sourced; live asking prices are in the listings above.
Frequently asked questions
Which engine should I look for in a Lucchini?
Most cars carry the Alfa Romeo Busso V6, in 2.5 or 3.0 litre, 12-valve or 24-valve form. It is the easiest to support in Italy, with builders such as Galetti named in listings. BMW inline-six and Nissan V6 cars exist in the SR2 line but are rarer and need their own specialist.
Is Lucchini Engineering still open for parts?
No current factory activity is confirmed. Production probably stopped in 2009, and the company website is only in web archives. Plan on Alfa V6 and Hewland specialists for mechanicals, and on private moulds for bodywork. Ask whether the seller holds moulds.
Where can I race one today?
Italian hillclimbs are the main outlet. A P1-98 was entered in CIVM E2SC-SS-3000 in 2024, while SP90 and SN cars run in the historic 4th Raggruppamento. The Italian Sport Prototypes championship is a Wolf one-make series, so a Lucchini is not eligible there.
Steel frame or carbon tub: which is the better buy?
The 1980s cars have a steel tube frame with aluminium panels, which a general race shop can repair. From the SP91 of 1991 the cars use a carbon and aluminium honeycomb monocoque, which is lighter and stiffer but needs a composite specialist after any crash.
What do they cost?
Open prices are rare. An SP90 with an overhauled 3.0 12V Alfa was listed at about USD 44,000 in March 2025 on racingcarnetwork.com. A 2002 SR2-class car carried a EUR 40,000–60,000 auction estimate in 2018. CN4 and restored SP90 cars are listed as price on application.
What gearbox is fitted?
Early cars up to the SP91 use the Hewland FT200 five-speed. The P1-98 and SR2 use the Hewland NMT six-speed sequential, and the 2008 CN4 a Hewland FTR sequential. All are common units, so ratios and rebuild parts are available from Hewland specialists.
Sources
- Lucchini Engineering, Wikipedia (2022) — founding 1980, Porto Mantovano, chassis list and years, engines, 2002/2003 SR2 titles, 2006 Italian prototype title, Darbellay 1991, production probably stopped 2009
- Lucchini SR2, Wikipedia (2023) — SR2 years 1999–2003, carbon/aluminium honeycomb tub, 720 kg, 450 hp, Alfa/BMW/Nissan engines, Hewland NMT
- Lucchini SP91, Wikipedia (2023) — SP91 three built, 659 kg, 315 hp, monocoque and pushrod suspension, Alfa V6 or BMW I6
- Lucchini P1-98, Wikipedia (2023) — P1-98 FIA CN class, 450 hp, 720 kg, Hewland NMT, dimensions, 1998 Brno debut
- Lucchini (make page), Racing Sports Cars (2026) — model types and entry counts, 4 wins and 26 class wins, years 1980–2009
- Complete Archive of Lucchini SP91, Racing Sports Cars (2026) — Vallelunga 2h 1991 win, Le Mans 1993 30th place, chassis 084, car 35, drivers
- Lucchini S280, Racing Sports Cars (2026) — S280 years 1980–1983, tracks, drivers, best result sixth
- Chassis LMP2-04/152, Racing Sports Cars (2026) — LMP2-04 chassis 152 raced 2004–2007, two finishes from eight races, best 13th
- 15 minutes of fame, Motor Sport Magazine (2004-11) — Spa 2000 SRWC win for Ronca/Francioni, SR2 title 2003 against limited opposition, 25-year hillclimb background
- Paul Ricard test report (Le Mans Series), dailysportscar.com (2008) — LMP2 Judd XV engine, Pankl gearbox problem on first LMP2, Xtrac on 2008 car, Racing Box team
- Lucchini SR2 group SR2 (1999), Racing Cars (tech-racingcars.wikidot.com) (2020) — four SR2 built, FIA Sportscar points 1999–2003, Daytona 2001 sixth, 2001 suspension failure
- Picchio Racing, Picchio (2026) — editorial note: CN2 with Honda Type R engine is a Picchio product, not a Lucchini
- Lucchini SP90 Alfa Romeo 3.0 12V 1990, racingcarnetwork.com (2025-03) — price USD 43,956, Galetti engine overhaul, revised Hewland FT200, moulds and new bodywork included, 25-litre tank, CMS Racing Cars Pisa
- Lucchini CN4 2008 Alfa Romeo V6 24V, racingcarnetwork.com (2025-03) — CN4 chassis 167, FIA crash-tested, Galetti Motors 3.0 24V with EFI, reconditioned Hewland FTR, Koni 2-way dampers, POA
- Lucchini SP 90, racingcarnetwork.com (2026-05) — SP90 chassis 68, 2020 bodywork and mechanical restoration, updated HTP, 2018 hillclimb class wins, POA, Gruppo Promotor Ferrara
- Lucchini SR mod.2002, Lot 33, Racing & Sport Cars, lotsearch.net (Cambi Casa d'Aste) (2018-11) — estimate EUR 40,000–60,000, 400 cv Alfa 3.0 V6 24V, Hewland NMT, 720 kg, not driven for several years, 2001–2002 race history
- 1989 Lucchini SN 89, lot 63, Fine Classics & Racing Cars, Aguttes (2025) — tubular steel chassis and fibreglass body, Busso 3.0 V6, Hewland FT200 five-speed, Consonni 1990 European Hillclimb, Magnani test car, estimate EUR 25,000–35,000 (sale date not shown on page)
- 1985 Lucchini Sports Racer, Motorsports Market (2023-08) — SN85 chassis 025, tubular space frame with aluminium panels, 2.5 Alfa V6, FT200 with LSD, spare engines needing rebuild, AP Lockheed brakes, OZ 13-inch wheels, offers invited
- Lucchini SR2 technical data, Classic Trader (2026) — not used in body (no listings); kept for the reviewer
- Sarnano-Sassotetto col maltempo: vincono Lombardi e Riolo, il Resto del Carlino (2026-07) — Gentili Lucchini SP90 Alfa Romeo second in the historic Trofeo Scarfiotti (CIVSA), 17.74 s behind Riolo
- Francesco Conticelli vincitore Salita Monti Iblei, Quotidiano di Sicilia (2022-10) — Piazza Lucchini SP90 second and Munafò Lucchini SN 3000 third in 4th Raggruppamento, 65th Monti Iblei 2022
- 33° Trofeo Lodovico Scarfiotti (CIVM), Classifica Assoluta Gara, DOC 5.31, ACI Sport / FICr via Sportity (2024-07) — Simone Di Fulvio, Lucchini P198, class E2SC-SS-3000, retired; proof of current CIVM E2-SC eligibility
- File:Lucchini SR2.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (2005-04) — image: Scuderia Villorba Corse Lucchini SR2-Alfa Romeo at the 2005 Spa 1000 km
- Wolf Racing Cars is the exclusive provider of the Italian Sport Prototypes Championship for 2018-2022, Endurance-Info (2017-10) — Italian Sport Prototypes Championship became a Wolf one-make series from 2018
Did you know
- At Spa in 2000 Salvatore Ronca saw a P1 board and thought it meant first in class; it was the overall lead after the JMB Ferrari 333SP retired 9.
- SN89 chassis Q63 served as Fabio Magnani's test car while he developed the SP91 that ran at Le Mans in 1993 17.
- SP91 chassis 084 raced at Le Mans in 1993 as car number 35, started 37th and finished 30th 6.
