The new F & M auto project is the point of arrival on a road initiated by Faralli & Mazzanti with the long restoration of “Barchettas” and “Berlinettas” (touring cars) for the most prestigious international markets, and their passing through the complexity of work carried out on various models of the Cisitalia 202, and the uniqueness and importance of restorating of the famous Maserati 450 Coupé Zagata “the monster”, the only model to be set up by Stirling Moss during the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1957.

Lugnano-based F & M auto is also now at the point of departure for new projects, such as the new Antas which combines the knowledge acquired from being “master body makers” and the stylistic inspiration of those who make modern cars with an eye to the past. The Antas V8 GT is the first “Berlinetta” created in their workshops. It is completely inspired by the philosophy and material used in the “special series” cars of the past: the body, for example, is made of aluminium and completely built by hand. It will be presented in public for the first time this morning at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, on the occasion of the opening of the 'Top Marques Monaco' exhibition which brings together under one roof all the most famous, exclusive, prestigious and desirable automotive brands.

Antas is driven by a 310bhp V8 Maserati engine fed by carburettors and endowed with a pleasing elasticity of power, which gives the 'driver' the sensation of 'true' steering typical of the great touring cars of the past. Maximum speed is claimed to be 'above' 270km/h. Exterior features include a flush-fitting petrol inlet flap set into the rear screen, which is evoked by past Le Mans racing cars, hand-crafted and embossed sill protection plates, distinctive roof-mounted wipers that clear a split front windscreen, a riveted bonnet with fasteners that has been modelled on the famous Maserati Barchetta of the 1950s, a tailgate-mounted tailfin that incorporates a television camera, while the car's badges are made out of gold and silver, fashioned by Goldsmith Tonino Camilli di Orvieto. Inside, the cockpit is finished in soft, sumptuous hand-sewn brown leather, that offers the driver maximum comfort. Detailing interior features include a roof-mounted protected ignition flick switch and engine starter button, a dashboard LCD screen for the rear mounted visibility camera, and continuing the use of precious metals, an individually-numbered identification plate made out of silver.

Because of all this, when the time came to name this prototype a word was chosen that comes from the ancient Tuscan language of the Etruscans: Antas, which means 'eagle', the noblest and most audacious dominator of the open spaces.
 

On delivery, Antas comes equipped with a case covered in blue velvet bearing another silver plate etched with the car's identification numbers; while inside is a photography book and a DVD documenting the construction of the vehicle.

The Antas project has been based on an in-depth study of the stylistic evolution of the Italian automobile from the first years of the 1930s to the end of the 1960s: The golden era in which elements of style were created and developed, and even today place their imprint on the most beautiful lines of automobiles of the world.

Planning and construction was undertaken with the same philosophy of attention to the best traditions. The first drafts, in fact, were done on paper: Faralli initially developed it in 1:1 scale, then traced the final lines, always rigorously drawn. Nothing was developed by computer; everything came from the heart, from the imagination and the capable hands of experts. From there, it moved to the constructive phase, and not even here were involved machines managed by computers. First, in fact a 'dummy' was constructed of iron tubes bent and modelled by hand, then it was built on the aluminium frame, with the same methodology of the great body makers of the past: the light-weight alloy mags took form thanks to the precise hammer blows of the artisan, who little by little transformed a cold element of metal into a wrapped form or into a decorative element of body.

The technical basis of this prototype derives directly from Italian grand touring cars of the 1960’s. The frame is a steel box adequately reinforced and modified, on which was mounted the model of tubes and sheet metal structure supported on the hand-moulded aluminium frame welded individually to the various components. Preparation and sanding were then done by the expert hands of artisans who prepared the body for painting, for which the best products of the recent generation are used.