Sbarro SB1 Tornado — A Radical Ferrari-Based Design Study

The Sbarro SB1 Tornado, presented at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show, is a striking example of Franco Sbarro’s approach to automotive design: taking an existing high-performance automobile and transforming it into something almost completely different. The Tornado was based on a Ferrari 550 Maranello, but very little of the original Ferrari’s visual identity remained after the extensive redesign.

The SB1 was converted from a closed grand tourer into an open two-seat roadster, with a highly sculpted composite body. Its long front section, pronounced fenders and panoramic windscreen give the car a distinctive character, while several details evoke earlier Ferrari styling. The front treatment has been associated with the classic Testarossa, while the rear is dominated by circular elements, including four round taillights and large chromed exhaust outlets. The doors use an unusual upward-opening mechanism, adding another dramatic feature to the design.

Underneath the radical bodywork remained the Ferrari-derived mechanical package: a 5.5-liter V12 producing approximately 485 hp, driving the rear wheels. Contemporary sources describe the car as a one-off creation, built according to Sbarro’s highly individual customer-oriented philosophy.

The interior is equally unconventional. White leather contrasts with the darker exterior elements, while the instruments are positioned on the center console rather than directly behind the steering wheel. This unusual arrangement emphasizes that the Tornado was conceived not simply as a modified Ferrari, but as an experimental design exercise.

The SB1 Tornado remained a unique automobile, and its design later inspired the Sbarro SB2 Tornado, introduced in 2005 and based on a Ferrari 456 GT.