You better have something really special to offer before even attempting to break into the Italian custom-built handmade sports car market. Pureitalia Automobili is hoping their brand-new 427 sports car, inspired by the styling of the 1965 Shelby Cobra but with a distinctive Italian flavor, will make an instant impact. Puritalia founder Paolo Parante said: "We decided to design and engineer the 427 simply because a similar car doesn't exist. It is unique in design, in style, and most importantly in the way we build it.

"As in the past, simplicity was the idea behind the development of the true 2-seat sports car leaving exotic and extreme solutions out of the equation. The constant research of simplicity is the 427 refinement. The result, a powerful car using best in class technologies and materials to enhance and elevate the driver's experience. An exclusive item to own and designed for those (like us) who still love the pleasure of driving their own car and not be driven by it." The chassis consists of an aluminum semi-monocoque with Chromoly steel tubular subframes, while the body of the two-seater roadster was built from composite and carbon fiber.

The 427 is 434cm long, 195cm wide, and 125cm tall and weighs in at just 1,089kg with an equal weight distribution. At its heart a front-mounted 5.0-liter V8 is rated at 439hp and 391lb-ft of torque when naturally-aspirated, and a supercharged version is good for 597hp and 472lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission, there's a four-wheel independent suspension, and a hydraulically powered brake booster and Brembo brakes makes for short stopping distances. The Puritalia 427 sports car is slated to go into production early next year and could well make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in September.