Many individuals dream of attaching their name to a car company, but few achieve their ambition. The path to fruition is littered with pitfalls and has seen individuals like John DeLorean and Preston Tucker fall short of their lofty goals. One vehicle that stands out from the crowd is this 1982 Guanci SJJ. The brainchild of a wealthy industrialist, it is 1-of-3 prototypes built by his start-up company. The project was eventually shelved before it cost its creator the shirt off his back, with this the last prototype created. It was recently revived after a decades-long hibernation, with the seller listing the SJJ here on Facebook Marketplace in Bowling Green, Ohio. The seller set their price at $54,000, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder MisterLou for spotting this rare beast.
The SJJ was the brainchild of wealthy industrialist, John Guanci. He utilized exotic European sports cars as his daily drivers, being dissatisfied with domestic offerings. He dreamed of creating a car that would compete on a level footing with the likes of Lotus and Maserati, forming Guanci Automobiles in Woodstock, Illinois. Other well-heeled individuals saw the potential of this venture, adding their money to what was considered a relatively healthy budget. Starting the build with a clean sheet of paper, he envisaged a mid-engined exotic with a low curb weight, plenty of power, and some innovative engineering. Can Am race car designer, Bob McKee, produced a frame in steel and aluminum, adding a flat stainless steel floor for better airflow under the vehicle. The glass-reinforced body was penned by Chrysler designer, Mike Williams, with input from Alejandro de Tomaso. The result was a strikingly attractive vehicle with many visual similarities to the Maserati Merak. The car caused a sensation when unveiled at the 1979 Chicago Auto Show. One of the first two prototypes that was displayed was immediately purchased by a wealthy individual, while the other eventually found a home. Things looked rosy, but various events conspired to scupper plans before production could commence. One of the investors suddenly passed away, leaving a gaping hole in the budget. An economic downturn in the late 1970s proved the killer blow, with many potential buyers struggling to hand over the money for a sports car with a sticker price over five times higher than a Corvette. Mr. Guanci made a final attempt at launching the company when he produced this 1982 prototype before drawing the curtain on the project. It seems that, unlike John DeLorean, he wanted to walk away before his dream cost him everything. The Guanci family retained ownership of this prototype until recently, with it only recently emerging from a twenty-five-year slumber. It retains its original Silver paint, and a lack of exposure to the elements and UV rays has left it well-preserved. It isn’t perfect, but retaining the car as a genuine survivor would be a valid option. The panels look excellent, the glass is spotless, and there are no wheel issues. The seller doesn’t mention any rust problems with the frame, suggesting that this beauty is rock-solid.
The innovative thinking contained within the SJJ project wasn’t limited to its stunning body and clever stainless steel floor, because its mechanical configuration was equally groundbreaking. Mr. Guanci selected Chevrolet’s L82 small-block V8 to power his new model, electing to pursue the mid-mounted path. However, this is where things get truly interesting because he decided to transversely mount the V8 for better weight distribution. This required the development of a unique differential which proved robust enough for the job. With 220hp at the driver’s disposal and four-wheel disc brakes, the favorable weight distribution made the SJJ a match for most European exotics. The stainless steel floor wasn’t merely an aerodynamic benefit, because it included integrated ducts to feed undisturbed cooling air from the car’s front to the engine bay. When the project stumbled and Mr. Guanci made his second attempt with the SJJ, he ditched the V8 option in favor of a turbocharged Buick V6 in this prototype. However, the economic downturn and the fact that General Motors refused to cut an engine supply deal proved the final nail in the SJJ coffin. That doesn’t mean that development stopped completely because this car’s V6 eventually made way for an L47 Aurora V8 producing 250hp and 260 ft/lbs of torque. The seller indicates that the power feeds to the road via a three-speed automatic transmission and that this gem has covered a mere 208 miles since 1982. They don’t state categorically whether the car is roadworthy, but they create that impression.
This classic’s interior looks remarkably good for its age, especially considering it is a hand-built prototype, rather than a production example. The trim is dominated by Blue and White cloth and leather, with matching carpet, plastic, and leather on the wheel. The cloth on the door trims is slightly stretched, but there is no appreciable wear or physical damage. That is good news because replacing anything within this car could prove impossible. The lack of exposure to UV rays has protected the plastic and dash, while the buyer benefits from power windows, a radio/cassette player, and beautiful body-hugging bucket seats.
It is fascinating to ponder what might have been if the Guanci SJJ had proceeded beyond the prototype stage. The idea of a lightweight American exotic sports car with a mid-mounted V8 is tantalizing, and one that Chevrolet finally achieved with the launch of the C8 Corvette nearly four decades later. The innovative engineering involved in the SJJ development would have provided eye-watering performance, and the automotive world is probably poorer for the fact that the project never proceeded beyond the concept stage. Only three of these cars were built, and all are believed to still exist. This is your chance to own the last one, but are you tempted to yield to that temptation?
You need parts for a what?
“Yes we’ve got what you need in the back room, right next to the unicorns”
Ok, what’s the vin?
What’s the VIN?” I went into a local Auto Zone and asked the sales guy where the fluids were located for radiator coolant. I needed some WaterWetter additive before my autocross, it is a small bottle that is a fluorescent color. first Q: Make and Model? I said it doesn’t matter, it is for any car, and I got a “look” from him. As I turned to leave I saw it on the shelf behind me, near the door so I got to buy it.
WaterWetter. I like to bring that up when discussing items with interesting names.
Adjuvant.
is that like a ford part, LOL
Those are olds or Buick rims?
Oldsmobile Aurora wheels
Olds Aurora wheels
Interesting find….I see styling hints that show up in a 300z as well as a Porsche 928.
I see a rounded 1990 Renault Alpine GTA. The back half vaguely reminds me of a concept car, maybe by De Tomaso in the 80s or 90s?
Learn something new every day.
Kind of surprised to see that 2×6 (?) plank in the engine compartment hasn’t a metal cover on it at least for appearance sake.The Aurora wheels are a nice add, and IIRC that motor was state of the art for its time (Northstar series?).
Bet it handles and runs great, but the question to the new owner is will you drive it?
Thanks for starting my day off interestingly, Adam.
@Nevadahalfrack
Kind of surprised to see that 2×6 (?) plank in the engine compartment hasn’t a metal cover on it
Lends new meaning to the term firewall.
That, Sir, is “wooden paneling” associated with the finest of bespoke motor carriages.
Seriously, though, I like the style of the car, it looks better than most kit cars with similar ambitions.
The big question is: does it have a valid title? Otherwise, it’s just a museum piece.
Not in the Great State of Tennessee.
People occasionally walk up to me and ask, “Terrry, do you know where I could find a Guanci SJJ?” And I always tell them, “No, in fact I’ve never heard of one”. It’s a subject I’ve scratched my head over for several years. Now the mystery is solved.
Straight to museum.
I’m hoping someone will sell electric “skateboards” , ready for a bespoke body. With 5-axis CNC, 3D printing, aftermarket interiors,
Having your own make with your name wouldn’t have to drive you DeLorean.
I’m sure the first one out the gate will be the ” Trump Power Monger 10,000″. Gold wheels, of course, orange paint.
I’m rather surprised at all the negative comments. This thing is RARE, is NOT a kit car, and has some pretty heavy hitters associated with the design and build. While it is by no means a daily driver, I would think that owning it would give a person a bit of notoriety. I don’t have the kind of money floating around to buy what is essentially a museum piece, but if I did, I would seriously consider it. What a cool history.
Charlie, you’re assuming that this car can be licensed, insured and certified for street use. Seeing that exposed piece of wood in the engine compartment gives me serious doubts.
Is that wood or unpainted fiberglass?
Tony, if you notice, I said that in my opinion, it probably isn’t a daily driver and is more of a museum piece. To be quite frank, I don’t know how wise it would be to drive a car that is 1 of 3 in existence. Also, I don’t know about any other state, but in Arizona, even if it has never been registered in another state, as long as you have written proof of ownership and you have it inspected by ADOT, you can register it. Since this definitely isn’t a garage build, my guess would be that there is probably a fair amount of documentation available for it as well.
Pretty well finished for a prototype. Nice shape that looks contemporary today. Would you, could you, can you drive it? IDK. Seems like a good reason to buy a thousand acres and have your own road course.
A photo of the first two cars is in Author Mitch Frumkins book on the “Chicago Auto Show”.
Still have brochures and and A business card from Mr. Guanci, from when I helped out at the display during the show.
It is a shame his dream didn’t come true.
Adam, although no one has mentioned it yet, this is a great writeup on a vehicle I had never heard of before.
Thanks for featuring it.
One other quick note. I believe that Eric is correct and that is unpainted fiberglass, and not wood in the engine bay.
the seller looks like a really cool car guy
This is pocket change for Jay Leno. I hope he buys it. We would know that it is not only going to a good home, but if there is anyway at all… he would drive it!
Really interesting write up. Does it come with an extra set of head gaskets for that 4.0L Northstar derivative?
Looks like no one was paying $54,000. Price has been reduced to $48,000.
Honestly there’s a lot to like about this car. I’m totally digging the chunky yet sporty styling, I see a lot of the GM two rotor Corvette in it. Looks to be very well executed and it would be interesting to see how it drives. Wonder how sorted the suspension is?