Only 140 Bizzarrinis were built, between 1964 and 1969. Before all that, Giotto Bizzarrini had worked for Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Iso. As chief engineer at Ferrari, he guided the development of the 250 GT Testa Rossa and 250 GT SWB in the 1950s, and then the 250 GTO in the early 1960s. He and other employees were reportedly fired by Enzo Ferrari in 1961 over a "palace revolt."

Bizzarrini went on to design a V12 engine for Ferruccio Lamborghini's fledgling company in 1963. That engine remained in production, in various versions, for nearly 50 years, powering Lamborghinis from the 1964 350 GT to the 2011 Murcielago. An entirely new V12 was developed for the Murcielago's 2011 successor, the Aventador.

Many of the cars produced by Bizzarrini's company were powered by Chevrolet V8s. Some others had engines from Alfa, Fiat and Opel.