At this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy, Japanese design maestro Ken Okuyama debuted his latest creation in the concept car category. A roofless supercar dubbed the Kode61 Birdcage. This stunning sleek two-seater takes inspiration from several Italian sports cars, most notably the Maserati Tipo 61 “Birdcage” racer that was produced from 1959 to 1961.
It may look like an experimental racecar from the 1960s, but it takes some inspiration from the 2005 Maserati Birdcage 75th concept. Do you see a pattern here? The Kode61 Birdcage stands out like a peacock’s feathers, with bulging fenders sharpened to a fine point at the front and rear. The cabin is exposed to the heavens from a lack of a roof and sits on a bespoke set of three-spoke alloy wheels. Inside the open-air cockpit, the interior is upholstered in deep blue with hints of yellow and chrome.
Features include a gated shifter, an analog instrument cluster, and a passenger-facing screen. This car has a retro theme, but the parts-pin aftermarket-looking steering wheel distracts from the rest of the interior. Nevertheless, Ken Okuyama Kode61 Birdcage is a marvel of eye-catching automotive design. Better still, this is not just a concept car but a sample of what will be a limited production run.
Okuyama confirmed the Kode61 Birdcage would be produced in limited quantities at the Yamagata factory in Japan. Pricing is unknown; as are details about its internal combustion engine. However, we assume the DNA of this car is of Maserati origin.
In other automotive news, see the 2024 Polaris Xpedition.