Ok Those who's builders have gone on to the big automotive design bin in the sky... Like OSCA, DeTom, others you know of please list... (Great brain stumpers for auto trivia contests) pictures are also helpful...
I once knew a guy who owned two Morreti's, and another guy who owned a Bianchinni. The last was a rediculously small car, so small it looked like it belonged in the circus with clowns riding in it. It was rear engine rear drive, and I think it had a tiny two banger air cooled engine, a transaxle that looked like it belonged in a John Deere rider mower, and the tinyest little drive axles I have ever seen.
Cisitalia is the only one that springs to mind now. Does Stanguellini qualify? Also, was there not a make called Volpini? Neil
The Bianchini was an Autobianchi. Autobianchi was a union between Fiat, Pirelli and Bianchi. The Bianchini was based on the Fiat 500 so, like you said, it had the 500's 2-cylinder air cooled engine mounted in the rear. The displacement was 495cc, if I'm not mistaking. They made a lot of variations of it, including a wagon, a convertible, a coupe, etc. Autobianchi later went on to make the popular, front engined and front wheel drive A112 and then they made the Y10, which was a rebadged Lancia Ypsilon. After the Y10, they called it quits. I'm not sure if you want to consider Autobianchi an Italian "Orphan" brand because they were part of Fiat, but maybe you could consider Bianchi as one. Oh, an interesting side note- in the 60's, it was popular for people who raced 500s to replace the stock pistons with pistons from Ferrari V12s.
You are on the right path with these any more??? Just after the war there were hundreds of little shop of horrors operating in Italy, got to be some more especially racers
These are primarily coachbuilders, but Coggiola, Lombardi, Coriasco, Frua, Michelota, Siata, O.R.S.A.
Can't count Lancia, they're still around. Abarth was absorbed into Fiat and serves as their "M-division" for lack of a better term....
Alrightie lets get some images of some of these cars up here.... Intermecanica IMX Image Unavailable, Please Login
I lived in Milan in the early 60s and we had a car called a Daniella. Basically a miniature Ferrari Testarossa on a Topolino chassis. Also, my friend had an Innocenti - Italian body on a MG Midget frame. Bob Z.
I was at a local car swap meet and a guy had a sign saying that he was looking for any Doretti Swallow parts. I had never heard of such a beast. Apparently a small obscure Italian make?
After the great Ferrari walkout of the early 60's, Chiti, Bizzarini, and a few others formed ATS to go racing, financed by Count Volpi. They made an interesting mid engine road car using a 2.5l V8. Here are a couple of pictures taken at Concorso Italiano in 2004. -steve Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
yes. "ATS, or Automobili Turismo Sport, was founded in 1962 to produce both road cars and to compete in formula one. Several personnel were ex-Ferrari, including the famous Carlo Chiti. The first road car, the 2500GT, came out in 1963 whilst in Formula one they took over the Serenissima team which was in financial trouble." 2500 GT The first and last ATS production road car, the 2500GT was an alloy bodied, two seat, mid-engined sportscar. Powered by a twin-cam V8 displacing 2467cc and producing 220bhp, it was equipped with a five speed gearbox and disc brakes all round. The tubular steel spaceframe chassis used double wishbones and coil springs on all four corners and was clothed by a body from Allemano. n aluminium bodied version with an extra 40bhp, known as the GTS, was also offered. Later, Volpi (one of the backers of the failed Serenissima team) reappeared and provided the backing to produce some 2500GT cars as Serenissima's, fitted with a quad-cam V8, but success was never attained. Supposedly a total of around 12 cars were built. Technical Details Engine 2467cc (76x68mmmm) 90Ί V8 with 220bhp @ 7,500rpm with 260bhp @ 7,700rpm in the GTS Suspension front : independent with double wishbones, coil springs and telescopic dampers rear : independent with double wishbones, coil springs and telescopic dampers wheelbase : 2500mm track (front/rear) : 1390mm/1360mm tyres (front & rear) : 185 - 15 Brakes discs all round dual hydraulic circuit handbrake on rear via cable Steering Rack and pinion Transmission 5 speed manual limited-slip differential in GTS Empty weight 810kg (GTS : 750kg) from: http://www.ukcar.com/carspecs/BASICMODELS.ASP?MAKER=ATS
Darrell there were tons of beautiful cars made that never MADE it That is kinda why i started this thead Post some pictures
What about the Ford GT70 styled by Ghia? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login