ForgottenONES As far as we know, Italy is a country that has a lot of automotive manufacturers ranging from the biggest and famous to the unpopular and the unknown ones. Of the many Italian car manufacturers that have ever existed, maybe the following Italian manufacturer's name is one that you have never heard of or known before.
1972 Lombardi FL1 built based on the Lancia 2000ie by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi, but never saw production. (Picture from: LotusEsprit)
The company mentioned above was Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi, an Italian automaker firm was founded after the war over in 1947 by an Italian engineer whose also known also a WWI pilot veteran named Carlo Francesco 'Francis' Lombardi in Vercelli.
1959 Fiat 600 Lucciola 4-door saloon model by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi. (Picture from: CarTrader)
As qouted from DailyTurismo, as the coachbuilder, his works has a wide range of models, were influenced by the American car styles. He began to build family-type cars with wooden paneling during 1947 to 1950, based on Lombardi experiences in building aircraft by using the same materials. For this, it uses frames from the Fiat, and Lancia.
1959 Fiat 850 Lucciola4-door saloon model by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi. (Picture from: Wikimedia)
At that time this Vercelli-based company also made several Coupe and Cabriolet types based on the Fiat 500C and 1100E frames. Then the company made a 4-door saloon model based on the Fiat 600 called Lucciola in 1959, and then also built based on Fiat 850.
1963 Fiat 2300 Papal Limousine by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi known also as the first 'true' Popemobile. (Picture from: Pinterest)
Furthermore in 1962, Francis Lombardi expanded its production models of several versions of the limousine, and it been done in simply by extending the frames of many different cars, such as the Fiat 1400, 1500, 1800 and 2300 and also the Lancia Flavia. These cars were generally equipped with an extra row of seats that allowed capacities of between 7 and 8 passengers with the wheelbases were generally lengthened by about 550 mm.
1964 Fiat 850 Coccinella by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi, and debuted at the 1964 Turin Motor Show. (Picture from: CarrozzieriItaliani)
As quoted from Carrozzieri Italiani, the Vercelli-based automaker became famous by building a limousine with a glass roof for Pope Paul VI based on the Fiat 2300 in 1963 (known also the first 'true' Popemobile). While at the 1964 Turin Salon, Lombardi presents a two-seater coupe based on the Fiat 500, called Coccinella.
1964 Fiat 500 Libellula by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi. (Picture from: CarrozzieriItaliani)
While at the same year the Francis Lombardi company presented also a spider called Libellula based on the Fiat 850. Well, besides that the company is also continuing to build 2-doors coupe model with a capacity of four passengers based on the Fiat 1300/1500.
1967 Fiat 850 Spider Monza by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi, debuted at the 1967 Turin Motor Show. (Picture from: Pinterest)
This model was later replaced by a similar, though different, concept that used the frame and mechanics of the Fiat 124. At the 1967 Turin Salon, Lombardi displayed a new Fiat 850 Spider Monza. It was a two-seater equipped with a fabric roof, equipped with alloy wheels and a wooden steering wheel.
1970 Fiat 500 My Carwas the greatest commercial success models of Carrozzeria Francis Lombardiduring 1970s with an annual production of about 6000 units. (Picture from: Wikimedia)
Optionally it could be equipped with a modified Giannini engine that offered an additional 6 hp. The carrozzeria’s greatest commercial success models during 1970s was the luxuriously appointed Fiat 500 My Car with an annual production of about 6000 units.
The Fiat 850 Grand Prix is a small two-seater coupe by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi started 1968 to 1972, and known also marketed under several other brands such as OTAS dan Abarth. (Picture from: CarrozzieriItaliani)
Followed by its most significant model was a small two-seater coupe called Fiat 850 Grand Prix, and produced during the periods of 1968 to 1972. It also known marketed under several other brands such as OTAS and Abarth.
Then Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi continued to focus on modifying cars, building coupes based on another Fiat platforms had the result of the one-off 4-door sedan called the Fiat 128 Star, which was then followed by producing similar model named the Fiat 128 Smart. Reportedly the Vercelli-based company also built several cars based on the German brand NSU.
1971 Fiat 128 Star 4-door sedan by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi, and debuted at the 1971 Turin Motor Show. (Picture from: CarrozzieriItaliani)
At the 1972 Turin Salon, the company presented the Lombardi FL1, a two-seater coupe prototype built based on the frame of the Lancia 2000ie, and claimed could reach a 125 mph in 2 litre engine and 140 mph with the larger V6. That model has dimensions of 4,210 mm in length, width of 1,700 mm and height of 1,130 mm, besides has an approximate weight of 800 kg.
1972 Lombardi FL1 by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi, and debuted at the 1972 Turin Motor Show. (Picture from: CarrozzieriItaliani)
CutieONES As we all know that as one of the world's leading automotive manufacturers, Bugatti has a very long history since the first time this company was founded by Ettore Bugatti in 1909. And if we examine the huge diversity of Ettore Bugatti's design works, could be said that's one of the most impressive achievements of the famed engineer.
The Bugatti Type 68 was not only small in size, but also driven by small engines, reportedly intended to facilitate those less well-heeled Frenchmen to own a Bugatti's branded cars. (Picture from: ClassicAndSportsCar)
Despite whatever events unfolding around him from the turmoil of war, the loss of his talented heir Jean, up to the German occupation of his Molsheim factory, Ettore remains as prolific and bright as ever. Well, from his drawing board at the new office in Levallois-Perret, Paris, where many brilliant ideas keep coming out, then put down in sketches, and followed by setting up a series of plans to turn them into reality for this great marque continuity during those turbulent times.
The Bugatti Type 68 built in 1940 featured with a two-seater coupe body style inspired by the legendary Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic. (Picture from: ClassicAndSportsCar)
As quoted from ClassicAndSportsCar, the heart of these ideas is a series of new engines, ranging from a single-cylinder unit to mount on a bicycle, up to an eight-cylinder, 62 liter marine powerplant. Well if we talk about Bugatti as players in the automotive world, then the main focus at that time was none were more fascinating than the Bugatti Type 68, which was not only small in size, but also driven by small engines.
The Bugatti Type 68 was powered by a 318 cc, 4 cylinder, 16 valve 2 over-head cams petrol engine with a maximum burst of power of 48 hp. (Picture from: ClassicAndSportsCar)
Some said that Ettore was sympathetic at that time to facilitate those less well-heeled Frenchmen to own a Bugatti's branded cars.😉 How could it be? Unfortunately, so far there's no related infos about it. But for sure, these tiny cutie cars made by Bugatti
were each only powered by an engine with a capacity of under 400 cc. And
with such those engines, you can be sure that the bursts of power it
produces are also small, so don't expect that the Type 68 will go fast like a rocket on a race track.
The Bugatti Type 68 also featured with a unique gull-wing door as the access to its cabin. (Picture from: ClassicAndSportsCar)
Well, when viewed from the size of these Type 68 engines, it's clearly that's very different from the line of machines produced by Bugatti today. However, this could be gave additional insight to us, it turns out Bugatti does not always produce fast cars with powerful big-engines, the fact in the past this Molsheim-based automaker had also produced a kind of cars that are not only small in size, but also driven by small engines.
However, this designation does not reveal whether Ettore Bugatti intended the production of Type 68 small cars or rejected the gullwing version. (Picture from: ClassicAndSportsCar)
At first, Ettore Bugatti built one prototype only, the first generation Bugatti Type 68 with a coupe body style inspired by the legendary Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic back in the 1940. However, in the 1942 he had time to make the Type 68 in cabriolet model as the second model called Bugatti Type 68B. So no wonder if the engines installed on the 2 cutie car models are also slightly different but still under 400 cc.
The Bugatti Type 68B is featured with a two seater cabriolet body style, and known as the second model built in 1942. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
As quoted from Bugattipage, the first generation Bugatti Type 68 was powered by a 318 cc, 4 cylinder, 16 valve 2 over-head cams petrol engine with a maximum burst of power of 48 hp. While for the second one Type 68B used a 369.5 cc, 4 cylinder, 8 valve 2 over-head cams petrol engine, there's not much data can be revealed from this model. Still from the same source, both Bugatti Type 68 models have a wheelbase of 2.2 meters, with a total body weight of around 400 kg.
The Bugatti Type 68B was powered by a 369.5 cc, 4 cylinder, 8 valve 2 over-head cams petrol engine. (Picture from: Wikipedia)
Now, try to compare it with one of Bugatti's current products, such as the 2010 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport which is powered by a V12 engine with a capacity of 8,000 cc. This machine is capable of spitting out power as much as 1,100 hp. So that it can deliver the Veyron Super Sport accelerates from rest to 100 kph in just 2.4 seconds. Meanwhile, penetrating a distance of 402 meters takes 9.9 seconds only with a speed of around 234.6 kph. Wow!!!
Unfortunately with the death of Ettore in 1947, the Type 68 project lost focus as Roland and new director Pierre Marco revived car production with the Type 101, a thinly disguised pre-war Type 57. We're sorry if the video above is not related at all to the Bugatti Type 68, instead about the legendary Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BUGATTI | CLASSICANDSPORTSCAR | BUGATTIPAGE | ]
ForgottenONES Still from American soil and discussing a sports car model from this country that is rarely seen by the public todays. One of the mentioned cars is the Guanci SSJ-1(stands for Super Sports John model 1), it is an American mid-engine sports car made by Woodstock, Illinois based automaker Guanci Automobiles Inc. The sports car was produced only in three copies in between 1979 to 1981, and its production series did not materialize.
The first two prototypes of the Guanci SSJ-1 were presented to the public for the first time at the Chicago Auto Show 1979; and the rest followed and shown at the same expo in the next following year. (Picture from: CurbsideClassic)
Even though if viewed from the name alone, we can tell that this was not a big automotive company, nevertheless but that's not entirely true, because it founded and owned by an American industrialist, John Guanci whose famous owned the company manufactured industrial furnaces back in the 1970s.
The Guanci SSJ-1 (in pictured possibly was the first prototype) undoubtedly shared the dream of so many others back then, built by a Chicago businessman John Guanci as a mid-mounted GT with his name on it. (Picture from: Pinterest)
Furthermore, the story behind the car creation was initially related to John Guanci's daily vehicles. As quoted from Wikipedia, reportedly he personally owns and drives many European sports cars such as the Lotus Elite, but he is dissatisfied with the cars and considers to be poor automotive creations.
This is possibly the Guanci SSJ-1 first prototype which
is powered by a 5.7-liter eight-cylinder General Motors engine that
produced 220 hp. (Picture from: Klassiekerpassie.nl)
Then in 1977, he decided to develop his-owned sports car that was as comfortable as it was and reliable, by using American technology and taken John Z. DeLorean as a role model for his car project. The Guanci's sports car project began in 1978 and was carried out by a team consisting of Bob McKee, Mike Williams, Steve Norcross and Dick Kleber.
Reportedly, the red Guanci SSJ-1 (possibly was the second prototype) is the daily vehicle used by John Guanci aka the second prototype, is powered by a six-cylinder turbocharged Buick engine with a displacement of 2.8 liters and an output of 189 hp. (Picture from: Reddit)
In short, firstly they constructed a massive ladder frame from welded steel elements. Then for the car's drive technology and the chassis were obtained from General Motors. While the engine was installed in front of the rear axle, perpendicular to the direction of car's movement. At that time the team also immediately built three prototype units, each powered by a different engine.
The Guanci SSJ-1 (in pictured possibly the third prototype) while sat on display at the Chicago Auto Show 1980. (Picture from: MakesThatDidntMakeIt)
The first prototype was powered by a 5.7-liter eight-cylinder General Motors engine that produced 220 hp. The second vehicle received a six-cylinder turbocharged Buick engine with a displacement of 2.8 liters and an output of 189 hp. While for the third car was retrofitted with an Oldsmobile Aurora eight-cylinder engine. Furthermore on all of these three prototypes then installed a three-speed automatic transmission system of General Motors.
The cabin atmosphere of The Guanci SSJ-1 featuring two seats covered in a slick combination of leather and fabric.(Picture from: Klassiekerpassie.nl)
The SSJ-1 car body is designed by John Guanci and Mike Williams which is consisted of fiber glass reinforced plastic and bore a strong resemblance to the structure of the Giorgetto Giugiaro-designedMaserati Merak. Uniquely, it has hydraulically operated pop-up headlights were located on the gently sloping front section; below it ran a narrow cooling opening across the entire width of the vehicle, into which two chrome-plated decorative struts were embedded.
In front of the driver of the Guanci SSJ-1 there is a four-spoke steering wheel combined with a dashboard that contains a number of instrument panels and the center console houses a radio/tape entertainment system. (Picture from: Klassiekerpassie.nl)
Resemblance like the Merak, the first prototype had free-standing struts behind the driver's cab that sloped towards the rear of the vehicle, while in the later two cars, the rear side panels were glazed. And also on all of three prototypes have a unique design features such as the large, linear air intake behind the doors.
The Guanci SSJ-1 (in pictured possibly was the third prototype) is powered by an Oldsmobile Aurora eight-cylinder engine. (Picture from: Klassiekerpassie.nl)
The first two prototypes were presented to the public for the first time at the Chicago Auto Show 1979, and the rest followed and shown at the same expo in the next following year. In an interview with Motor Trend magazine in 1981, John Guanci claimed that he had invested a total of US$ 600,000 in the development of his SSJ-1 sports cars and planned to produce about 50 cars a month.
The Guanci SSJ-1 (in pictured possibly was the third prototype) along with the red one are in the possession of John Guanci, while the first prototype is in the Netherlands.(Picture from: MakesThatDidntMakeIt)
At that time, he also stated that the SSJ-1's production was set to begin in 1982 with a price tag of around US$ 63,000. But when it came to 1982, John Guanci instead decided not to produce the SSJ-1 sports car for economic reasons.
The reason was General Motors' reluctance to supply engines at a discount. So until 1982, only three copies of the SSJ-1 were ever built.😉 Reportedly all of these vehicles are still there where the first prototype equipped with a 5.7-liter eight-cylinder engine is now in the Netherlands, and the other two cars are owned by John Guanci. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | RITZSITE.NL | CURBSIDECLASSIC | ALLCARINDEX | MAKESTHATDIDNTMAKEIT | KLASSIEKERPASSIE.NL ]
New BEAST In the world of racing, the name of the Dallara Automobili is very famous since 1972. In that time, the Gian Paolo Dallara-founded company is known as a manufacturer that only produces single seater racing engines and sports cars.
The first model of the Dallara Stradale IR8 Tribute Edition to celebrates 25 years of the Indy 500 winning back in the 1998. (Picture from: Voi.id)
Furthermore, they are the masters of Formula 3 and the sole supplier of the American IndyCar racing events, Japanese Super Formula, to the F2. And some time ago, the Italian company has released two special edition cars known as, the Dallara Stradale IR8 Tribute Edition and Dallara EXP IR8 Tribute Edition to commemorate Dallara's first historical victory in the Indy 500 racing event back in 1998.
The second model of the Dallara EXP IR8 Tribute Edition to celebrates 25 years of the Indy 500 winning back in the 1998. (Picture from: BlackXperience)
For your info, the Dallara Stradale is the first road car produced by Dallara which was launched in 2018. The car is equipped with a turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 400 hp and 500 Nm of torque, so it can deliver car's acceleration from 0-100 kph in just 3.25 seconds.
The Dallara Stradale IR8 Tribute Edition to celebrates 25 years of the Indy 500 winning back in the 1998. (Picture from: BlackXperience)
As mentioned above, the special edition cars of Dallara Stradale and EXPIR8 Tribute Editions were built to commemorate the achievements of 25 years ago, and offcourse equipped with a limited edition liveries. And in charge of designing this particular livery is BorromeodeSilva Studio.
The Dallara EXP IR8 Tribute Edition to celebrates 25 years of the Indy 500 winning back in the 1998. (Picture from: BlackXperience)
As you can see on these special edition cars, there's 23 stars to represent Dallara's Indy 500 winning. In addition, there is also the Roman numeral “XXV” which represents 25 years since Dallara's first Indy 500 win back in the 1998. Dallara also gave some sIn adduches to this car, such as the use of dark gray Alcantara seats, while its paddle shifters, the edges of the seats and the edges of the dashboard are colored in yellow.
The Dallara EXP IR8 Tribute Edition has special touches of the use of dark gray
Alcantara seats, while its paddle shifters, the edges of the seats and the edges of the dashboard are colored in yellow. (Picture from: MotoriOnline)
Not only changing the cosmetic part, Dallara also made technical changes to the machine. Basically, this car still relies on a 2,300 cc, 4-cylinder Turbo engine which now produces up to 400 hp and 500 Nm of torque. The power and torque are channeled to the rear wheels with the use of a new AMT transmission which promotes faster gearshifts and faster acceleration.
All-new Dallara Stradale variants you can choose were launched back in the 2018. (Picture from: Autography.co)
In addition, the braking system is also made more precise and powerful.
And what is no less important, the presence of the use of a new intercooler that has been through the development process on the circuit
track for months.
Meanwhile for the Dallara EXP Tribute Edition,
there's important changes related to the weight of the car and the aerodynamic system are also given more attention. For example, the Dallara EXP has a weight of 890 kg, thanks to the use of lightweight carbon materials and the open roof. So no wonder if the EXP is about 360 kg lighter than Stradale.
Furthermore, both these special Dallara's Tribute Editions are only available for 25 units. For the price of these two special cars itself, so far Dallara has not announced yet. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DALLARA AUTOMOBILI | MOTORIONLINE ]
It's GONE Since the last six to seven decades, it is known that there are many new automotive manufacturers trying to be existed in the automotive world. Indeed, not many were able to survive, and not a few had to go out of business. One of them was an American company founded by Samuel Tafoya in Dearborn, Michigan called Tafco Design and Engineering. And this auto company has tried to survive in working in the automotive world for about 10 years between 1979 and 1989.
The Tafco Baronta I was built by Tafco Design and Engineering back in the 1979 by using the Chevrolet 2800 Monza platform. (Picture from: Carakoom)
When viewed from its name only, perhaps not many know or have heard of it before. Though the fact, this American company had produced cars vaguely reminiscent us to the Chevrolet Corvette C3, which said it was assembled by using bypass technologies. During its lifetime, this American automaker company produced just two car models only; Tafco Baronta and Tafco Caballero. Each of them existed in two generations, called simply I and II. Due to the less information about them, so in this occasion we will try to tell you information about it that we've managed to collect from internet as follow;
1. Tafco Baronta
In appearance, the Tafco Baronta is described as a luxurious, well-equipped two seater sports coupe that built based on the Chevrolet 2800 Monza platform and was claimed capable to speed up to 240 kph. Uniquely, when it first appeared in public, this steel bodied car was in unpainted condition, possibly wanting to replicate the success of the DeLorean.
Turned out the Tafco Baronta I has a bit clumsy in appearance tends to weird by adopting the outdated 60s styling (considering the car built in the end of 1970s). (Picture from: Carakoom)
At the core, the car's steel made body was mounted on a tubular space frame. Despite the bold decision in terms of aerodynamics by applying the ground effect, turned out the car has a bit clumsy in appearance tends to weird by adopting the outdated 60s styling (considering the car built in the end of 1970s).
The Tafco Baronta II model was received a slightly more elegant body updates. (Picture from: Carakoom)
So that's what it's for then, the updated Tafco Baronta II model was shown, which received a slightly more elegant body. Unfortunately only a few copies were made, and the fate of which is unknown.
2. Tafco Caballero
When compared to Baronta's previous model, the Tafco Caballero was simply handsome because it looked right for the time. Besides that the Caballero is powered by an experimental 6-cylinder adiabatic engine, which claimed had a low level of emissions of harmful substances, and was also very economical.
The Caballero I model might look a little strange and stiff with the unusual shape of the wheel arches and added prominent air scoops accessories on the rear side. (Picture from: Carakoom)
In appearance the Caballero has a body length of about 4,267 mm, a height of 1,090 mm with a rather short wheelbase of just over 2 meters, and was designed to achieve the lowest aerodynamic resistance combined with the 1970s typical wedge style.
As quoted from Carakoom, like its predecessor Baronta, it turns out that Tafco Caballero also uses the Chevy 2800 Monza platform including the engine which is also combined with a manual transmission system as standard, the automaker provided an automatic transmission option at the time.
The Tafco Caballero II was simply handsome than its predecessors because it looked has right styles for the time. (Picture from: Carakoom)
Then from the picture, the Caballero I model might look a little strange and stiff with the unusual shape of the wheel arches and added prominent air scoops accessories on the rear side. All of that was then further refined in the Caballero II, so that this car has a better shape. Unfortunately as with the Baronta, only a handful were produced, and the fate of which is unknown.
It is not known whether the two car models made by Tafco Design and Engineering can survive the passage of time, due to the fact that we found a less information related to these cars. For this reason, if you have information related to their whereabouts, please feel free to share information with us via the comments column below this article.😎 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARAKOOM | ALLCARINDEX ]
The company mentioned above was Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi, an Italian automaker firm was founded after the war over in 1947 by an Italian engineer whose also known also a WWI pilot veteran named Carlo Francesco 'Francis' Lombardi in Vercelli.
The car planned for a small production run of 150 – 200 cars per year, unfortunately the model never got into the company's production lines due to in 1973 this coachbuilder company had ceased, and Francis Lombardi passed away ten years later in 1983.😢 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THEAERODROME | WIKIPEDIA | DRIVENTOWRITE | CLASSICANDSPORTSCAR | DAILYTURISMO | CONCEPTCARZ | CARSTYLING.RU | LOTUSESPRIT | LIENHARDRACING | RUOTECLASSICHEIT ]
