The Encyclopaedia of Italian Coachbuilders

[als15]

Finally, I hope to be able to print in 2016 (not on January the 1st, of course) my long-term work: The Encyclopaedia of Italian Coachbuilders.
After some years of very deep research (actually I'm putting together material since ever  ), the counter is now at 873 companies. Much more than what I had in mind when I started this project.
Of course, there would be still more to discover and more to write. And so, I think is time to ask some help to my fellow Autopuzzles friends.
Some of you have already widely contributed (thanks to all once again!) but I'll post here some open question, mainly related to non-Italian cars styled or coachbuilt in Italy, hoping somebody can provide further information.

And, of course, I'll keep you updated about the progress. Now I'm re-reading all the Italian version (the book will be published in two editions - Italian and English) before beginning the translation process. And of course I'm trying to solve some mistery and correct some potential mistake.

[als15]

The Bitter SC. The car was styled by Michelotti (that probably built also a few prototypes or pre-series units) but then the serial production was run by a Turin-based company called OCRA. After 79 (somebody says 100) units, due to the poor quality, the job was passed to Maggiora.
This is written in several sources, but... what was OCRA? It seems that there is no record of this company here in Turin. Does somebody know more?

[oko94]

Finally, I hope to be able to print in 2016 (not on January the 1st, of course) my long-term work: The Encyclopaedia of Italian Coachbuilders.

Great news ! I already own some of your Fiat fuoriserie books and this encyclopaedia will definitely be a most valuable addition to my book collection.

[als15]

Finally, I hope to be able to print in 2016 (not on January the 1st, of course) my long-term work: The Encyclopaedia of Italian Coachbuilders.

Great news ! I already own some of your Fiat fuoriserie books and this encyclopaedia will definitely be a most valuable addition to my book collection.

Thanks! I hope it will be a good contribution to this part of automotive history that is proving to be much more complex and not so well known than it's supposed to be. I'm really discovering hundreds minor workshops that made just a few obscure cars and other hundreds that are not known just because they made famous cars on behalf of somebody else.
And there will be thousands pictures inside.

[Oguerrerob]

I bought almost all your Fiat Fuoriserie books, they're great! This encyclopaedia will fill an existing hole in automobile books. Congrats!!!

[als15]

Another little question: I remember a strange Alfa Romeo, a copy of the "Disco Volante" but made by the small Turin-based Carrozzeria Monticone.
It was on display in a temporary exhibition at the Turin Automobile Museum around 2000. And it was not the Corasco copy: I perfectly remember the badge with the "M" of monticone on the side (I was surprised, as I only knew him as a commercial vehicles maker).
Does anybody have further information and perhaps a picture?

[Paul Jaray]

I only knew the Fiat 1100 from your book and the Maserati barchetta.

[Wendax]

The Bitter SC. The car was styled by Michelotti (that probably built also a few prototypes or pre-series units) but then the serial production was run by a Turin-based company called OCRA. After 79 (somebody says 100) units, due to the poor quality, the job was passed to Maggiora.
This is written in several sources, but... what was OCRA? It seems that there is no record of this company here in Turin. Does somebody know more?

Sorry, even the Bitter book doesn't give any details.

[als15]

Two obscure names more, that made some commercial vehicles on Alfa Romeo base and perhaps some cars. Any additional information is welcome.

Carrozzeria Nardo. Totally unknown. Just a picture of a Romeo on "Curiosalfa" book but not even the author has nothing more than the photo with the stamp on the back.

Carrozzeria San Giorgio. Based in Brescia. In an advertising about Alfa light trucks in the 60s they write also "special cars". Anything known?

[als15]

This time I need the support of a Bugatti specialist.
I bumped into records of two Italian coachbuilt Bugattis that looks impossible to find anywhere:

- Carrozzeria Pattaro & Pesce entered a Bugatti at the 1950 Lido di Venezia concourse d'elegance. Any picture of it?
- Carrozzeria Vertua is supposed to have coachbuilt a Bugatti Torpedo in 1926 (the car is still around). Any info on this company?

[Paul Jaray]

San Giorgio: probably they refer to these ambulances.

[als15]

 

[als15]

The Stutz Blackhawk. It was made in Italy, initially by Carrozzerie Padane and later by Saturn. Does anybody know if also the other Stutz cars were made in Italy?
I know the special limousines were made by Coggiola, but what about the SUVs?

[Paul Jaray]

I know who knows a lot about those cars

[Stutzian]

hehe, you are right... but I'd like to know more...

The very first Stutz prototype was built by Ghia, Padane was next, building the Stutzes in 1971 & 1972. Carrozzeria Saturn took over, and built the Stutzes, till the production ended in 1989.
There was ONE modified Cadillac, built by Coggiola (I'd like to know where the car is today, and why they built it...), the Diplomaticas and Royales were also built by Saturn, and there was one 1972 Blackhawk "built" by ASC (American Sunroof Company), the car looks like a modified standard 1972 model.

The SUVs, based on the Chevrolet Suburban were also built by Saturn.

[als15]

Many thanks!

[als15]

The Italian text is lamost ready. So, I'll post here the list of names, hoping that if anybody knows any missing one, he will warn me in advance  .
The book will be printed in the second half of the year, if all goes in the right direction.

Here are the coachbulilders, design studios, workshops with letter "A":

A System (Milano – 1983-1987)
Abrate (Bra - 1987-active)
Accamo & Moneta (Torino – 1950-active)
Accossato (Torino, poi Casale Monferrato (AL) – 1948-active)
Actis & Pianta (Torino – 1926-1928)
Adriano (Vercelli – anni 70)
Adriatica (Albignasego (PD) – 1993-active)
Aeronavali (Venezia – 1947-1990)
Ala d'Oro (Reggio Emilia – 1947-1949)
Albanesi (Brescia – 1919-~1970)
Albenghi (Reggio Emilia – anni 40-1965)
Albini (Novara – anni 20)
Alea (Moncalieri (TO) – 1986-active)
Alessandrina (Alessandria – anni 50)
Alessi & Becagli (Campi Bisenzio (FI) – 1973-active)
Alessio (Torino, 1905-~1915 anche Roma, Napoli e Padova – 1895-1931)
Allegretti e Gentilini (Modena – 1958-1963)
Allemano (Torino – 1929-1965)
Allemano e Tricò (Torino – 1927-1929)
ALMA (Busto Arsizio (VA) – 1907-1909)
ALPA (Fiesco (CR), 1962> Offanengo (CR) – 1956-1979)
Alpi (Nichelino (TO) – 1958-1969)
Alpina (Trento – anni 20)
Alta Brianza (Erba (CO) – anni 70-80)
Alta Italia (Varese – anni 20)
Amadei (? – anni 50)
Amandonico (Moncalieri (TO) – 1956-1992)
Ambrogio (Torino – anni 40)
Ambrosiana (Milano –  anni 20)
Ambrosini (Varese – 1948-1954)
Ambrosini e Botta (Bizzozero (1927> Varese) – 1911-1915, 1919-1948)
AMIL (Torino – anni 40-1954)
Amolari (Varese –  anni 20)
Andreani (Sondrio (VA) – 1981-active)
Andreoli (Codigoro (FE) – 1919-~1923)
Anelli (Torino – ~1920-1925)
Anelli & Bosio (Torino – 1925-1931)
Anelli & Volpiano (Torino – 1910-1914)
Angiolini (Milano – anni 20-30)
Anoè (Torino – 2004-active)
Anonima Automobilisti Italiani (Milano – 1919-anni 30)
Anonima Carrozzeria Automobili (Treviso – anni 20-1932)
Ansaloni (Modena – 1949-1956)
Antinori (Roma – anni 40)
Aprile (Savona – anni 30-active)
Aprile e Cavallo (Savona – 1926-anni 30)
Aquila (Torino – 1923-anni 30)
AR (Messina – 1932-1950)
ARCA (Pomezia (RM), 2014> Poggibonsi (SI) – 1958-active)
Aricar (Cavriago (RE) – 1972-active)
Arnaboldi (Milano –  anni 20)
Art & Tech (Torino – 1990-1993)
ARVAT (Torino – 1952-1954)
ASA (Milano – anni 80)
ATL (Mandello del Lario (CO) – 1969-1976)
ATR (Colonnella (TE) – 1982-active)
Autino (Torino – 1912-1920)
Autino & Biei (Torino – 1920)
Auto (Milano – anni 30)
Auto Martelleria Artigiana (Moncalieri (TO) – 1953-anni 70)
Auto Mirage (Bologna, 1974> Rastignano (BO) – 1972-1987)
Autocar (Torino - 1948-1953)
Autocorse (Modena – 1963-1967)
Autodromo (Modena – 1949-2003)
Automarine (Triuggio Brianza (MI), 1976> Carate Brianza (MI) – 1970-active)
Autoroma (Torino e Milano – anni 40-50)
Autosport (Bastiglia (MO) – 1976-active)
Autostudi (Torino – 1983-active)
Autozodiaco (Bologna, 1973> Pianoro (BO) – 1969-1981)
Avalle e Moschino (Torino – 1922-1931)
Aznom (Monza (MI) – 2007-active)
Azzaroni (Bologna – ~1900-anni 20)

[Paul Jaray]

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=31758.0

[als15]

Good advise, thanks. And thanks to Wendax as well.

[Paul Jaray]

About Albanesi, beside the Coppa d'Oro replica and the Aprilia barchetta I found 3 'giardinetta' on Lancia Ardea and Fiat 500c chassis.

[als15]

I was supposing to have almost completed the book but new companies show up every day.
At the Automotoretrò show, last weekend, it was on display a Fiat 500 cabriolet (the new one) made by a very obscure small car repairer. A nice job, however, that has to be mentioned in the book.
But it will be a hard job, because the "Murphy's law" never fails. I think I could invent the "Corollary of the Murphy's Law applied to publishing": "If you have almost completed the layout of a book and a new information (e.g. a new entry in an encyclpaedia) has to be added, it will be proportionally close to the beginning of the book the more the work is completed."
In my case, being this company called Carrozzeria Abrate, it is in second position in a list of 900. 

[Carnut]

When I used to get World Cars many years ago (I don't know if it's even still published), which came out annually, they always printed a supplement in the form of a stapled booklet which they inserted loosely in the book, to include all the cars which had appeared since the book went off for printing.
Otherwise it will never be finished, as a project as large as this will always have new additions to be included on a weekly or even a daily basis!

[als15]

And these are the coachbuilders with "B":

Bacchelli and Bertolini (Modena – anni '30-'40)
Baehr (Milano – anni '20)
Bagnara (Genova – 1895-1952)
Balbo (Torino – 1914-1954)
Baldi (Sanremo (IM) – anni '70)
Balzaretti Modigliani (Livorno >1972, 1946>1972 anche Besana in Brianza (MI), 1960> anche Vidalengo di Caravaggio (BG) e altri – 1850-2000)
Barbi (Concordia (MO), 1927> Mirandola (MO) – 1905-active)
Baroffio (Malnate (CO) – 1925-anni '30)
Barolo (Abano Terme (PD) – anni '60)
Barsi (Latina – anni '50)
Barsuglia e Corgin Gargini (Lucca – anni '20)
Bartoletti (Carpinello di Romagna (FO), 1936> Forlì – 1873-active)
Bava (Torino – 1935-anni '40)
BBM (Modena – anni '60)
Beccaria & Bazuro (Genova – inizio '900)
Beccaria & Cané (Genova – anni '20-'30)
Beccaris (Grugliasco (TO), 1945> Torino – 1938-1940 – 1945-1955)
Beccaris & Teraschi (Torino – 1959-1962)
Bee Studio (Torino – 1990-active)
Belco Avia (San Pietro Mosezzo (NO) – 1983-active)
Bell's Car – (Seregno (MI) –1987-active)
Bellasi (Novara – 1966-active)
Belli (Varese – 1845-1922)
Bellis (Torino – anni '20-'30)
Belloni (1) (Milano, 1811-1910)
Belloni (2) (Milano, 1883-1906)
Bellotto (Torino – anni '30)
Benedetti (Livorno – 1925-1927)
Bentivoglio (Macerata – 1836-active)
Bercella (Varano de' Melegari (PR) – 1996-active)
Beri (Grottammare (AP) – anni '60-2000)
Berman (San Benedetto Po (MN) – 1972-active)
Berti (1) (Jesi (AN) – anni '20-'30)
Berti (2) (Torino – anni '30)
Bertoldo (? – inizio '900)
Bertolini (Parma – 1929-1962)
Bertona and Creola (Borgomanero – 1949-active)
Bertone (Torino, 1961>2008 Grugliasco (TO), 1972>2014 anche Caprie (TO), 2014> Milano – 1912-active)
Bertoni (Varese – 1929-1931)
Berzano (Torino – anni '30)
BGT (Padova – anni '60-1980)
Bianchetti (Torino – anni '30-'60)
Bianchi (1) (Como – 1870-active)
Bianchi (2) (Milano – ~1920-1926)
Bianchini & Valle (Moncalieri (TO) – 1955-1959)
Bianco and Zacchini (Torino – 1954-1960)
Biemme (Ospedaletto Euganeo (PD) – 1991-active)
Biraschi (Monza (MI) – anni '20)
Boano (1) (Torino – ~1940-1959)
Boano (2) (Roma – 1919-anni '60)
Boglietti (Ivrea (TO) – anni '20-1957)
Bollani (Milano – 1912-~1925)
Bollanti (Borgo San Michele (LT)– 1985-active)
Bonacina (Milano – anni '20)
Bonaveri (Torino – 1933-1935)
Bonansea (Torino, 1999> anche Cisterna di Latina (LT) – 1979-active)
Bonca (Verona – anni '30)
Boneschi (1) (Milano, 1968> Cambiago (MI), 2006> Atessa (CH) – 1919-active)
Boneschi (2) (Milano – anni '20-1931)
Bonetto (Milano, poi Assago (MI) – 1958-active)
Bonfanti (Milano, 1961> Cologno Monzese (MI) - ~1919-active)
Bonfiglioli (Torino – anni '40-'50)
Boniolo (Padova – 1975-active)
Bonora (Torino - ?-1922)
Borbotta (Borgomanero (NO) – 2000-active)
Borghi (Bologna – anni '30)
Borri (Torino – 1962-?)
Borri & Raniero (Torino – 1957-1962)
Borsani (Milano, 1958> Cornaredo (MI) – 1933-1986)
Bosco (Torino – anni '50-1958)
Bossano e Borelli (Torino – anni '20-1925)
Botta (Milano – anni '20)
Bottazzi (Napoli – ~1850-1926)
Bottini (San Giorgio su Legnano (MI) – 1946-active)
Bracci (Pisa – 1925-1926)
Bracco (1) (Torino, 1961> Grugliasco (TO) – anni '30-anni '60)
Bracco (2) (Torino – anni '50)
Bracco and Montersino (Torino – 1924-1928)
Brawand (Torino – 1964-1965)
Bresciana (Brescia – 1921-1931)
Breuer (Rivalta di Torino (TO) – 1985-2008)
Brianza (Milano – 1932-1938)
British Motors (Villafranca di Verona (VE) – anni '80-active)
Brossa (Torino – ?1928-anni '30)
Bruna (Genova – anni '40-'50)
Bulletti (Pistoia – anni '20)
Bulli (Milano – 1852-1933)
Burgert (Dobbiaco (BZ) – 1971)
Bustese (Busto Arsizio (VA) – anni '20)
Butti e Repetto (Milano – anni '20)

[als15]

And here is letter "C":

CAB (Ponte San Pietro (BG) – 1927-1954)
Cadamuro (Musile di Piave (VE) – 1975-in attività)
Cadore (? - anni '10)
Caldana (Tortona (AL) – anni '40-'50)
Calevo (Torino – anni '10)
Calmani, Goletti e Barra (Torino – anni '20)
Calore (Padova – 1909-1925)
CAM (Moncalieri (TO) – 1956-1969)
Camal (Torino – 2008-in attività)
Camattini (Collecchio (PR) – 1962-in attività)
Campana (Modena – 1947-in attività)
Campari & Sorniotti (Milano – 1927-anni '40)
Canta (Torino – 1949-1963)
Cantinelli (1) (Ferentino (FR) – 1960-in attività)
Cantinelli (2) (Ferentino (FR) – 1969-in attività)
CAP (Riva del Garda (TN), 1969> Arco (TN) – anni '50-1973)
Capacci (Torino – 1918-anni '20)
Capelli (Brescia – anni '10-1921)
Capozzi (Torino – ~1926-1928)
Capozzi & Peraldo (Torino – 1924-~1926)
Cappelletti (Firenze – anni '20)
Caprera (Torino, 1968> Rivoli (TO) – 1952-1972)
CAR (1) (Roma – 1928-~1938)
CAR (2) (Torino – 1932-1934)
CAR (3) (Torino – anni '40)
CAR (4) (Milano – 1947-1957)
Car Fiberglass (Ravenna – 1974-in attività)
Carbondio (Torino – 1964-1969)
Carcerano (Torino, 2005> anche Pianezza (TO) – 1980-in attività)
Cardone (Carrù (CN) – anni '40-'60)
Carel (Torino, 1961> Nichelino (TO) – 1955-1964)
Carrauto Modenese (Modena – 1967-~1970)
Carrozzerie Trasformabili (Vicenza – 1935-1937)
Cars International (Mondovì (CN) – anni '90)
CART (Torino – anni '40-1952)
Casale (1) (Bassano del Grappa (VI) – ~1922-1930)
Casale (2) (Bassano del Grappa (VI) – 1937-1999)
Casale & Meneghetti (Bassano del Grappa (VI) – 1920-~1922)
Casaro (Torino, 1943> Carmagnola (TO) – 1921-1958)
Castagna (1) (Milano, 1942> Venegono Superiore (VA) – 1901-1954)
Castagna (2) (Milano – 1940-1960)
Castagna (3) (Milano – 1994-in attività)
Castagnero (Torino – ?-1922)
Castiglioni (Torino – ?-1930)
CAT (Torino – 1947-1949)
Catarsi (San Pietro in Palazzi, Cecina (LI) – 1961-1999)
Cattelan (Pordenone, 1938> Udine – 1928-1970)
CBC (Milano – anni '50)
CEA (Bologna – 1961-in attività)
Cecomp (La Loggia (TO) – 1978-in attività)
Ceirano (Torino – 1924-1930)
Cellino (Torino, poi Grugliasco (TO) – 1950-in attività)
Cenisia (Torino – 1921)
Centrale (Thiene (VI) – anni '40-'60)
Cerale (Torino – anni '40-1963)
Cervi e Corna (Brescia – anni '40-'50)
Cervinia (Torino – 1955-anni '60)
CHD (Val della Torre (TO) – 1999-in attività)
Chiabra & Bertolino (Torino – 1935-1965)
Chiesa (Torino – 1922-~1930)
Chiesa, Autino & Biei (Torino – 1922)
Chiotti (Rossana (CN) – 1969-in attività)
Christillin (Torino – 1905-1907)
CI-MA (Milano – 1934-anni '30)
Ciavatti (Torino – anni '30)
Cigala & Bertinetti (Torino, poi Leinì (TO), 1977> anche San Benigno Canavese (TO) – 1935-1993)
Ciocca    (Torino – ~1890-anni '30)
Cisalpina (Torino – 1923-1928)
Cisitalia (Torino, 1951> anche Racconigi (CN) – 1945-1965)
Cita (Roma – 1973-in attività)
Citterio (Milano – ~1914-1925)
Civardi (Moncalieri (TO) – 1957-1963)
CMG (Settecmaini (RM) – 1961-1974)
Codutti (Udine – 1896-in attività)
Coggiola (Beinasco (TO) – 1966-in attività)
Coletta, Falchero e Weber (Roma – 1930-1934)
Collalti (Ferentino (FR) – anni '60-2011)
Colli (Milano – 1932-1972)
Colombo (Milano – 1906-anni '20)
Colombo & Pattaglioli (Milano – anni '20)
Cometal (Torino – 1959-1962)
Conrotto (Torino – 1906-1916)
Conta (Torino – 1927-1957)
Conta e Berzano (Torino – 1923-1927)
Conte (Torino – 1904-1905)
Conte e Adda   (Torino – ?-1905)
Conte e Gossetti (Torino – 1905-1907)
Contedini (Roma – anni '70-'80)
Converso (Torino – 1951-anni '70)
Cooperativa Autocarrozzeria e Industria del Legno (Pisa – 1926-?)
Cooperativa Carrozzai Modenesi (Modena – 1949)
Corbellini (Milano – anni '10-'20)
Corbetta (Milano – anni '50-'60)
Coriasco (Torino, 1970> Pianezza (TO) – 1920-2000)
Corna (Torino – anni '40-'60)
Coronel (Milano – anni '20)
Corte (Torino – anni '30-'50)
Cottino (Torino – 1914-1922)
CRAT (Torino – anni '20)
Cravero (Torino – anni '30)
Crespi (Milano - 1910-1913)
Crippa (Milano – anni '20)
Cristiglio (Torino – 1939 - 1968)
Crociera (Nichelino (TO) – 1973-in attività)
Cusani (Carate Brianza (MI) – anni '20)

[als15]

And here is letter "D" as well (this is short):

Dalla Via (Schio (VI) – 1905-2007)
Danesi (Roma – early XIX Century--~1910)
Danisi (Nichelino (TO) – 1995-active)
De Marco (Turin, 1981> Rivoli (TO) – 1971-active)
De Marziani (Milan – 20s)
De Pietri (Turin, later Collegno (TO) – 40s-1964)
Del Bel Belluz (Turin – 1958-60s)
Design System (Moncalieri (TO) – 1985-~1990)
Di & Ci (Caronno Pertusella (VA) – 2010-2014)
Diatto, Garavini & C. (Turin – 1911-1914)
Didone (Milan –10s-30s)
Disteco (Como – 1978-active)
Doria, Nosenzo e Boccaccio (Turin – 1923-1925)
Dovo (Turin – 10s-~1920)
Duyvis (Turin – 1916-?1917)
Dux (Milan – 1928-1932)