Giannini Automobili
Encyclopedia
Giannini Automobili S.p.A. is an Italian tuning
company as well as a past producer of its own cars. Their focus has mainly been on Fiat
cars. It was originally founded in 1920 by brothers Attilio and Domenico Giannini. The company headquarters are in Rome
, Italy.
(1927), commissioned by Marquis Pellegrini.
head.
diesel
truck engine, called the 3A. This produced 40 PS at 3,000 rpm. It was not a huge success, only selling a few hundred.
In 1948, the Giannini brothers abandoned the transport sector, preferring instead to focus on something closer to their hearts: competition
. Building on over a decade's experience with Topolino engines and with the aid of young engineer Carlo Gianini (sic), who fathered the CNA
Rondine motorcycle project, the 750 cc G1 engine was developed. The G1 met with considerable success at the 1949 Mille Miglia
. Gianini then developed the twin-cam G2 engine which saw use in the Giaur, an acronym for Giannini and Urania
. The Giaur project was codeveloped with Berardo Taraschi. Giannini engines were also used by other "Etceterinis" such as Gilco and Stanga. The G2 powered Giannini's entry in the 1950 Mille Miglia, which led to a class victory in the hands of Maggiorelli and Magior.
, was also presented. Abarth
's more famous 595 appeared in the same year. Other models were also produced during the Sixties, nearly all on Fiat basis. The sixties were good years for the company, both in terms of tuning work and race participation, marred somewhat by Domenico Giannini's 16 March 1967 death of a heart attack.
, Ritmo
, and the Panda
appeared, and Giannini partook (directly and indirectly) in lots of competitions.
However, Italy's tuning corporations had a hard time in the 1980s. In addition to ever rising costs, companies now made their own sporting models of family cars. To compound the financial troubles, Volfango Polverelli passed away with respiratory troubles on 13 July 1984. To resolve the crisis, in 1985 Giannini decided to stop creating and modifying bodywork, henceforth focusing on "personalizing" cars such as the Uno
, Tipo
, and the Panda. This, the "Look" program, mainly consisted of more luxurious upholstery, paintjobs, and equipment, although there were also modified bumpers and wings.
and Italy's Ministero dell'Interno
and since 1996 is a member of the ANFIA (Associazone Nazionale Filiera Industria Automobilistica, the Italian Association of the Automotive Industry) Coachbuilders Group.
s. Giannini, however, always played second fiddle to the more famous "scorpions".
In 1983 and 1984 Giannini officially won two World Endurance Championship
s, in the C-Junior category. In reality, this was merely a ploy to allow Carma, a tiny engine manufacturer, to join Sportscar racing. Entry was reserved to manufacturers recognized by the FIA, which is why Giannini lent their name to Facetti and Finotto, the men behind Carma. While the turbocharged
1.4-litre four-cylinder was labelled "Giannini", there was no actual involvement from the Roman company.
Car tuning
Car tuning is both an industry and a hobby, in which an automobile is modified in order to improve its performance, handling and appearance. As most vehicles leave the factory set up for average driver expectations and average conditions, tuning has become a way to personalize the characteristics...
company as well as a past producer of its own cars. Their focus has mainly been on Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
cars. It was originally founded in 1920 by brothers Attilio and Domenico Giannini. The company headquarters are in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy.
Origins
Originally founded in 1920 as a garage, in 1922 Giannini became part of Itala's service network. Through this collaboration and the skills acquired thereby, Giannini was able to enter and win its class with an Itala Tipo 61 in the first edition of the Mille MigliaMille Miglia
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
(1927), commissioned by Marquis Pellegrini.
Thirties
Giannini expanded their scope during the thirties by working on smaller cars, in particular the popular Fiat 500 "Topolino". In addition to engine modifications, the brake arrangements were also changed. In 1938 Giannini broke a number of world records with a single seat racer powered by one of these 499 cc engines, equipped with a SiataSiata
Siata , was an Italian tuning shop turned automaker founded in 1926 by amateur racecar driver Giorgio Ambrosini....
head.
Forties
After World War II, the Giannini brothers began building their own engines. In 1947 they built a three-cylinder direct injectionDirect injection
Direct injection may refer to:*A music recording technique more commonly referred to as Direct Input*A method of fuel injection for an internal combustion engine, as in a gasoline direct injection petrol engines and most diesel engines...
diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
truck engine, called the 3A. This produced 40 PS at 3,000 rpm. It was not a huge success, only selling a few hundred.
In 1948, the Giannini brothers abandoned the transport sector, preferring instead to focus on something closer to their hearts: competition
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
. Building on over a decade's experience with Topolino engines and with the aid of young engineer Carlo Gianini (sic), who fathered the CNA
Compagnia Nazionale Aeronautica
Compagnia Nazionale Aeronautica was a manufacturer of aircraft and aircraft engines established in Italy in 1920 by Count Giovanni Bonmartini. Together with a group of World War I veteran pilots, he operated a flying school in Rome from a field that would eventually be developed into Littorio airport...
Rondine motorcycle project, the 750 cc G1 engine was developed. The G1 met with considerable success at the 1949 Mille Miglia
Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
. Gianini then developed the twin-cam G2 engine which saw use in the Giaur, an acronym for Giannini and Urania
Urania
Urania was, in Greek mythology, the muse of astronomy. Some accounts list her as the mother of the musician Linus. She is usually depicted with a globe in her left hand. She is able to foretell the future by the arrangement of the stars...
. The Giaur project was codeveloped with Berardo Taraschi. Giannini engines were also used by other "Etceterinis" such as Gilco and Stanga. The G2 powered Giannini's entry in the 1950 Mille Miglia, which led to a class victory in the hands of Maggiorelli and Magior.
Fifties
In the fifties Giannini opened a number of new ventures across Italy, such as Fiat sales outlets and garages.Division
For various reasons, and in spite of good sales, the company found itself in serious financial difficulties which led to its closing in 1961. The two brothers and their children disagreed on which direction to take and thus created two new separate companies: Attilio's Costruzioni Meccaniche Giannini S.p.A. (Attilio) and Domenico's Giannini Automobili S.p.A..Costruzioni Meccaniche Giannini S.p.A.
Costruzioni Meccaniche Giannini S.p.A. focused on the field of conceptualizing, designing, and engineering prototypes and engines, abandoning entirely service and maintenance. This choice, despite much excellent work, was to prove fatal to the company. Attilio's Costruzioni Meccaniche Giannini was to close for good in 1971.Giannini Automobili S.p.A.
Giannini Automobili S.p.A. retained Giannini's distribution network and series of repair shops. Customization work was drastically curtailed, now consisting only of minor surgery. In 1963 Domenico began modifying standard cars and selling conversion kits: in the same year the 500 TV, Giannini's tuned version of the tiny Fiat 500Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975, with limited production of the Fiat 500 K estate continuing until 1977. The car was designed by Dante Giacosa....
, was also presented. Abarth
Abarth
Abarth is an Italian racing car maker founded by Austrian-Italian Carlo Abarth and Italian Armando Scagliarini in Turin in 1949. Its logo depicts a stylized scorpion on a red and yellow background.- History :...
's more famous 595 appeared in the same year. Other models were also produced during the Sixties, nearly all on Fiat basis. The sixties were good years for the company, both in terms of tuning work and race participation, marred somewhat by Domenico Giannini's 16 March 1967 death of a heart attack.
Volfango Polverelli enters
After the death of Domenico Giannini a new somewhat troubled period commenced for the house. The problems were largely of management and organization, leading the company directors to call in an outsider to straighten out the company, in the form of lawyer Volfango Polverelli. While initially reluctant to take on the job, a love for automobiles made him ever more involved until he took sole ownership of the company in 1973. New ownership also brought changes, Volfango putting his three sons in charge of various departments. A new engineer, Armando Palanca, with experience in aeronautic as well as automotive engineering, created a new direction for Giannini in the early eighties. Tuning kits for new Fiats like the 126Fiat 126
The Fiat 126 is a city car introduced in October 1972 at the Turin Auto Show as a replacement for the Fiat 500. Most were produced in Bielsko-Biała, Poland as the Polski Fiat 126p until 2000...
, Ritmo
Fiat Ritmo
The Fiat Ritmo is an automobile from the Italian manufacturer Fiat, launched in 1978. Styled by Bertone of Italy, it was seen by some as the most distinctive looking small family car in Europe on its launch in 1978 Turin Motorshow. It was badged in Great Britain and North America as the Fiat Strada...
, and the Panda
Fiat Panda
The Fiat Panda is a city car from the Italian automobile manufacturer Fiat. The first Fiat Panda was introduced in 1980, and was produced until 2003 with only a few changes. It is now sometimes referred to as the "old Panda". The second model, launched in 2003, is sometimes referred to "New Panda"...
appeared, and Giannini partook (directly and indirectly) in lots of competitions.
However, Italy's tuning corporations had a hard time in the 1980s. In addition to ever rising costs, companies now made their own sporting models of family cars. To compound the financial troubles, Volfango Polverelli passed away with respiratory troubles on 13 July 1984. To resolve the crisis, in 1985 Giannini decided to stop creating and modifying bodywork, henceforth focusing on "personalizing" cars such as the Uno
Fiat Uno
The Fiat Uno is a supermini car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat. The Uno was launched in 1983 and built in its homeland until 1995, with production still taking place in other countries.-First series :...
, Tipo
Fiat Tipo
The Fiat Tipo is a small family car designed by the IDEA design house and produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1988 and 1995.The Tipo was initially available only as a five-door hatchback. The car was made entirely out of galvanized body panels to avoid rust, and was built on a...
, and the Panda. This, the "Look" program, mainly consisted of more luxurious upholstery, paintjobs, and equipment, although there were also modified bumpers and wings.
Giannini today
Today Giannini works directly with Fiat, primarily being responsible for after-sales service work in the Italian market. Giannini also has a long standing relationship creating special vehicles for the Guardia di FinanzaGuardia di Finanza
The Guardia di Finanza is a Italian law enforcement agency under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance. Like the Carabinieri, it is part of the Italian Armed Forces. The Guard is essentially responsible for dealing with financial crime and smuggling; it has also evolved into Italy's...
and Italy's Ministero dell'Interno
Ministry of Interior (Italy)
The Ministry of Interior is a government agency of Italy, headquartered in Rome. It is controlled by the Minister of the Interior. As of November 16th, 2011, Anna Maria Cancellieri is the minister.-External links:* *...
and since 1996 is a member of the ANFIA (Associazone Nazionale Filiera Industria Automobilistica, the Italian Association of the Automotive Industry) Coachbuilders Group.
Giannini in motor sport
Cars modified by Giannini were a constant presence on Italian racecourses in the sixties, seventies, and eighties, as this was why they had been developed. In the sixties, Giannini had an exciting rivalry with Abarth, both entering modified Fiat 500Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975, with limited production of the Fiat 500 K estate continuing until 1977. The car was designed by Dante Giacosa....
s. Giannini, however, always played second fiddle to the more famous "scorpions".
In 1983 and 1984 Giannini officially won two World Endurance Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
s, in the C-Junior category. In reality, this was merely a ploy to allow Carma, a tiny engine manufacturer, to join Sportscar racing. Entry was reserved to manufacturers recognized by the FIA, which is why Giannini lent their name to Facetti and Finotto, the men behind Carma. While the turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
1.4-litre four-cylinder was labelled "Giannini", there was no actual involvement from the Roman company.
Main Giannini products
- 750 Sport
- 500 TV berlina
- 500 GT berlina
- 750 TV berlina
- 850 S berlina
- 124 S berlina
- 128 NP
- 128 NPS
- 128 NP Rally
- 128 Rally 1600
- 127 NP
- 127 NPS
- 126 NP 650
- 126 NP 700
- 126 NP 800
- 132 2000
- Uno 45 S Turbo
- Regata Turbodiesel