Innocenti De Tomaso
Encyclopedia
The Innocenti De Tomaso was an automobile produced by Nuova Innocenti
from 1976 to 1992.The 4-cylinder version was produced between 1976 and 1982, the 3-cylinder version Turbo was produced between 1983 and 1989.
Innocenti, under the ownership of the British Leyland Motor Corporation
(BLMC) developed rebodied versions of the Mini
, the Innocenti Mini
90L and 120L, which were released in 1974. However, within a year of the car's launch, BLMC went bankrupt and Innocenti was sold to the Italian sports car maker, De Tomaso
, in 1975.
Following the sale to De Tomaso, an uprated version of the Mini 120L was launched in 1976, producing a useful 71 bhp (74 bhp from 1978 onwards); known simply as the Innocenti De Tomaso, this version featured moulded plastic bumpers (in place of the original chrome items), with integral front foglamps and a go-faster air intake mounted on the bonnet.
In 1982, the car was renamed the 3C as the company replaced the Mini underpinnings with chassis and straight-3 cylinder
engines sourced from the Daihatsu Charade
. The base model was now called the Innocenti 990, while the Innocenti De Tomaso now received a turbocharged version of the 993 cc powerplant, with a diesel variant also available.
Innocenti
Innocenti was an Italian machinery works originally established by Ferdinando Innocenti in 1920.After World War II, the company was famous for many years for Lambretta scooters models such as LI125, LI150, TV175, TV200, SX125, SX150, SX200, GP125, GP150 and GP200.From 1961 to 1976 Innocenti built...
from 1976 to 1992.The 4-cylinder version was produced between 1976 and 1982, the 3-cylinder version Turbo was produced between 1983 and 1989.
Innocenti, under the ownership of the British Leyland Motor Corporation
British Leyland Motor Corporation
British Leyland was a vehicle manufacturing company formed in the United Kingdom in 1968 as British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd . It was partly nationalised in 1975 with the government creating a new holding company called British Leyland Ltd which became BL Ltd in 1978...
(BLMC) developed rebodied versions of the Mini
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
, the Innocenti Mini
Innocenti Mini
The Innocenti Mini is an automobile introduced by Leyland Innocenti in 1974. The vehicle was a rebodied, 3-door hatchback version of the Mini, styled by Bertone....
90L and 120L, which were released in 1974. However, within a year of the car's launch, BLMC went bankrupt and Innocenti was sold to the Italian sports car maker, De Tomaso
De Tomaso
De Tomaso Automobili SpA is an Italian car-manufacturing company. It was founded by the Argentine-born Alejandro de Tomaso in Modena in 1959. It originally produced various prototypes and racing cars, including a Formula One car for Frank Williams' team in 1970. The company developed a reputation...
, in 1975.
Following the sale to De Tomaso, an uprated version of the Mini 120L was launched in 1976, producing a useful 71 bhp (74 bhp from 1978 onwards); known simply as the Innocenti De Tomaso, this version featured moulded plastic bumpers (in place of the original chrome items), with integral front foglamps and a go-faster air intake mounted on the bonnet.
In 1982, the car was renamed the 3C as the company replaced the Mini underpinnings with chassis and straight-3 cylinder
Straight-3
A straight-three engine, also known as inline-three engine, or a triple, is a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine with three cylinders arranged in a straight line or plane, side by side....
engines sourced from the Daihatsu Charade
Daihatsu Charade
The Daihatsu Charade is a supermini which was first introduced in 1977. Daihatsu considers the Charade a "large compact" car to differentiate it from smaller compacts in its lineup, such as the Daihatsu Mira/Cuore...
. The base model was now called the Innocenti 990, while the Innocenti De Tomaso now received a turbocharged version of the 993 cc powerplant, with a diesel variant also available.
External links
- http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?inniminif.htm
- http://www.detomasobybertone.com is the official club