Automobili Stanguellini: Difference between revisions

Automobili Stanguellini
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1900
Headquarters	Modena, Italy
Key people	Vittorio Stanguellini, Francesco Stanguellini
Products	Racing cars

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44°38′10″N 10°56′53″E / 44.6361107°N 10.9480236°E / 44.6361107; 10.9480236

Automobili Stanguellini was an Italian sport cars manufacturer based in Modena. The company was founded by Vittorio Stanguellini and was mostly active between 1946 and 1960.^[1] They produced racing cars until 1981, when Vittorio Stanguellini died. Since then, the company has been run by his son Francesco and offers service for the restoration, maintenance and operation of historic racing cars.

History

The Stanguellini family had a long involvement with motor racing. Vittorio's grandfather founded an engineering company in 1879, and his father was the first individual to register a car in Modena in 1910. (The plate registration was "MO 1"). By the time Vittorio took over in 1929, the family business included a FIAT dealership.^[2]

A passionate racer, Stanguellini began tuning and modifying Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Maserati cars for racing. Despite being a competitor, he developed a friendly rivalry with Enzo Ferrari in the late 1920s, the latter seeing the presence of Stanguellini as a potential reinforcement for the racing cars scene in Modena.^[3] Vittorio's next step was to start Squadra Corse Stanguellini. The team quickly found success running modified Maseratis 6CM and won the 1938 edition of Targa Florio.^[4]

Racing

Over the course of four decades Stanguellini's cars competed in many sports car racing events, including the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans). The team prevalently used FIAT components^[2] and focused on the 750 & 1100 cc classes, winning numerous National races in the process. The cars were conspicuous for being elegantly engineered, with light-alloy cylinder blocks, twin overhead camshafts (bialbero) and dual side-draught Weber carburettors. This would add up to a claimed 60 bhp (40 kW) at 7500 rpm from the 741 cc sports engine and 90 bhp (70 kW) at 7000 rpm from the larger engine, providing top speeds of around 180 km/h (110 mph) and 190 km/h (120 mph) respectively.

Unlike many other of the so-called "Etceterinis", Stanguellini always refused to use foreign parts, instead relying on Fiat as much as possible. The bodywork was usually made by the local Carrozzeria Reggiano.^[1]

Despite his best efforts, Stanguellini never managed to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans due to his limited resources. His best finish was a fourth in class in 1959.^[3]

The Stanguellini 750cc Racing Engine

Stanguellini had been making special aluminium twin-cam cylinder heads for the Fiat 1100 block since 1947^[4] and in 1950, he completed his most ambitious project – a complete 750cc racing engine designed by Oberdan Golfieri, an engineer from Romagna who would collaborate with Minardi a few years later. This was a light weight 9000 rpm engine based on a specially cast aluminium block and heads.^[3] The engine proved to be successful and Stanguellini racing cars went on to win numerous national championships in Italy and France.^[4] Briggs Cunningham purchased a 750cc twin-cam car which he raced in the United States, along with a Stanguellini Formula Junior.^[3]

Major race wins

Mille Miglia 750cc class wins in 1938 and 1940
Mille Miglia 1100cc class win in 1940^[3]
Targa Florio 750cc class wins in 1938 & 1952^[3]
1957 12 Hours of Sebring class win with Herman Nehm, Carl Haas and Sandy MacArthur.^[3]

A Stanguellini won the Vanderbilt Cup in 1960 at the Roosevelt Raceway, New York. The Vanderbilt Cup was run as a Formula Junior race in 1960.^[3]

Road cars

In 1947, a Bertone bodied four-seat berlinetta was offered, using familiar Fiat 1100 parts in a tubular chassis. This was also offered with a 1,500 cc engine. A Fiat 750-based two-seater was offered up the following year.^[2]

In the early 1970s Stanguellini built a series of chassis for Peter Kalikow's Momo Mirage GT coupe.^[5]

World speed records

In 1963, Stanguellini completed a single-seat streamliner called the "Colibrì" (Italian for hummingbird), powered by a 250 cc Moto Guzzi motorcycle racing engine. This car set six international speed records at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in 1963.^[3]

Formula Junior

Stanguellini single-seaters, "scaled-down lookalikes of the famous Maserati 250F"^[1] powered by Fiat 1100 engines, were competitive in Formula Junior, a category under Formula One that existed between 1958 and 1963. Stanguellini won the first season of the Italian Formula Junior championship, and "famous drivers like Bandini and von Trips won their first races in Stanguellinis."^[1] Walt Hansgen won the FJ race at the inaugural United States Grand Prix meeting at Sebring, Florida, on 12 December 1959, driving a Stanguellini.^[6]

More than 100 Formula Juniors were built by Stanguellini, and they were very successful until 1960 and the arrival of British mid-engined racers like the Cooper and Lotus.^[7] As the days of the Fiat 1100-based, front-engined racers were over, Stanguellini did develop a mid-engined car called the Delfino for the 1962 season. The Fiat 1100 engine, although now tuned to 95 CV (70 kW) at 7500 rpm, was considered the car's weakest link.^[7] The Delfino debuted at Daytona 1962 in the hands of the Cunningham team's Walt Hansgen and started on pole. It retired with technical problems and the design was never fully competitive again.^[8] After 1966, the Stanguellini family concentrated their efforts on tuning equipment and subcontract design,^[2] while also running their Modena Fiat dealership.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Oude Weernink, Wim (1996), Norris, Ian (ed.), "Italy's Craftsmen/Constructors: The Forgotten Few", Automobile Year, 44 (1996-97), Lausanne, Switzerland: Editions JR, J.-R. Piccard: 58, ISBN 2-88324-043-4
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Mike Lawrence (1991). A to Z of Sports Cars. Bideford, Devon: Bay View Books. p. 38. ISBN 1-870979-81-8.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Luigi Orsini & Franco Zagari (2003). Stanguellini - Big Little Racing Cars. Milan, Italy: Giorgio Nada Editore. ISBN 88-7911-306-2.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Stanguellini Cars Model Range Types". Ukcar.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
^ Goodfellow, Winston (July 1999). "Shortlived Marques — Momo Mirage". Automobile Quarterly. Vol. 39, no. 2. pp. 58–69.
^ Competition Press, December 31, 1959, Page 8.
^ ^a ^b Johansson, Lars-Erik (February–March 1962). "Stanguellinis "Delfin"" [Stanguellini's "Dolphin"]. Illustrerad Motor Sport (in Swedish). No. 1–2. Lerum, Sweden. p. 14.
^ Marchesini, Lorenzo (2003-02-26). "The Stanguellini Tradition". Veloce Today. Archived from the original on 2014-02-24.

External links

[AutoYear96/97-1] Oude Weernink, Wim (1996), Norris, Ian (ed.), "Italy's Craftsmen/Constructors: The Forgotten Few", Automobile Year, 44 (1996-97), Lausanne, Switzerland: Editions JR, J.-R. Piccard: 58, ISBN 2-88324-043-4

[A-Z-2] Mike Lawrence (1991). A to Z of Sports Cars. Bideford, Devon: Bay View Books. p. 38. ISBN 1-870979-81-8.

[Big-Little-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Luigi Orsini & Franco Zagari (2003). Stanguellini - Big Little Racing Cars. Milan, Italy: Giorgio Nada Editore. ISBN 88-7911-306-2.

[UKcar-4] "Stanguellini Cars Model Range Types". Ukcar.com. Retrieved 2018-02-18.

[aq-jul1999-5] Goodfellow, Winston (July 1999). "Shortlived Marques — Momo Mirage". Automobile Quarterly. Vol. 39, no. 2. pp. 58–69.

[6] Competition Press, December 31, 1959, Page 8.

[IMS162-7] Johansson, Lars-Erik (February–March 1962). "Stanguellinis "Delfin"" [Stanguellini's "Dolphin"]. Illustrerad Motor Sport (in Swedish). No. 1–2. Lerum, Sweden. p. 14.

[veloce2-8] Marchesini, Lorenzo (2003-02-26). "The Stanguellini Tradition". Veloce Today. Archived from the original on 2014-02-24.

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@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 |location = [[Modena]], Italy
 |industry = [[Automotive]]
-|key_people = Francesco Stanguellini
+|key_people = Vittorio Stanguellini, Francesco Stanguellini
 |products = [[Racing car]]s
 |parent =
 }}
 [[File:Stanguellini Zweisitzer.JPG|250px|thumb|Stanguellini 2 seater.]]
-'''Automobili Stanguellini''' is an Italian maker of small sports cars, based in [[Modena]] and founded by Vittorio Stanguellini; it was most active between 1946 and 1960.<ref name="AutoYear96/97">{{Citation
+'''Automobili Stanguellini''' was an Italian sport cars manufacturer based in [[Modena]]. The company was founded by Vittorio Stanguellini and was mostly active between 1946 and 1960.<ref name="AutoYear96/97">{{Citation
-  | first = Wim  | last = Oude Weernink  | title = Italy's Craftsmen/Constructors: The Forgotten Few  | editor-last = Norris  | editor-first = Ian  | volume = vol. 44 (1996-97)  | journal = Automobile Year | year = 1996 | page = 58 | publisher = Editions JR, J.-R. Piccard | location = Lausanne, Switzerland | isbn = 2-88324-043-4}}</ref> They continued to produce  competition cars until 1981, when Vittorio Stanguellini died; thenceforth, the company devoted to vintage cars.
+  | first = Wim  | last = Oude Weernink  | title = Italy's Craftsmen/Constructors: The Forgotten Few  | editor-last = Norris  | editor-first = Ian  | volume = 44 (1996-97)  | journal = Automobile Year | year = 1996 | page = 58 | publisher = Editions JR, J.-R. Piccard | location = Lausanne, Switzerland | isbn = 2-88324-043-4}}</ref> They produced racing cars until 1981, when Vittorio Stanguellini died. Since then, the company has been run by his son Francesco and offers service for the restoration, maintenance and operation of historic racing cars.
 ==History==
-The Stanguellini family had a long involvement with the motor car. Vittorio's grandfather founded an engineering company in 1879, and his father was the first one in Modena to register a car (in 1910, registration "MO 1"). "By the time Vittorio took over, in 1929, the family business included a [[FIAT]] agency.<ref name=A-Z>{{cite book | title = A to Z of Sports Cars | author = Mike Lawrence | publisher = Bay View Books | location = Bideford, Devon | page = 38 | year = 1991 | isbn = 1-870979-81-8 }}</ref>
+The Stanguellini family had a long involvement with motor racing. Vittorio's grandfather founded an engineering company in 1879, and his father was the first individual to register a car in Modena in 1910. (The plate registration was "MO 1"). By the time Vittorio took over in 1929, the family business included a [[FIAT]] dealership.<ref name=A-Z>{{cite book | title = A to Z of Sports Cars | author = Mike Lawrence | publisher = Bay View Books | location = Bideford, Devon | page = 38 | year = 1991 | isbn = 1-870979-81-8 }}</ref>
-Vittorio Stanguellini began tuning and modifying Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Fiat cars for racing. He was a friendly rival of Enzo Ferrari in Modena beginning in the late 1920s.<ref name=Big-Little>{{cite book | title = Stanguellini - Big Little Racing Cars | author = Luigi Orsini  & Franco Zagari | publisher = Giorgio Nada Editore | location = Milan, Italy |year = 2003 | isbn = 88-7911-306-2 }}</ref> Vittorio then formed Squadra Corse Stanguellini in 1938 and quickly found success when he modified a Maserati 6CM which took the overall victory at the 1938 Targa Florio.<ref name=UKcar>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcar.com/carspecs/basicmodels.asp?maker=Stanguellini |title=Stanguellini Cars Model Range Types |publisher=Ukcar.com |access-date=2018-02-18}}</ref>
+A passionate racer, Stanguellini began tuning and modifying [[Alfa Romeo]], [[Fiat]] and [[Maserati]] cars for racing. Despite being a competitor, he developed a friendly rivalry with Enzo Ferrari in the late 1920s, the latter seeing the presence of Stanguellini as a potential reinforcement for the racing cars scene in Modena.<ref name=Big-Little>{{cite book | title = Stanguellini - Big Little Racing Cars | author = Luigi Orsini & Franco Zagari | publisher = Giorgio Nada Editore | location = Milan, Italy |year = 2003 | isbn = 88-7911-306-2 }}</ref> Vittorio's next step was to start Squadra Corse Stanguellini. The team quickly found success running modified Maseratis 6CM and won the 1938 edition of [[Targa Florio]].<ref name=UKcar>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcar.com/carspecs/basicmodels.asp?maker=Stanguellini |title=Stanguellini Cars Model Range Types |publisher=Ukcar.com |access-date=2018-02-18}}</ref>
 ===Racing===
 [[File:Stanguellini engine.jpg|thumb|A Stanguellini racing engine.]]
-Stanguellini's cars competed in countless [[sports car racing]] events, minor and major (such as the [[1957 24 Hours of Le Mans]]) alike. Vittorio Stanguellini used his experience tuning Fiats in the pre-war days, and having raced them under the ''Squadra Stanguellini'' flag,<ref name=A-Z/> he based his small racers on [[Fiat]] components. Focusing on the 750 & 1100 cc classes (winning numerous National victories), Stanguellini sports cars were beautifully engineered cars with light-alloy cylinder blocks, [[DOHC|twin overhead camshafts]] (''bialbero'') and dual side-draught Weber [[carburettor]]s. This would add up to a claimed {{convert|60|bhp|kW|-1|abbr=on}} at 7500 rpm from the 741 cc sports engine and {{convert|90|bhp|kW|-1|abbr=on}} at 7000 rpm from the larger engine, providing top speeds of around {{convert|180|km/h|mph|-1|abbr=on}} and {{convert|190|km/h|mph|-1|abbr=on}} respectively.
+Over the course of four decades Stanguellini's cars competed in many [[sports car racing]] events, including the [[1957 24 Hours of Le Mans]]). The team prevalently used FIAT components<ref name=A-Z/> and focused on the 750 & 1100 cc classes, winning numerous National races in the process. The cars were conspicuous for being elegantly engineered, with light-alloy cylinder blocks, [[DOHC|twin overhead camshafts]] (''bialbero'') and dual side-draught Weber [[carburettor]]s. This would add up to a claimed {{convert|60|bhp|kW|-1|abbr=on}} at 7500 rpm from the 741 cc sports engine and {{convert|90|bhp|kW|-1|abbr=on}} at 7000 rpm from the larger engine, providing top speeds of around {{convert|180|km/h|mph|-1|abbr=on}} and {{convert|190|km/h|mph|-1|abbr=on}} respectively.
-Unlike many other of the so-called "Etceterinis", Stanguellini were loath to use foreign parts, instead relying on Fiat as much as possible. Bodywork was usually by local Carrozzeria Reggiano.<ref name="AutoYear96/97"/>
+Unlike many other of the so-called "Etceterinis", Stanguellini always refused to use foreign parts, instead relying on Fiat as much as possible. The bodywork was usually made by the local Carrozzeria Reggiano.<ref name="AutoYear96/97"/>
-Vittorio Stanguellini tried very hard to gain a  win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, with his limited resources, he never was able to achieve this. His best finish was a fourth in class.<ref name=Big-Little/>
+Despite his best efforts, Stanguellini never managed to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans due to his limited resources. His best finish was a fourth in class in 1959.<ref name=Big-Little/>
 [[File:Stanguellini cylinder head.jpg|thumb|left|Stanguellini 750cc cylinder head - note the dual hairpin valve springs]]
 ===The Stanguellini 750cc Racing Engine===
+Stanguellini had been making special aluminium twin-cam cylinder heads for the Fiat 1100 block since 1947<ref name=UKcar/> and in 1950, he completed his most ambitious project – a complete 750cc racing engine designed by Oberdan Golfieri, an engineer from Romagna who would collaborate with [[Minardi]] a few years later. This was a light weight 9000 rpm engine based on a specially cast aluminium block and heads.<ref name=Big-Little/> The engine proved to be successful and Stanguellini racing cars went on to win numerous national championships in Italy and France.<ref name=UKcar/> [[Briggs Cunningham]] purchased a 750cc twin-cam car which he raced in the United States, along with a Stanguellini Formula Junior.<ref name=Big-Little/>
-Vittorio Stanguellini had been making special aluminum twin-cam cylinder heads for the Fiat 1100 block since 1947.<ref name=UKcar/> However, in 1950 he finished his most ambitious project: a complete 750cc racing engine - designed from a clean sheet of paper by Oberdan Golfieri, an engineer from Romagna, Italy. This was a light weight 9000 rpm engine based on a specially cast aluminum block and heads.<ref name=Big-Little/> Stanguellini racing cars achieved extraordinary success worldwide with this engine in the 1950s, including numerous national championships in Italy and France.<ref name=UKcar/> [[Briggs Cunningham]] purchased a 750cc twin-cam car which he raced in the United States, along with a Stanguellini Formula Junior (See below).<ref name=Big-Little/>
 ===Major race wins===
@@ Line 43: / Line 42: @@
 *[[Mille Miglia]] 1100cc class win in 1940<ref name=Big-Little/>
 *[[Targa Florio]] 750cc class wins in 1938 & 1952<ref name=Big-Little/>
-*[[12 Hours of Sebring]] class win in 1957<ref name=Big-Little/>
+*[[1957 12 Hours of Sebring]] class win with Herman Nehm, [[Carl Haas]] and Sandy MacArthur.<ref name=Big-Little/>
 A Stanguellini won the [[Vanderbilt Cup]] in 1960 at the Roosevelt Raceway, New York. The Vanderbilt Cup was run as a Formula Junior race in 1960.<ref name=Big-Little/>
 ===Road cars===
+[[File:Stanguellini_Berlinetta_1953.jpg|alt=|thumb|1953 Stanguellini Berlinetta, rear view]]
 In 1947, a Bertone bodied four-seat [[berlinetta]] was offered, using familiar [[Fiat 1100#1100|Fiat 1100]] parts in a tubular chassis. This was also offered with a 1,500&nbsp;cc engine. A Fiat 750-based two-seater was offered up the following year.<ref name=A-Z/>
@@ Line 61: / Line 61: @@
 [[File:Formel Junior Stanguellini.jpg|thumb|Stanguellini Formula Junior in Oldtimer Grand Prix 2006.]]
-Stanguellini single-seaters, "scaled-down lookalikes of the famous Maserati 250F"<ref name="AutoYear96/97"/> powered by Fiat 1100 engines, were competitive in [[Formula Junior]], a category under [[Formula One]] that existed between 1958 and 1963. Stanguellini won the first season of the Italian Formula Junior championship, and "famous drivers like [[Lorenzo Bandini|Bandini]] and [[Wolfgang von Trips|von Trips]] won their first races in Stanguellinis."<ref name="AutoYear96/97"/> [[Walt Hansgen]] won the FJ race at the inaugural United States Grand Prix meeting at Sebring, Florida, on December 12, 1959, driving a Stanguellini.<ref>''Competition Press'', December 31, 1959, Page 8.</ref>
+Stanguellini single-seaters, "scaled-down lookalikes of the famous Maserati 250F"<ref name="AutoYear96/97"/> powered by Fiat 1100 engines, were competitive in [[Formula Junior]], a category under [[Formula One]] that existed between 1958 and 1963. Stanguellini won the first season of the Italian Formula Junior championship, and "famous drivers like [[Lorenzo Bandini|Bandini]] and [[Wolfgang von Trips|von Trips]] won their first races in Stanguellinis."<ref name="AutoYear96/97"/> [[Walt Hansgen]] won the FJ race at the inaugural United States Grand Prix meeting at Sebring, Florida, on 12 December 1959, driving a Stanguellini.<ref>''Competition Press'', December 31, 1959, Page 8.</ref>
-[[File:Stanguellini Delfino 3.jpg|thumb|The mid-engined Stanguellini Delfino (1961-1962)]]
+[[File:Stanguellini Delfino 3.jpg|thumb|The mid-engined Stanguellini Delfino (1961–1962)]]
 More than 100 Formula Juniors were built by Stanguellini, and they were very successful until 1960 and the arrival of British mid-engined racers like the [[Cooper Car Company#Rear-engined revolution|Cooper]] and [[Team Lotus|Lotus]].<ref name=IMS162>{{cite magazine | title = Stanguellinis "Delfin" |trans-title=Stanguellini's "Dolphin" | page = 14 | language = sv | last = Johansson | first = Lars-Erik | location = Lerum, Sweden | magazine = Illustrerad Motor Sport | number = 1–2 | date = February–March 1962 }}</ref> As the days of the Fiat 1100-based, front-engined racers were over, Stanguellini did develop a mid-engined car called the Delfino for the 1962 season. The Fiat 1100 engine, although now tuned to {{convert|95|CV|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 7500&nbsp;rpm, was considered the car's weakest link.<ref name=IMS162/> The Delfino debuted at Daytona 1962 in the hands of the [[Briggs Cunningham|Cunningham team's]] Walt Hansgen and started on pole. It retired with technical problems and the design was never fully competitive again.<ref name=veloce2>{{cite web | title = The Stanguellini Tradition | first = Lorenzo | last = Marchesini | url = http://www.velocetoday.com/cars/cars_43.php | work = Veloce Today | date = 2003-02-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140224105812/http://velocetoday.com/cars/cars_43.php | archive-date = 2014-02-24 }}</ref> After 1966, the Stanguellini family concentrated their efforts on tuning equipment and subcontract design,<ref name=A-Z/> while also running their Modena Fiat dealership.<ref name="AutoYear96/97"/>
@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 [[Category:Italian racecar constructors]]
 [[Category:Formula Junior cars]]
-[[Category:Italian brands|Stanguellini]]
 [[Category:1879 establishments in Italy]]
 [[Category:1981 disestablishments in Italy]]
 [[Category:Italian automotive pioneers]]
+[[Category:Sports car manufacturers]]
+[[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans teams]]