Leonardo da Vinci ideated the predecessor of modern automobiles. He was the first to think in concrete terms of a modern-era automobile. Then in 1769, Nicolas-Joseph Cugno invented the steam dray. The invention of this steam machine was the beginning of the history of motorization. Three decades later in 1807, François Isaac de Rivaz presented the first prototype of an internal combustion engine. life in italy

Most think immediately of Ferrari when they think of Italian cars —and rightfully so— Ferrari is considered the king of luxury sports cars. If you have ever driven one you understand why it deserved such a title! VIRTUALLITTLEITALY.COM

Italian cars, however, had much humbler beginnings, Fiat played an important role in the development of the Italian auto industry. Fiat was the first to manufacture cars in Italy, they recorded very close to the beginning of the automobile industry in 1899.

The name Fiat is an acronym F.I.A.T. stands for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, which means: Italian Automobile Factory of Turin, in 1900 the factory opened in Turin with 150 workers, and so did the first model, it was the 3 ½ CV — which can be seen in some private collections and car museums.

But it wasn’t until the 1850s that the development of the modern car reached a turning point. Thanks to Nicolò Barsanti

In 1859, he succeeded in patenting their engines in England, France, Belgium, Prussia and Piedmont. Although Italy was not yet unified. So it could not guarantee the protection of an international patent. The construction began in 1860 at the mechanical workshops of Pietro Benini in Florence.

Nascido a 24 de agosto de 1881 na pequena vila de Fobello, nos arredores de Turim, era o filho mais novo de um “oriundi” que tinha feito fortuna na Argentina, para regressar a Itália e fazer uma fábrica de sopas. Com jeito para os números, de inicio pensou ser contabilista, mas depois apaixonou-se pela engenharia, especialmente pela novidade que era o motor de automóvel.

Em 1898, aos 17 anos, tornou-se contabilista de um importador de bicicletas, Giovanni Battista Ceirano, onde nas horas livres, aprendia o oficio da engenharia, bem como o design e construção de máquinas. Com o tempo, aprendeu o suficiente para fazer reparações mecânicas quer em bicicletas, quer no novo brinquedo da alta sociedade. No ano seguinte, Ceirano e a sua empresa virou a Fiat e Lancia tornou-se num dos seus empregados, nomeadamente, inspector dos veículos que iam para a estrada.

FIAT (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) was born on July 11th, 1899. Its first model was the Fiat 3 ½ HP in 1899. The manufacturer produced just eight units. But at the end of 19th Century

As suas qualidades impressionaram os patrões e aos 19 anos, era o principal piloto de testes da marca, e no ano seguinte, seria piloto da marca nas competições em que participava. Em 1900, na segunda corrida em que participou, o Torino-Sassi-Superga, terminou como vencedor, dando a primeira vitória de sempre à marca de Turim.

A few years later Fiat achieved the first of many victories in car racing. Thanks to Vincenzo Lancia, winning the Torino Sassi-Superga in 1902.

In 1902 with a 24-horsepower Fiat, Vincenzo Lancia won the Sassi-Superga uphill race. Fiat continued to make a name for itself in the racing world and in 1908 it opened a factory in the USA, at that time Fiat was considered a luxury car only for the rich. LA BELLA VITA

Um piloto forte e determinado, que se tornou um construtor por mérito próprio e uma pessoa influente na história dos automóveis em Itália, um dos primeiros nomes automobilísticos que a Itália teve. A sua carreira não foi longa como corredor, mas teve a força suficiente para se tornar um construtor e fazer da sua marca uma das mais duradouras em Itália e ter nome no automobilismo até aos dias de hoje. Continental Circus

In 1905 the “Aquila Italiana” (Italian Eagle) opened in Turin. The engineer Giulio Cesare Cappa mounted a new prototype of engine on an automobile.The prototype marked the evolution of future four wheel models. In fact, it was the first to adopt important engineering solutions, such as the use of ball bearings for surfaces subject to friction. Plus the piston alloy and the use of the pedal clutch to initiate the ignition.

Lancia mostrou-se como um piloto veloz, normalmente o mais veloz de todos os seus concorrentes, mas as suas máquinas normalmente não conseguiam acompanhar o seu ritmo e destruíam-se pelo caminho, por isso que não alcançou a vitória em três provas importantes: a Taça Gordon Bennett de 1905, a Targa Flório de 1906 e o primeiro Grande Prémio de França, no mesmo ano. Contudo, já tinha feito nome em Itália, quando venceu a Coppa Flório de 1904.

Em 1906, aos 25 anos, funda a marca com o seu próprio nome, apesar de continuar a guiar pela Fiat por mais dois anos, até começar a construir os seus próprios automóveis, como o Alfa 12HP, vendendo mais de cem exemplares, alguns deles servindo para corrida. Em poucos anos, outros modelos sucederam-se, e Lancia dedicou-se mais aos negócios do que à competição.

Lancia was opened in Turin in 1906 by the famous Fiat driver Vincenzo Lancia, who, together with Claudio Fogolin, founded the company called Lancia & C. The company logo design was entrusted to Count Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia, a big fan of the motorsports (who later founded the homonymous car museum). The first model produced was the Lancia 12HP in 1908. Vincenzo’s brother Giovanni suggested using Greek letters to name the different models, and the Lancia Alfa was born, selling 108 models. Able to reach speeds up to 90 kmh (56mph), the Alpha had a 28hp 2544cc engine with a shaft drive instead of the more popular chain, and without a doubt was a really attractive car.

And on April 5, 1908, won first place in the straight section race at Padova-Bovolenta, and two years later earned “best performance in class”. Also in 1908 during its first year of racing activity, Lancia obtained two important victories in the U.S., thanks to William Hilliard. The first was placing third overall at the Meadowbrook Sweepstakes in Long Island on October the 10th; the second was on November the 25th , when Lancia won The International Light Car Race of the Automobile Club of America.

Alfa Romeo was founded on June 24, 1910 under the name A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili). Like Lancia, the name again recalls the Greek alphabet, but this time Alfa wished to express the beginning of a new type of automobile, cars especially built to be sports cars.

In 1914, after the murder of Archduke Francesco Ferdinando in Sarajevo, Austria declared war on Serbia. Indeed, it was the beginning of World War I. And yes, it affected the development in the history of Italian cars.

Most European car companies had to convert their production to something more lucrative. Of course, it was warfare. At the end of WWI, the industry re-converted to civil vehicles. While Italians were trying to return to everyday life, a new struggle was born. In 1919, Benito Mussolini founded the “Fasci Italiani di Combattimento”. Later in 1922, Mussolini’s party marched on Rome. Hence Fascism was born.

Se Lancia em público era um homem perfecionista com os seus carros, em privado, era um “bonvivant”. Amante da boa comida e da ópera (especialmente Richard Wagner). Apesar de tudo, a sua dedicação à empresa é tal que se casa tarde, aos 41 anos, com a sua secretária, Adele Miglietti, tendo três filhos, entre eles Gianni Lancia. Ao longo dos anos, para além da sua marca, torna-se apoiante do automobilismo no seu país. Torna-se num dos apoiantes da construção do Autódromo de Monza, em 1922, e é um dos fundadores da casa de design Pininfarina, em 1930.

Senator Giovanni Agnelli wasn’t one to think small. He created the Lingotto, aka the factory. In 1925, it produced a new model the Fiat 509. In one year, it sold over 90000 units. The poet Gabriele D’annunzio compared the 509 to a woman. The poet said they both had grace, slenderness, and the vitality of a femme fatale. In 1932, Fiat launched the “Fiat 508 Balilla”, replacing the 509.

So, in 1928, Lancia birthed the “Dilambda”. Dilambda’s engine was an 8-cylinder V 24° with a maximum power output of about 100hp. About 1700 Dilambdas units sold. But, tellingly, the exit of the car coincides with the collapse of Wall Street and the ensuing financial crisis, and that the Dilambda’s selling price was prohibitive in 1931, costing 58,000 Lire, while later, an Artena would cost 24.500 Lire.

The Pininfarina company was born in Turin on May 22, 1930 thanks to Battista Farina. In the first years of production until the outbreak of World War II, the company became known for its craftsmanship of a small number of special bodyworks designed for Alfa Romeo, the Hispano-Suiza, the Lancia, and the FIAT. Of course, today the Pininfarina brand is international.

Furthermore, in 1931, the Artena and Astura replaced the Lambda and the Dilambda. The Astura became the official government transport for high dignitaries of Mussolini’s regime. Mussolini himself loved the Astura and had a custom 1939 Lancia Astura designed by Pininfarina in which he paraded several times through fascist Italy streets.

On the Italian side, in 1936, Fiat sold the new Fiat 500. A true icon in the history of Italian cars.

Vincenzo Lancia morre a 15 de fevereiro de 1937, aos 55 anos, vitima de ataque cardíaco. Foi enterrado no mausoléu da família, em Fobello.

Enzo Ferrari drove for Alfa Romeo. But the real birth of Ferrari is on September 1, 1939, when Enzo Ferrari founded the “Auto Avio Costruzioni”. The “Auto Avio Costruzioni” later became the “Scuderia Ferrari” -in 1947.

Palavras Perdidas: Fiat 147 a álcool, 40 anos., Porsche, Fusca: a volta dos que não foram., Koenigsegg and Pinchcliffe Grand Prix, Fusca de Lego, DeLorean elétrico, Lamborghini Countach LPI800-4