between the twenties and thirties, the son of the manager of a small hardware company saw the expansion of building a market where you can make your own luck, starting at that time to produce special tube destined to become famous with the name of their producer: I'm talking about the pipes Innocenti, still used for small structures such as scaffolding, stages or temporary stands and quickly removed, whose invention was made by Ferdinand Innocenti.Grazie to this and other business genius, he became one of the great Italian entrepreneurs of the period, becoming part of a circle of men whose insights and projects contributed greatly to be addressed to Italy industrial boom after the war. Unfortunately, today, I think that is a little 'forget this great man: we are all at remembering names, speaking of Italian industries, but I want to emphasize and remind everyone that these production companies have been considered important for children wrongfully raise Italy from the ravages of war. And it was the ravages of war a sort of deus ex machina for the most important turning point in history This entrepreneur! Since 1933, an important part of the activities of Fratelli Innocenti (Ferdinando's not forget as well Rosolino) was concentrated in the steel plants in Milan Lambrate near the River Lambro: during the war, these plants were first converted to the production of weapons, especially missiles and then were seriously damaged by bombing. After the war, when you convert to civilian production, he slowly returned to normal with the creation of machinery and steel will further diversify the production with a means of transport for masse.Si story goes that Ferdinand had been fascinated to see the small means two wheels of the Allied paratroopers, thinking that half strong, simple and inexpensive as what could be an interesting market in post-war certainly hungry for cheap transportation. It was a happy intuition, that the engineer Torre translated into practice giving birth to a myth of postwar Italy: Lambretta, whose name is obviously inspired by the Lambro river which runs near the factories. We are in 1948, the Lambretta was a tremendous success and could have even more. If not that, in the same year and with the same goals to power the people at low cost; extraction aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio, Piaggio motorcycle designed for the intended to depopulate: the Vespa.Tecnologicamente, the two vehicles had little in common, and soon created two opposing factions almost Coppi and Bartali. Honestly, while allowing the superior technology and greater handling of the Lambretta, Vespa could count on a look a bit 'prettier and nicer in the long run that enabled her to survive the rival (even if the years eventually became aesthetically very similar .) Lambretta or Vespa But it is, already during the fifties the two wheels began to come to a narrow slice of the population hungry now cars. In 1955 he debuted the Fiat Seicento, the Nuova 500 in 1957 and Italy began to be invaded by a horde of motor cars back off you are still a standard among scooter.Nel appears on newsstands in February of 1956 a new monthly Quattroruote, soon to become a sort of Bible-era car that is taking its first tentative but important steps already. The desire to drive can not be ignored, and even innocence is expected to debut in the four wheels: between 1957 and 1958, the tower design engineer a small car to be produced entirely in house, but the project floundering, perhaps also because of the strong competition that should have been scontrare.Infatti, Fiat, in the same year, first debuted (as above) with two utility models and then merge with Pirelli and others to produce the intended Autobianchi Bianchina ... Acma-and Piaggio, France produces 400 mini car for sale! Whatever the reason for abandonment of the project (some also talk of disagreements with engineering Tower) to 'Innocenti you decide to completely change course by contacting the British Motor Company in 1959 to produce under license from the British Austin A40 model, a nice sedan two volumes in 1960 will also bring the Italian brand. Sales of the A40 nationalized going well and it will soon be complemented by the IM-J series (Austin from 1100 to 1300) and the small coupe and Spider 950 and 1100 to strengthen the positions acquired in the market. But the real winner will move a few years later, in 1965, when the Italian company won the license production also the creature of Sir Alec Issigonis, namely the famous Mini. This phenomenal small car since 1959 was receiving acclaim throughout Europe, but, for us, not what we hoped because of the price too high due to high import taxes here then because it necessitated the construction site of a specific version for our market. The Mini had nationalized slightly different from English models: the calendar of different design, the rear panel adapted to our plates, engine parts and other interior and generally a better level of finish. For the rest, the basic ingredients of the model that helped make it a cultural phenomenon, and there were all the Mini was also in Italy a long and prosperous existence in the period between the sixties and seventies. The first Mini was the Mini Minor 850 Italian who came to the assembly lines at the end of 1965. The following year she was joined by the Traveller model with the mythical wood finishes to reinforce the success of the sedan: both 843 cc engine for the same 34cv.Durante 1966, at age 85, died on Commander Ferdinando Innocenti . His son Louis will take the reins of the company, but it, from now on, private management skills of its charismatic leader, will begin to slowly lose ground to competition. All this does not happen dramatically, but it is clear that the momentum is lost management of Ferdinand. In 1967 he arrives in Italy the first version of the Mini Cooper 1100 and 850 versions increase power to 41.5 hp. The following year it was the turn of the Mk2 series that sees the introduction of the new all-metal model Traveller. The changes relate to all the rear lights and larger square, the grille, the rear window and another, but to have descendants, and the windows to see outside of the door hinges disappear, we must wait for the Mk3 in 1970, when it also debuts the Minimatic. A further evolution of the range comes with versions of 1972: the first from 1000 to 1001 and 1300 alongside Cooper and then replace the Mk3 series. All are distinguished at a glance to the calendar black plastic, as well as other less obvious changes. These new models, however, are not enough to save the Innocent from the crisis that for a while 'of time is striking: the same 1972, the company falls into the hands of the British Leyland.Certo, changing the master does not imply that history is over, but to be honest from here on seems to describe the slow death of a terminally ill patient. Between 1973 and 1975, the last year of production, the Mini has no other significant new versions if not the arrival of export to Europe and some changes to the versions Cooper. The first real innovation in the new management came in 1974 and regards the new Mini have nothing more to do with English models. The Mini 90 and 120, in fact, have the body entirely redesigned by Nuccio Bertone, and now have a square style but very nice as well balanced as a whole. This model guess but not really successful, will enable the Innocents vivacchiare through the breaking waves that will take her first bankruptcy in the hands of Alejandro De Tomaso and, since 1990, Fiat orbit, as usual, instead of healing, will to close its doors to the house in 1997.In that time, the Mini Bertone suffered an endless series of reshuffles of style and engine, arriving at Mont Blanc and tricilindrici Japanese Daihatsu, including Diesel, along the lines of what he did Maserati Biturbo that was altered with the in dozens of similar versions but always diverse.Di this dark period is worth remembering the sports version of the Mini Bertone, rightful heir of the Cooper Mini De Tomaso, an aggressive and too flashy display that had a 1275 for 74 hp with speed performances worthy of note. In 1983, this version also adopted a three-cylinder turbo, giving rise to the Daihatsu Turbo De Tomaso. All this until 1990. Then, under the wing of Fiat, nothing. Only old models such humiliating again and again one and Duna Weekend Innocenti rebranded and offered at prices from saldo.Ed here, ladies and gentlemen, yet another true obscene waste of one of our other brands which are all happily squandered by Fiat, such as the Scorpion dell'Abarth finished to do logos for stupid skirts and flaps or ailerons for tamarri versions of real cars serie.Una sadness. And to think that the world gave them to these brands and not a little envy! In an English site is defined Ferdinando Innocenti one of the largest European business. Exaggeration? I do not think we are forgetting us in exaggerated and despise everything that belongs to our past rather than enhance it and starts to try to repeat it ...
*** Evolution of Italian Mini (web source) 1965 - Morris Minor 8501966 - Mini Cooper 1100 - Mini Traveller 850 (Wood) 1968 - Mk2 Mini Minor 850 - Mini Cooper Mk2 1000 - Mini Traveller Mk2 850 (wood) - Mini Traveller Mk2 850 (metal) 1970 (versions with and without baffle) - Mini Minor Mk3 850 - Mk3 1000 Mini Cooper - Mini Matic 10001971 - Mini Traveller Mk3 850 (metal / baffle) 1972 - 1000 Mini - Mini 1001 - Mini-Matic 1000 - Mini Cooper 1300 - 10001973 Mini Traveller - Mini 1000 Mini 1001 Export-Export-Matic Mini 1300 Mini Cooper 1000 Export-Export
Emiliano Boschello http://pagine70.com
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