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Innocenti:
a potted history
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Articles by Declan Berridge, taken with
permission from the unofficial Austin Rover web resource:
http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/ of Keith Adams.
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Innocenti
was founded in 1931 by
Ferdinando Innocenti,
as a manufacturer of steel tubing. The company soon became very
successful, due largely to its patented scaffolding system. Following
the Second World War, in which much of its production facilities were
destroyed, Innocenti used generous government grants to venture into
scooter production at his rebuilt plant in the Lambratte area of
Milan.
He introduced the Lambretta in 1946, thus bringing mobility to the
post-war Italian masses. He later branched out into the manufacture of
automotive parts and car-body presses for such companies as Alfa Romeo,
Fiat, Lancia, Ford and VW.
A collaborative deal with BMC saw
Innocenti venture into car production, beginning in 1960 with the A40
Farina in Berlina (saloon) and Combinata (hatchback) versions. The
Combinata was based on the UK's
Countryman model, but had a proper tailgate and other minor
modifications. Next came the Ghia-styled 950 Spider sports car, based on
the Austin-Healey Sprite. Both these models used the Mini's 948cc
engine. In 1963, all models were upgraded by the fitment of the 1098cc
engine, becoming the A40S (produced until 1967) and 1100 Spider (until
1968). A coupé version of the Spider was introduced in 1967, and
discontinued in 1969. Production of the ADO16-based IM3 (see above)
began in 1963.
Of course, from 1965 onwards, Innocenti
also built Minis (including Coopers) in Italy, and in 1975, they brought
out their own re-bodied versions called the Leyland Innocenti Mini 90
and 120, with a three-door hatchback body styled by Bertone.
Following Innocenti's death in 1966, his
son Luigi became president of the company, but it lost direction and was
heading for crisis when BL bought it for £3m in 1972. As BLMC's
Financial Controller at the time,
Geoffrey Robinson
travelled to the Milan plant to undertake an assessment. Impressed with
what he saw, he set his heart on running Innocenti, and managed to
persuade
Donald Stokes
that he was the man for the job. In fact, it was largely due to Stokes'
high (and some would say misplaced) regard for Robinson that funding was
granted for the latter's pet project: the Berone-styled hatchback
version of the Mini. However, before this car saw the light of day,
Robinson had returned to England in 1973 to take up the post of CEO at
Jaguar, where he would make his name.
The failure of the Regent (Allegro) led to further losses
and thus to Leyland's
withdrawal from
Italy in December
1975. Innocenti was purchased by
Alejandro de Tomaso,
but only the Minis (both the original style and the Bertone-styled
version) continued in production. De Tomaso later struck a deal with
Daihatsu which saw with the Bertone Mini gain the Charade's
three-cylinder, 993cc engine and transmission in 1982. In 1990, De
Tomaso sold Innocenti to Fiat, and the Innocenti Mini's days were
numbered; production finally ceased with the closure of the factory in
March 1993, but the Innocenti name lived on until 1996, on cars imported
to
Italy
by Fiat (namely, the Yugo 45 and the Brazilian Uno-based Elba).
The Innocenti Models
Innocenti A40/A40S Berlina and Combinata 1960-1967
BMC's first true hatchback was never sold in the UK. Based on the
split-tailgate A40 Farina Countryman, the A40 Combinata (pictured)
was an innovation on the part of the Italian company. |
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Innocenti 950/1100 Spider 1961-1968
Based on the MkII Austin-Healey Sprite (which also spawned the MG
Midget), this stylish roadster was designed by the Italian styling
house, Ghia. |
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Innocenti IM3/IM3S, Austin I4/I5 1963-1974
The IM3 was Innocenti's take on the Morris 1100, with some
interesting modifications. It was later joined – and eventually
replaced – by the more standard-looking Austin I4 and I5 (pictured).
More... |
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Innocenti Mini 1965-1975
The best known of Innocenti's models, produced in a varitey of
specifications including the original "Mini Minor", the "Mini t"
(Traveller) and "Mini Cooper", as pictured here. The Innocenti
versions were often both better built and more luxuriously appointed
than their UK counterparts, and a few have found their way to these
shores over the years.
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To know more about Innocenti Minis enter the "Innocenti
Mini Models" section of this website. |
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Innocenti Regent 1974-1975
A thinly-disguised Austin Allegro, which singularly failed to win
the hearts of the its intended customers. It lasted for just two
years.
More... |
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Innocenti Mini 90/120/De Tomaso
1974-1993
Surely Innocenti's most significant model, it's all the more sad
that this car only really took off after British Leyland had sold
the company to De Tomaso.
More... |
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Two
picturex of the Mini assembly line:
