The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
When we think of cars today, we often focus on sleek designs, electric vehicles, and cutting-edge technology. But to truly understand how far the automotive world has come, we need to look back to cities like Turin, where the roots of the industry run deep. Turin’s automotive industry is more than just a production hub—it’s a reflection of the city’s history, culture, and identity.
Italian coachbuilders have long been the pioneers of automotive design, known for blending art and engineering in a way that no other country has replicated. From iconic brands like Pininfarina and Bertone to lesser-known but equally significant names, Italy’s carrozzerie (coachbuilders) have shaped the world of automotive elegance and innovation.
Ready to grace the Italian beaches, the latest version of the Fiat Topolino has become even more distinctive and luxurious. Introducing a new Giardinetta version, this iconic vehicle is making waves.
The early 1900s marked the birth of a new automotive concept: the station wagon. Originating in the United States around 1910, independent builders crafted wooden bodies for the chassis of Ford Model T cars. Initially conceived as commercial versions of sedan cars tailored for the working class, they were often referred to as carryalls, denoting their ability to carry a multitude of goods thanks to their spacious cargo compartments compared to traditional torpedo bodies.
Established in 1849, Carrozzeria Castagna Milano is an iconic name in Italian automotive history. From carriages to luxury automobiles, the company’s journey under Carlo Castagna’s leadership defined an era. Post-war challenges led to closure in 1954, but a 1990s revival, spearheaded by Uberto Petra and Gioacchino Acampora, brought the brand back to life. Today, Castagna continues its legacy with unique creations and collaborations, ensuring a lasting impact in the world of automotive craftsmanship.
With the new Tender2, Carrozzeria Castagna inaugurates a series of one-offs derived from the electric Fiat 500, after several creations based on the combustion-engined model, also under the Abarth brand.
At the 1934 Milan Motor Show a new chassis for the Augusta was presented. The 234 type specially conceived for coachbuilders retained the previous mechanical characteristics but with some novelties.
A fully customised Citroën Ami with a very special touch: this is the latest creation from the Castagna Milano atelier, created to meet the request of a loyal customer and to delight his 16-year-old son with a unique vehicle.
The Cisitalia 202 is particularly important to automotive history both because it was the first car in the world to be permanently exhibited in a modern art museum, the MoMA in New York, and because it can be considered the first example of the postwar Italian-style granturismo.
Lets step back in time to the year 1947, a momentous period marked by the end of a war that left both material and moral devastation in its wake. The echoes of those challenging years are etched in the memories of those fortunate enough to have lived through them. The Mille Miglia revives, symbolizing the resilient spirit of a society yearning for recovery.
Silvia Nicolis presents a custom-built Fiat in which transparency is the protagonist. The car , protagonist of this episode was created by Carrozzeria Castagna, the famous coachbuilder from Milan also known as the Dream Factory.
At the end of 1937, at the Milan Motor Show, Carrozzeria Castagna had exhibited a Vistotal cabriolet which featured a windshield which was erected from the dashboard without any side posts. This revolutionary system born beyond the Alps was called “Vutotal”.
