ASA (Autocostruzioni Società per Azioni)

Year of foundation 1961-1969

The history of the ASA car manufacturer, an acronym for Autocostruzioni Società per Azioni, is fascinating and rather brief, but closely linked to one of the most illustrious names in Italian motoring: Ferrari.

The Birth of a Ferrari Idea
It all began in the late 1950s, when Enzo Ferrari and his engineers, including Carlo Chiti and Giotto Bizzarrini, began working on an ambitious project: a small GT (Gran Turismo) with a 4-cylinder engine derived from the powerful V12 of the Ferrari 250. The idea was to create a more compact and accessible model than the large and expensive Ferraris of the time, to compete in the burgeoning small-displacement sports car market, dominated by brands like Abarth.

The project continued, and the prototype, with a body designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro for Carrozzeria Bertone, was presented at the 1961 Turin Motor Show. Despite its success and the affectionate nickname "Ferrarina," Enzo Ferrari decided not to market the car under the Prancing Horse brand, fearing that a small-displacement model would diminish the exclusivity and prestige of his company.

The Intervention of Oronzio de Nora and the Founding of ASA
At this point, the history of the "Ferrarina" took a new direction thanks to a Milanese industrialist, Oronzio de Nora, known for his work in the electrochemical sector (he was the inventor of Amuchina). De Nora, already a supplier and friend of Ferrari, acquired the project and founded the ASA company in Milan, led by his son Niccolò. The goal was to mass-produce the car.

Models and Short Life
Production of the ASA 1000 GT officially began in 1964. The car was an elegant and sporty coupé, with a lightweight tubular chassis and a 1032cc four-cylinder engine that delivered 91 hp, ensuring remarkable performance for its class. Spider versions and a more powerful variant, the ASA 411, were also produced.

Despite its excellent technical qualities and captivating design, the ASA failed to achieve the commercial success it had hoped for. High production costs and fierce competition limited the number of units sold. Production, a highly artisanal affair, hovered around 100 coupés and about 20 spiders.

ASA also attempted racing, participating in the Targa Florio, and even built a Formula 3 single-seater, but its fate was sealed. The company went into liquidation in 1969, bringing its short but intense history to an end.

Today, the few remaining examples of the ASA 1000 GT are considered rare classic cars of great collectible value, testimony to an ambitious project born from the genius of Maranello and carried forward with passion in Milan.