ATS (Automobili Turismo e Sport)

Year of foundation 1962-1965

The story of "ATS (Automobili Turismo e Sport)" is a fascinating, yet brief and troubled, chapter in the Italian automotive world, known for being the result of one of the most famous "revolutions" in Ferrari's history.

The "Palace Revolution" and the Birth of ATS

It all began in November 1961, when a profound internal crisis erupted at Ferrari. A group of key figures, including chief engineer Carlo Chiti, designer Giotto Bizzarrini, sporting director Romolo Tavoni, and Formula 1 world champion driver Phil Hill, left the company following disagreements with Enzo Ferrari.

Driven by the desire to build racing and road cars independently, these "exiles" found financial support from wealthy Venetian entrepreneur Giovanni Volpi, owner of the Scuderia Serenissima. Thus, in 1962, ATS (Automobili Turismo e Sport) was founded in Bologna, with the ambition of directly competing with Ferrari.

The brief adventure in Formula 1

The primary goal was Formula 1. The ATS Tipo 100 racing car was designed with a 1.5-liter V8 engine and a tubular chassis, highly advanced technical solutions for the time. It debuted in 1963, but the season was a disaster. The cars proved unreliable, and the team failed to score points. Phil Hill and Giancarlo Baghetti, the team's leading drivers, failed to finish many races. Despite attempts to improve, results were unsuccessful, and the Formula 1 team ceased operations at the end of 1964.

The supercar: the 2500 GT

In parallel with its racing commitment, ATS dedicated itself to creating a road car, the 2500 GT. Presented at the 1963 Paris Motor Show, it was a true revolution. It was one of the first cars in the world to mount a mid-rear engine, a configuration that would become the standard for supercars.

The 2500 GT boasted an elegant coupé design and a 2.5-liter V8 engine derived from Formula 1. Despite its technical qualities and captivating lines, the car suffered from mechanical reliability issues, and due to the withdrawal of investments and financial difficulties, very few examples were built (an estimated dozen in total). The ATS adventure ended in 1965, leaving a legacy of innovation and great unrealized potential.

The rebirth of the brand

After decades of neglect, the ATS brand was acquired by new entrepreneurs who, starting in 2012, sought to revive the historic company. The new ATS introduced models such as the ATS Sport 1000 and, most notably, the ATS GT in 2017. The latter, a modern supercar inspired by the original 2500 GT, is powered by a McLaren-derived twin-turbo V8 engine.

The ATS story is a reminder of risk and boldness, a tale of engineering talent and grand ambition. Despite its premature end, it left an indelible mark on the automotive landscape, particularly for pioneering the mid-rear engine configuration that would define future generations of supercars.