Innocenti

Ferdinando Innocenti, a former blacksmith , a native of Pesch , in the province of Pistoia, founded the company, calling it his name. Innocenti patented and manufactured connectors for scaffolding , which is still widely used. The success of Innocenti came in the years of the most popularity of the Lambretta scooter, which became an excellent competitor to the most successful scooter of the era, Vespa , as well as in the automotive industry with a Mini car.

Production activity was focused on a large plant in the Lambrate district on the eastern outskirts of Milan . There were branches in various parts of the world, and even a joint venture for the production of iron and steel in South America (Siderurgica del Orinoco, SA).

The company consists of three main branches that survived until the 1970s: mechanical engineering (production of presses and machine tools), production of motorcycles (Lambretta, Lui) and cars, mainly licensed by British Motor Corporation .

With the death of Ferdinando Innocenti in 1966, the company passed into the hands of his son Luigi. In the 1970s, the engineering branch was sold. The production of Lambretta, which was a great success in Italy, moves first to Spain and then to India.

The company's history in the automotive sector was difficult: in the early 1960s, Fiat traditionally dominated Italy, as well as medium and large manufacturers with well-known brands such as Lancia and Alfa Romeo (then independent).

Activities began in the fall of 1960 with the advent of Innocenti A40 , namely the English Austin A40 , assembled under license in Milan. The first presentation of the “official” A40 in Italy took place on October 21, 1960. Four -door sedans IM3 , J4 and I5 were produced in the same way. The first own car was the Innocenti 950 Spider , a small sports convertible whose bodywork was developed by Ghia , presented with the A40 sedan at the Turin Motor Show in the fall of 1960.

A coupe with an engine from Ferrari became the prototype of the line of a small Mini car. In the mid-1960s, the Innocenti car boom coincided with the launch of the Mini (Mini Minor). Manufactured under license from the British Motor Corporation , with an Italian body and English equipment, the Mini was constantly updated and improved, compared with the original English version, for demanding Italian buyers (more luxurious finishes). All this makes the car fashionable, successful, and with sporting ambitions in Cooper versions. Built in various series and models (MK 2, MK 3), the Mini 1000 and Mini 1001 versions had a natural wood interior, carpet and chrome exterior parts that are not found on English cars. In different years of production, 0.85, 1 and 1.3 liter engines were installed. The car was produced until 1975.

At the same time, British Leyland is completely taking control of the Innocenti automotive industry, bringing the new Leyland Innocenti brand to life . During this period, Austin Allegro was assembled under license in Italy, as well as the Mini 90 and Mini 120 (differ in engine). In fact, this car is a development of the three-door classic Mini , assembled with almost all units of the British Mini, but with a completely new body, from the designer Nuccio Bertone . In 1976, British Leyland, in a difficult crisis, decides to dispose of the Lambrath plant. After a lawsuit, negotiations and clashes between workers, government and trade unions, Alejandro de Tomaso takes over the factories and the brand. De Tomaso continued production of the Mini Bertone using old British technology. In 1980, Mille , the first updated Mini Bertone, and the first Italian subcompact with electric windows as standard appeared.

Starting in 1982, further changes to the Mini Bertone included only an interior upgrade. Engines, transmission and suspension used the old English, during the operation were replaced by modern engines and 5-speed gearboxes supplied by Daihatsu and a completely Italian suspension (similar to Fiat 127 ). New three-cylinder engines were installed until 1993.

Between 1988 and 1989, the Innocenti 500, with steady commercial success, increased the company's budget. Available in two trim levels L and LS, od received a new Daihatsu engine with a volume of 548 cm³, a three-cylinder engine with a five-speed gearbox.

In the early 1990s (as part of FIAT) various special versions of the Small 500 and Small 990 appeared. The 990 had a velvet interior, two body colors and a sunroof. A limited edition car was Innocenti Small 500 SE (with a body of 990).

Starting in 1980, even Quattroporte models and the entire Biturbo Maserati series (another company of De Tomaso ) and a joint venture with Chrysler ( Chrysler Turbo Convertible ) were assembled at Lambrath. Moto Guzzi parts were also assembled there.

Since joining FIAT in 1990, there have been Fiat Panda assembly lines in Lambrath since 1991.

Between 1990 and 1993, De Tomaso sold Innocenti and then Maserati to Fiat . Mini Bertone ceases to be released in 1993.

From 1993 to 1997, Innocenti Koral , Innocenti Mille , Innocenti Elba , Innocenti Mille Clip and Innocenti Porter were produced under the Innocenti brand.

The Lambarta factory was largely destroyed ^[1] , and the area was built up with a new residential area. ^{[2] [3]} Some of the company's buildings, with their particular architecture and history, are at the center of a dispute between proponents of demolition and those who would like to preserve this part of industrial history. ^[four]

Since 1997, with the disappearance of all models, the Fiat brand has been discontinued.

The first rumors about the brand’s “revival” took place in 2008, after more than 10 years of silence, during a meeting in Turin , during which Sergio Marchionne expressed his intention to produce low-cost cars, as Renault did in 2005 with a car Logan under the Romanian brand Dacia , which brought good commercial success.

In 2009, sketches came out of the car, presented as a project under the code "326", and designated as the successor to the Fiat Palio , launched in 1996. Until the last moment, management did not decide on the launch of a successor under the Innocenti brand, and in turn, the Fiat Uno / Innocenti Mille became an alternative, since the Fiat brand is the most famous abroad. In February 2013, Sergio Marchionne returns to the idea of ​​rebirth ^{[ when? ] [5]} .