Carrozzeria Castagna is an Italian coachbuilding company based in Milan, Italy

History

The company history began in 1849 when Carlo Castagna bought the Ferrari coachbuilding business. Carrozzeria Castagna built the first coach automobile with a combustion engine (Benz quadricycle).

Later the company worked with larger car manufacturers, including: Isotta Fraschini, Duesenberg, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, and Mercedes-Benz.

• The original company ceased in 1954
• The famous company name was revived twice in the 1990s.
• The latest works of the company include the Mini (BMW).

The beginnings of the "Castagna" workshop are very promising with the acquisition of the "Ferrari Store" to the very famous company Mainetti & Orseniga ", a renowned manufacturer of carriages. In a few years, Castagna becomes a reference in the field and becomes the right provider number of known and royal aristocrats over Europe.

It's early in the twentieth century the company C. Castagna & C. interested in the automobile engine. Its first development will be presented in 1905 on order of Margaret of Savoy (Queen of Italy) and used a reference time, the Fiat 24-32 HP . The car contained all the equipment and accessories available at the time.

The Alfa Romeo 40-60 HP 1913 is one of the achievements particularly known bodybuilder since it is one of the first automobiles into account considerations aerodynamic  ; Indeed, his body formed a shaped hull-shaped aircraft.

From 1915, the Carrozzeria Castagna's reputation is international and its order book is flourishing and delays getting longer.The company produces bodies including the bases of great automotive names as Isotta Fraschini , Alfa Romeo , Fiat , Lanciaor Mercedes-Benz .

In 1919, the company employs 400 people and produces more than 100 cars a year at its factory in 20,000 m² covered. At that time, Castagna is requested by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits to develop cars for the "great" of this world during their international travel.

The decline

Several international events led to the slow decline of the Milanese bodywork company. The first shock occurs in 1949 with the cessation of business of the luxury Italian manufacturer Isotta Fraschini following the collapse of the US auto market. The company lost in the same time a highly profitable and important market but also the best basis on which it achieved its fabulous cars. Other automakers reference, there remained only Alfa Romeo and for a few months yet, Bianchi . The company closed its doors in 1954 to be reborn in 1994 following the initiative of the architect and designer Gioacchino Acampora.

Carrozzeria Castagna today 

Carrozzeria Castagna is essentiellemnt oriented bodies "FUORISERIE" as is the tradition of the brand, but also to the tuning of high-end car models. She regularly presents innovations in the form of concepts of concept cars in specialized fairs.

The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in the year 2002 , the Carrozzeria Castagna presented in public first before a new mode lFUORISERIE on a base Maserati , called Auge .

At the Geneva International Motor Show 2003 , the Carrozzeria Castagna presented its own stand three new projects:

• a coupe 4 places on a basis Maserati , called Auge ,
• a coupe 2 places on a base Alfa Romeo , named Geneva ,
• 2 places a tray on a base Ferrari called Rossellini .

The bodybuilder is Milanese moment there are on the front of the stage with its many luxurious versions of the little Mini .

Fiat 500 (2007) 

In October 2007 , the Carrozzeria Castagna presented a Tuning Kit Light for Fiat 500 (2007) .

The version developed by Castagna of the little Fiat was called Cinquino , like the little Fiat 500 original 1957 was dubbed by the Italian. It is characterized by its two-tone dress, a series of appendices that expand the front and rear tracks of the car and an exhaust terminal double stainless steel. Particular attention was paid to support the ground with AEZ rims 15 poles from 17 "équiupées tires Pirelli P-Zero.

The interior equipment is customizable to customer demand with skins leather and alcantara. Trunk space has been increased slightly, thanks to a small change he won 40 extra liters in capacity.

The tuning is not just a simple aesthetic treatment but also the Passion Kit Corsa which includes a centrifugal compressor (for the 1.4 100 hp engine) that increases the 0.4 bar pressure and provides an output of 155 hp and a torque of 170 Nm at4 500 r / min . Top speed exceeds 200 km / h.

The general basis has been lowered by 3 cm, the new dampers and brakes see the appearance of the equipment Brembo with 280 mm discs and clamps 4 pistons ¹ .

The electric Fiat 500 Castagna Rais Gaddafi

This unique model has been ordered by an intermediary in June 2009. The car was to be built on the basis of the Fiat 500, without doors and having an electric motor with a range of 260 km at a minimum, a maximum speed of 160 km / h and a full recharge time not exceeding 10 minutes. Although the interior is not closed, there must have air conditioning of sufficient power to not sweat at the wheel while circulating in the desert. As the original fuel tank was retained to meet this requirement, then knowing the car would be outside, he fed the additional motor gasoline for the only air conditioning.

In the photos the newspaper article, the car because they do not know it is electric and the charging socket is hidden behind the logo in the center of the grille seen people pushing hand ²