Editing ASA (automobile)

{{Infobox automobile
| name = ASA 1000 GT
| image = ASA 1000 GT - Museo Ferrari (17514127854).jpg
| caption = ASA 1000 GT Coupé
| manufacturer = ASA
| aka = Ferrarina
| production = 1964-1967
| model_years =
| assembly = [[Italy]]: [[Milan]]
| designer = [[Giorgetto Giugiaro]] at [[Gruppo Bertone|Bertone]]
| class = [[Grand tourer]]
| body_style = {{ubl | 2-door [[coupé]] | 2-door [[convertible]]}}
| layout = [[Front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout|Longitudinal front-engine, rear-wheel drive]]
| platform =
| related =
| engine = {{ubl | 1,032 cc ''Tipo 141'' [[inline-four engine|I4]] (gasoline) | 1,092 cc ''Tipo 141'' [[inline-four engine|I4]] (gasoline) (ASA 411 racing version)}}
| transmission = {{ubl | 4-speed [[Sunbeam Motor Car Company|Sunbeam]] manual with overdrive | 5-speed manual (optional) }}
| propulsion =
| wheelbase = {{convert|2200|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|NNNN|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|NNNN|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|NNNN|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{ubl | {{convert|1720|lb|kg|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} | {{convert|1562|lb|kg|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} 
(ASA 411 racing version) }}
| predecessor =
| successor =
| sp = us
}}
'''ASA''' (''Autocostruzioni Società per Azioni'') was an Italian [[automobile manufacturer]] active from 1961 to 1969, who is known for manufacturing the ASA 1000 GT. This car was developed by [[Ferrari]] engineers in the late 1950s as a less expensive, compact alternative to existing Ferrari [[Grand tourer|GT cars]]. ASA used [[Inline-four engine|inline-four]] and [[Straight-six engine|straight-six]] engines derived from the [[Ferrari Colombo engine#250|"250" 3-litre]] [[V12 engine|V12]] designed by [[Gioacchino Colombo]]. The chassis was developed by [[Giotto Bizzarrini]] and was derived from the tubular frame chassis of the [[Ferrari 250 GTO|250 GTO]].

The prototype that would become the ASA 1000 GT was first presented by [[Gruppo Bertone|Carrozzeria Bertone]] (Geneva 1961) under the name "Mille". Following this debut in late 1961, [[Enzo Ferrari]] decided to not sell the new car as a Ferrari and entrusted production to a close friend, Oronzio de Nora. The car was manufactured in [[Milan]] by a newly formed company called ASA (owned by the De Nora Electrochemical Group) from 1964 to 1969. The 1000 GT model was officially introduced in 1962, but due to production difficulties series production did not begin until 1964.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=ASA : l'epopea della Ferrarina|last=Varisco|first=Franco|date=2004|publisher=G. Nada|isbn=8879113348|location=Vimodrone (Milano)|language=it|oclc=56973852}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

== ASA 1000 GT ==

=== Design and development by Ferrari ===
The ASA 1000 GT originated in a late 1950s experimental project by Ferrari engineers to create a less expensive, compact alternative to existing Ferrari [[Grand tourer|GT cars]]. This project was designated "854"  by the factory (for 850cc, 4 cylinders), however it was commonly but unofficially named "Ferrarina," meaning "Little Ferrari."<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Paddock|first=Lowell|date=July 1983|title=La Ferrarina|journal=Automobile Quarterly|volume=21|issue=3|pages=284–291}}</ref>

The "Ferrarina" engine was derived from a late 1950s experimental [[Inline-four engine|inline-4]], designated Tipo 122. This was basically a four-cylinder, {{convert|850|cc|cuin|abbr=on}} slice of a [[Ferrari Colombo engine|Colombo V12]] from a Ferrari [[Ferrari 212 Inter|212]], with a bore and stroke of 65 x 64mm and supplied by two [[Weber carburetor|Weber]] 38DCO carburetors. The Tipo 122 engine produced {{Convert|68|hp|kW}} at 7000 rpm. The Tipo 122 was followed by the more powerful and slightly higher displacement Tipo 125 and 126 engines. The Tipo 126 engine displaced 973 cc and produced {{Convert|86|hp|kW}} at 7000 rpm. These engines were tested in the "Ferrarina" prototype, a 2-door [[notchback]] [[Coupé|coupe]] on a [[Fiat 1100]] or [[Fiat 1200|1200]] chassis with a [[Pininfarina]] body, which was used by [[Enzo Ferrari]] as his personal transportation for some time in the late 1950s.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> The final engine design was completed in 1960 as the Tipo 141, with 1032cc displacement, bore and stroke of 69&nbsp;mm x 69&nbsp;mm, a [[Overhead camshaft|single overhead cam]] and two Weber 38DCOA carburetors. According to Ferrari's records, this engine produced {{Convert|100|hp|kW}} at 7200 rpm with a 9:1 [[compression ratio]].<ref name=":1" />

Following Ferrari's development work on the 854/"Ferrarina" prototype, a new prototype called the "Mille" ("one thousand" in Italian) was shown at the 1961 Turin Auto Show on the [[Gruppo Bertone|Bertone]] stand. The Mille was an entirely new car based on the 854 project, with 2-door [[fastback]] [[coupé]] bodywork designed by [[Giorgetto Giugiaro]] at [[Gruppo Bertone|Bertone]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> Although this prototype had no Ferrari badging, its design echoed contemporary Ferrari GT models and the origin of the design within Ferrari was well publicized.<ref name=":4" /> Despite positive publicity and official support of the project from Ferrari, at the time of the Mille's debut there were no plans for Ferrari to mass-produce the design. Ferrari engineers had planned around annual production of 3000-5000 cars, which would sell for approximately US$2600 each. Not only was the Ferrari factory inadequate for this kind of volume production, Enzo Ferrari was unwilling to expand it in order to produce the Mille. Even before the Turin debut of the Mille, Ferrari had begun searching for another company that would buy the design and bring it to market.<ref name=":4" />

=== Formation of ASA and 1000 GT production ===
[[File:AsaGT1000Rear.jpg|thumb|right|ASA 1000 GT rear view]]
[[File:1963 ASA 1000 GTC De Nora+engineers.png|alt=ASA head of operations Niccolò de Nora (kneeling) inspecting an ASAS 1000 GTC alongside staff.|thumb|ASA head of operations Niccolò de Nora (kneeling) and Giotto Bizzarrini (right) inspecting an ASA 1000 GTC alongside ASA staff]]
By 1962, Enzo Ferrari decided to entrust production of the Ferrarina to close friend Oronzio de Nora and his son, Niccolò de Nora. The de Nora Electrochemical Group formed a new company for this purpose under the name ASA (''Autocostruzioni Società per Azioni''). ASA operations were headed by Niccolò de Nora. Also involved in ASA management were race drivers [[Lorenzo Bandini]], [[Gerino Gerini (racing driver)|Gerino Gerini]], and [[Giancarlo Baghetti]] and engineer [[Giotto Bizzarrini]]. The new firm had its headquarters on via San Faustino in Milan.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.asaregister.com/en/history.html|title=A bit of history|website=www.asaregister.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-09-22}}</ref>

The ASA 1000 GT production version, almost unchanged from the "Mille" prototype, was officially introduced at the 1962 Turin Auto Show. Despite this debut, due to production difficulties series production of the 1000 GT did not begin until 1964.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> The production 1000 GT used the 1032cc Tipo 141 I4 engine fitted with 40DCOE9 carburetors. It produced a stated {{Convert|91|hp|kW}} at 6800 rpm, a HP/Litre ratio better than the contemporary [[Ferrari 275 GTB]].<ref name=":1" /> Other sources report an output of {{Convert|95.6|hp|kW}} at 7000 rpm.<ref name=":4" />  Production cars used a [[Space frame#Cars|tubular spaceframe]] chassis designed by Giotto Bizzarrini, based on the [[Ferrari 250 GTO|250 GTO]]. It was equipped with [[Double wishbone suspension|double wishbone]] front suspension and a [[live axle]] at the rear.  Both front and rear of the car were equipped with [[coil spring]]s, tubular dampers, an [[anti-roll bar]] and [[Disc brake|disk brakes]].  The coupe was bodied in steel with aluminum hood and trunk lids and weighed {{Convert|1720|lbs|kg}} dry.<ref name=":1" /> [[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar magazine]] tested the 1000 GT shortly after its introduction and recorded a 0-60&nbsp;mph time of 14.0 seconds and a 1/4 mile run in 19.3 seconds.<ref name=":4" />

At least two fiberglass-bodied convertibles were also produced.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Nowak|first=Stanley|date=January 1979|title=ASA 1000 GT|journal=Cavallino|volume=3|pages=14–19}}</ref> One of the convertibles was displayed at the 1962 Turin auto show alongside the coupe. Other than the fiberglass body, the convertible was mechanically identical to the 1000 GT coupe.<ref name=":4" />

=== Commercial reception ===
The first production ASA 1000 GT couple was sold for $5920 in September 1964. [[Luigi Chinetti]] was the sole [[United States|US]] importer of ASA and a majority of the 1000 GT production was sent to his dealership.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> Despite reportedly excellent driving dynamics and reliability, 1000 GT sales were low. The brand had little name recognition and Chinetti's American customers in particular preferred the much more powerful Ferraris.<ref name=":1" /> Additionally, the 1000 GT was extremely expensive for the performance offered, with retail prices around US$6000 when a new [[Chevrolet Corvette]] equipped with a much more powerful 427 c.i. [[V8 engine]] cost US$4500. In order to sell their stock of ASAs, Chinetti's dealership steadily lowered prices during the late 1960s and early 1970s. A new 1000 GT sold for $1800 in 1973, far below cost.<ref name=":4" />

ASA production never achieved the anticipated volume of 3000-5000 cars per year. Even when series production was fully operational during 1964 and 1965, only one car was built per week.<ref name=":4" /> Exact production figures are unknown, but sources agree that less than 100 ASA cars of all types were constructed.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> One source estimates that 50-75 1000 GTs were produced in total between 1964 and 1967, with an additional handful of convertibles and competition cars.<ref name=":4" /> The ASA factory officially closed in 1967, but some cars were assembled from spare parts and sold as new up through the early 1970s.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

== Competition cars ==
[[File:1965 ASA 1000 GTC Scuderia Elmo.jpg|thumb|right|ASA 1000 GTC]]
[[File:1966-05-08 Targa Florio Collesano ASA 411 Dini+Dalla Torre.jpg|thumb|right|ASA 411 GTS during [[1966 Targa Florio]]]]
The ASA 1000 GTC was a sports racing car built in 1963 by [[Giotto Bizzarrini]] and based on a production 1000 GT. The car was developed under a newly-founded Società Autostar workshop. The body was designed and built by [[Piero Drogo]]'s [[Carrozzeria Sports Cars]]. The engine had its displacement reduced to 995 cc to meet the under 1.0-litre racing classification. The tubular chassis with aluminium body saved the weight to a total of {{Convert|590|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. Bizzarrini and Drogo also built a larger displacement car called 1300 GTC with 1.3-litre engine that debuted at the 1966 [[Trento-Bondone Hill Climb]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coachbuild.com/2/index.php/encyclopedia/coachbuilders-models/item/drogo-asa-1000gtc-010-1962|title=Drogo ASA 1000GTC #010 1962|website=coachbuild.com|access-date=24 November 2019}}</ref>

The ASA Berlinetta 411 was the competition version of the 1000 GT Coupé, introduced at the 1965 [[Paris Motor Show]].<ref name=":4" /> It used the engine from the 1000 GT enlarged to {{convert|1092|cc|cuin|abbr=on}} by increasing the cylinder bore from 69 to 71&nbsp;mm. This engine produced {{convert|104|bhp|kW|abbr=on}} at 7500 rpm. The Berlinetta 411 had a lightweight all-aluminum body and [[Poly(methyl methacrylate)|plexiglass]] windows, resulting in a dry weight of {{Convert|1562|lbs|kg|order=flip}} compared to the regular 1000 GT's {{Convert|1720|lb|kg|order=flip}}.<ref name=":1" /> Other modifications included wider tires and a competition gas filler.<ref name=":4" /> The exact number produced is unknown.<ref name=":4" /> Two competition 1000 GTs were entered in the [[1965 Targa Florio]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/june-1965/13/49th-targa-florio|title=THE 49th TARGA FLORIO|last=Jenkinson|first=Denis|date=1965-06-01|work=Motor Sport Magazine|access-date=2018-09-26|page=13|language=en}}</ref> They placed 17th and 22nd overall, 3rd and 4th place in the 1000-1600cc prototype class.<ref name=":4" />

ASA also manufactured four [[Fiberglass|fiberglass-bodied]] competition cars called the RB613 or Roll Bar 1300. These featured a more aerodynamic body designed by Luigi Chinetti Jr. and manufactured by Carrozzeria Corbetta. The chassis had an integrated [[Rollover protection structure|roll bar]], the source of the "RB" abbreviation in the name. The engine was a 1.3 liter [[Straight-six engine|straight-six]], the design based on 1/2 of the [[Ferrari 250]] V12.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-maintenance/news/a4550/go-news-auctions-there-is-a-little-bit-of-enzo-in-this-asa-rb613/|title=There's a little bit of Enzo in this ASA RB613|last=Adolphus|first=David Traver|date=2013-05-20|work=Road & Track|access-date=2018-09-21|language=en-US}}</ref> Two ASA RB613s were raced at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, one an ASA factory entry and one entered by Luigi Chinetti's [[North American Racing Team]]. Neither car finished the race.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1966-le-mans-24-hours|title=1966 Le Mans 24 Hours {{!}} Motor Sport Magazine Database|date=2017-06-13|work=Motor Sport Magazine|access-date=2018-09-21|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=N.A.R.T. A Concise History of the North American Racing Team 1957 to 1983.|last=O'Neil|first=Terry|date=August 2015|publisher=Veloce Publishing Limited|isbn=9781845847876|oclc=900032109}}</ref> NART entered another RB613 in the [[24 Hours of Daytona|1967 Daytona 24 Hours]]. Driven by [[Suzy Dietrich]] and [[Donna Mae Mims]], the ASA finished 24th. The same driver team again drove the ASA for NART in the 1967 [[12 Hours of Sebring|Sebring 12 Hours]], finishing 25th.<ref name=":0" />

A similar 1.8 liter 4-cylinder RB618 or Roll Bar 1800 competition model was developed for the American market. The number produced and racing history of this model is unknown.<ref name=":1" />
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Commons category|ASA automobiles}}
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asa (Automobile)}}
[[Category:Cars of Italy]]
[[Category:Bizzarrini vehicles|ASA]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of Italy]]
[[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Milan]]
[[Category:Bertone vehicles]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1964]]
[[Category:Sports car manufacturers]]