 | |
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1906 |
| Defunct | 1926; 99 years ago (1926) |
| Fate | Taken over byFiat |
| Headquarters | Turin,Italy |
Key people | Michele Ansaldi,Matteo Ceirano founders |
| Products | Automobiles,military vehicles |
S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) was an Italianautomobile, military vehicle andaero-engine manufacturer founded in Turin byMatteo Ceirano andMichele Ansaldi. It was active between 1906 and 1926. In 1908, it merged withFabbrica Ligure Automobili Genova (FLAG) and the new company, Società Ligure Piemontese Automobili, was headquartered in Genoa while manufacturing in Turin.
In 1923 it moved to Turin and in 1925 was taken over byFiat, whereby car manufacture ceased but commercial and military vehicle production continued. Although car production resumed afterWorld War II, by 1947 the company was fully absorbed into Fiat.
The Ceirano brothers,Giovanni Battista,Giovanni,Ernesto andMatteo, were influential in the founding of the Italian auto industry, being variously responsible for :Ceirano;Welleyes (the technical basis of F.I.A.T.);Fratelli Ceirano;S.T.A.R./Rapid (Società Torinese Automobili Rapid);SCAT (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino);Itala and S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili). Giovanni's sonGiovanni "Ernesto" was also influential, co-foundingCeirano Fabbrica Automobili (akaGiovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili) andFabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili (FATA).
In 1888, after eight years apprenticeship at his father's watch-making business, Giovanni Battista started buildingWelleyes bicycles, so named because English names had more sales appeal.[1] In October 1898 Giovanni Battista and Matteo co-foundedCeirano GB & C and started producing theWelleyes motor car in 1899. In July 1899 the plant and patents were sold toGiovanni Agnelli and produced as the first F.I.A.T.s - theFiat 4 HP. Giovanni Battista was employed by Fiat as the agent for Italy, but within a year he left to foundFratelli Ceirano & C. which in 1903 becameSocietà Torinese Automobili Rapid (S.T.A.R.) building cars badged as 'Rapid'. In 1904Matteo Ceirano left Ceirano GB & C to create his own brand -Itala. In 1906 Matteo left Itala to found S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) with chief designer, Alberto Ballacco. In 1906 Giovanni founded SCAT (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino) in Turin. In 1919 Giovanni and Giovanni "Ernesto" co-foundedCeirano Fabbrica Automobili (akaGiovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili) and in 1922 they took control of Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili (FATA).
The company was established in 1906 byMatteo Ceirano andMichele Ansaldi (founder ofAnsaldi automobiles) inTurin under the name of Società Piemontese Automobili. The chief designer was Alberto Ballacco.
In 1908, the company merged withFabbrica Ligure Automobili Genova (FLAG) and the new company became Società Ligure Piemontese Automobili. The headquarters was inGenoa while production continued in Turin.
During World War I the company produced aero engines such as the6A. Shortly afterwards, in 1916, both Ceirano and Ansaldi left.
In 1923 the company moved to Turin. Severe financial problems lead to a take-over by Fiat in 1925 and the discontinuation of car manufacture in favor of commercial and military vehicles.[2]
AfterWorld War II they resumed car production, but, in 1947, the company was fully absorbed into Fiat.
The first S.P.A.s designed by Alberto Ballacco and Ceirano were the28/40HP and60/70 HP which had four cylinder engines,side valves andlive rear axles. They were exhibited at theEsposizione di Torino.[2]
By 1907 they also produced two six-cylinder models, one of which had theflywheel mounted at the front of the crankshaft.[2]
By 1911 they had introducedL-headmonobloc engine designs,unitary gearboxes, andHigh tensionmagneto ignition systems.[2] The next year they sold 500 cars and introduced a new four cylinder 14/16 hp engine as the basis of their modern, compact car.[2]
By 1914 the range included twin, four and six cylinder cars - the biggest had an 11,536cc displacement.[citation needed]
AfterWorld War I production resumed with the pre-war models; the14/16 HP using a 2.700cc side-valve engine and the '25/30 HP using a 4,400cc six cylinder engine.[2]
In 1922 the highly sophisticated 30/40 Super Sports was launched, with a 4,400cc six cylinder engine, using twin overhead camshafts (dohc) operating four valves per cylinder. The aluminium alloy cylinders had steel liners and aluminium pistons, plus dual carburettors and dual-ignition. The car was also equipped with front-wheel brakes and a V-shaped radiator.[2] By the next year, the sporting range was marketed asTipo 23,Tipo 24 andTipo 25.
In 1908Ernesto Ceirano finished third in theTarga Florio driving a four-cylinder, 7,785cc, S.P.A. 28/40 HP.
In1909 an S.P.A. racer driven byFrancesco Ciuppa won theTarga Florio race. Completing a single lap of the 148kmGrande Circuit in 2 hours 43 minutes 19 seconds at an average speed of 54.67 km/h.[3][4]
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DuringWorld War I the company also producedaero engines. TheS.P.A. 6A was a water-cooledinline six-cylinder engine that produced 220 horsepower (164 kW).
The SPA 6A was used to power:
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