It looks sporty, it's red and trust me - it makes a lot of noise. But drive it and you'll never hear somebody scream 'It's a Zanussi!' because, to most, this is an unknown marque. Zanussi manufactured only a tiny number of cars: just seven, plus a few more based on customers' cars, mostly the Fiat 508 Balilla and the 1100. This car is a real oddity.
Fioravante Zanussi was born in 1894 at Pasiano di Pordenone, in northeast Italy, the eldest of nine children. He showed a keen in interest in all things mechanical from an early age - four of his brothers would end up working with cars, too. By the age of 16 he had a job with Anonima Aquila Italiana, a car and engine manufacturer in Turin. He soon moved to the bigger, better-established SCAT (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino), where he was assigned to the racing department.
It is important to remember that in the early 1900s the Ceirano brothers were the leading force behind the growing Italian motoring scene, and their contribution to the development of Italian cars of the period is immeasurable. SCATS won the Targa Florio in 1911, 1912 and 1914; before World War One, the racing driver Tazio Nuvolari was distributing their cars in the Veneto region. The talented and passionate young Zanussi was in exactly the right place to build his knowledge and experience.
In 1914 Zanussi was hired by FIAT (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) as an engine testing specialist, but then Italy entered the war and he was enlisted as a motorcycle courier. 'He was dreaming about aeroplanes, the new, growing force in the Army,' says Zanussi's son Ezio. As soon as he spotted an opportunity, he asked to be moved. His commanding officer did not want to lose his skills and refused to sign the necessary authorisation. So Fioravante was given a promotion but he refused it, even though he would be punished for this gesture. That's the sort of man he was.'
Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Octane.
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Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Octane.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Pro route to faster lap times
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro 4Matic+
The power to corrupt
2024 Aston Martin Vanquish
Hyperactivate!
1967 Austin-Cooper MkII 998 by Crafted Classics Tuning Glen Waddington
De Tomaso Racing Blue Blood
IF THE MARQUE De Tomaso is mainly familiar to you through cars such as the Mangusta, the Pantera, maybe the Longchamps and, if you're next-level classic car geek, racers such as the P70, then the sheer variety to be found in this mammoth tome is going to come as something of a shock. There are literally dozens profiled here, and one or two will probably be news to even the most seasoned enthusiast.
The best watch in the world
We've been here, but it bears repeating these gems will soon be cheaper than a 1st class stamp
A star is reborn
This recently revived coachbuilt beauty made the final four at the Pebble Beach concours in August
REINVENTING THE WHEEL
The gyroscopically stabilised Gyro-X blurred the line between reality and science fiction. Sam Glover takes the prototype for a spin
SAYONARA GT-R
After a remarkable 17-year career, the supercar-humbling Nissan GT-R bows out on a high
Shiro Nakamura
Nissan’s long-standing Chief Creative Officer became architect of the marque’s style-led revival… and is also known as ‘Mr GT-R’
LIGHT SPARKS
How does the electric Tesla Roadster compare today?
