Embo S.p.A.

Embo SpA in Caramagna Piemonte is a supplier to the European automotive industry and previously manufactured vehicles under its own brand name.

History
The company was founded in 1970 as a bodywork factory. Until the 1980s, it produced bodies for small European car manufacturers. In some cases, these were just body shells, and in other cases, the vehicles were (almost) completely assembled.

Embo worked for De Tomaso and Maserati for a long time, including on the De Tomaso Pantera. Between 1979 and 1990, a total of 463 Panteras of the first series were built, and from 1990 to 1993 another 41 examples of the second series were produced, as well as the De Tomaso Longchamp and the largely identical Maserati Kyalami. They also worked on the De Tomaso Deauville, including an estate version called Giardinetta, which was built as a one-off for Elisabeth Heskell, the wife of Alejandro de Tomaso, in 1985 from some of the last Deauville parts.

In 1982, Embo launched a convertible version of the Maserati Biturbo, which had been launched shortly before. The convertible was based on the uncut Biturbo chassis and had a comparatively massive top. This version was not mass-produced. Instead, Maserati owner Alejandro de Tomaso opted for a Spyder version from the Zagato workshops in Milan, which was based on a shortened chassis. Zagato was to produce all of the Biturbo Spyders until 1996.

In addition, Embo produced a number of other cars, such as a convertible version of the Innocenti Mini and a revised Renault 5.

Embo also collaborated with the Swiss car manufacturer Monteverdi. In the 1970s, Monteverdi had the vast majority of its sports car bodies built at Carrozzeria Fissore in Savigliano near Milan; however, individual bodies were also manufactured in other workshops - possibly for capacity reasons. Embo manufactured at least four 375/L coupes and two 375/4 sedans (in 2007, unofficial production statistics from Monteverdi were circulating on an internet site, in which the manufacturer was incorrectly referred to as BOEM).

After the market for small series vehicles became increasingly poor in the 1980s, Embo switched its activities to supplying sheet metal parts for various automobiles. Today, Embo produces body parts in large quantities for a number of European manufacturers - particularly for the spare parts sector.

Automobiles with the brand name Embo
Starting in 1978, Embo produced an all-wheel drive off-road vehicle with a short wheelbase based on the Fiat Campagnola. The vehicle length was 3100 mm. Three different Fiat engines were available. These were petrol engines with a displacement of 2000 cm3 and either 80 hp or 110 hp, and a diesel engine with a displacement of 2500 cm3 and 72 hp. In 1980, a visual revision took place. The model was now given the name Mega. Production ended in 1982.

Literature

 * Georg Amtmann, Halwart Schrader: Italienische Sportwagen, 1. Auflage Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-613-01988-4.
 * George Nick Georgano: The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile, Volume 1 A–F. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, ISBN 1-57958-293-1 (englisch)