User:Historicautopro/sandbox/1954 FIAT Patriarca 1100 Sport

This one-off race car based on FIAT 1100 chassis, constructed in 1951 by Rodolfo Patriarca for Mario Ricci for a domestic race use, the aluminium bodywork designed by Pinin Farina. One day, while it was being driven out of the garage for a test run, the block off plate that was lying down on the ground cut one of its tires which was then mistakenly replaced by an 8-ply tire, a type of tire suitable for vans and trucks but too rigid for a racing car. In a turn taken at high velocity the car bumped against a large tree and that seemed to be the end of its racing days. Yet, in 1954 it was brought back to Italy to be entrusted to Morelli brothers, well-known car mechanics of Ferrara, who repaired the little car splendidly and placed a new 1.1-liter Fiat motor. After that the car was registered for the first time, and with its new engine it took part in many car races: Coppa d'Oro on the Dolomites, Stella Alpina, Giro di Sicilia, Palermo-Monte Pellegrino, Coppa Toscana to mention a few. In 1958 the car was upgraded again in order to compete in formula Junior single-car races, as there were few cars back in 1959, and indeed it took part in some circuit races. Over the last few years, the car raced in many classic events & city circuit races, such as Gran Premio of Bari, Gran Premio of Arezzo, Circuito delle Caldaie of Ascoli-Piceno, Targa Presider later Circuito Di Avezzano etc.

In the world of motor racing, the name of Patriarca of Rome remains one of the cornerstones of the recent history. Rodolfo and his sons Bruno and Franco, with their achievements and development, are an important element of Italian motorsport. Patriarca was an Italian racing car manufacturer who has been resident in Rome and later in Nemi. The family produced after the Second World War, some racing cars for smaller motorsport classes that were used exclusively in Italy. The company was founded in 1933 by Rodolfo Patriarca. It had its headquarters in the center of Rome and was in the early years one of a pure repair shop for cars. Rodolfo Patriarca noticed early the interest of its primarily urban clientele uprated automobiles. Therefore he offered soon to engine operations and took on request further intervention in the cars of customers, such as weight reduction. Customers of Patriarca was very famous as well-known racers; among them were Piero Taruffi, Luigi Musso, Salvatore Casella and later Maria Teresa de Filippis.

In 1948 Patriarca designed and built several racing cars, which were used by various drivers and produced in small numbers. The last vehicle was in 1974. After that Patriarca initially focused on the preparation of racing cars of Formula Ford & Ford Super. One of the most prepared of Patriarca in this frame vehicles was used in the late 1970s with some success by Enzo Coloni, the founder of the eponymous Umbrian racing team and Formula 1 teams. The company Patriarca now lives in Teramo and focuses again mainly with the repair of automobiles.