Francis Lombardi

Francis Lombardi SaS was a Vercelli- based Italian automaker that primarily modified Fiat's high-volume vehicles. In addition to these special bodies, Lombardi also produced individual models with completely independent bodies. Lombardi produced more than 47,000 vehicles between 1947 and 1974.

Company history

The automotive company Francis Lombardi was founded in 1947 by Carlo Francesco "Francis" Lombardi (born January 21, 1897 in Genoa , † March 8, 1983 in Vercelli).

Lombardi was a fighter pilot during the First World War . In 1938 he founded the company Azionaria Vercellese Industrie Aeronautiche (AVIA) in the Piedmont town of Vercelli , which was involved in the design and construction of aircraft. Among other things, the AVIA L3, a small two-seat aircraft that was produced in small series and used for training purposes, among other things, was built there.

After the Second World War , Lombardi turned to the construction of automobile bodies. Initially, a few special bodies were created for large Fiat sedans; With these high-priced vehicles, however, Lombardi did not achieve any quantities in the immediate post-war period that could ensure the company's profitable operation. From 1949 Lombardi focused on modifications of smaller Fiat models.

In the 1960s, Lombardi produced up to 6,000 cars a year. At the beginning of the 1970s, however, Lombardi ran into economic difficulties. Sales of the models modified by Lombardi stalled; One reason for this was the expansion of Fiat's model range, which now covered more and more niches itself and thus limited the need for individual conversions. Lombardi ceased operations in December 1974.

Lombardi models

Conversions

An early conversion by Francis Lombardi: station wagon based on the Lancia Aprilia (1948)

Francis Lombardi 850 Lucciola (based on the Fiat 850)

In the 1950s and 1960s, Lombardi created numerous models based on the Topolino , Nuova 500 , 600 and 850 . Lombardi produced station wagons as well as pickups and convertibles for these vehicles . With them, the standard front end including the A-pillar was usually retained; the modifications were usually limited to the passenger cell and possibly also to the rear end.

The Lucciola series was one of Lombardi's most successful conversions . Various four-door versions of popular small Fiat cars were offered under this name. The first Lucciola was based on the Fiat 600. After the wheelbase was lengthened, rear doors that were attached to the C-pillar were added. With these suicide doors , Lombardi achieved the largest possible access opening while at the same time dispensing with the B-pillar. Similar conversions were made later on the basis of the Fiat 850, with Lombardi giving this model conventionally hinged rear doors, a separate roof end and a notchback with a long "trunk". Lombardi also designed a four-door version of the Fiat 127 in the early 1970s .

Another mainstay of the company was the manufacture of elongated representative limousines based on the Fiat 2100 or the Lancia Flavia . The vehicles were mostly designed as six- or seven-seater, some of them were given a folding top or glass roof in the passenger area.

Another successful conversion was a two-door variant of the Fiat 1300 (1962) known as Coupé Smart , which was later realized in series at Seat .

Own models

Lombardi Grand Prix (1968)

In addition to the conversions of Fiat and Lancia models, Lombardi has regularly presented vehicles since the 1960s that had a completely self-designed body.

They included the Lombardi Grand Prix , a two-seater sports car with a body designed by Giuseppe Rinaldi that used the technology of the Fiat 850. Special features of the car were its low nose and the adjustable slats on the bonnet of later models. The 150 km / h fast, mostly painted in striking colors, was sold from 1968 to 1972. The Grand Prix was available as a coupé and - from 1969 - as a Spyder with a roll bar. The Grand Prix was closely related to the Abarth Scorpione ; it was also offered in a slightly modified version by Otas .

Another of Lombardi's own designs was the FL1, a flat sports car based on the technology of the Lancia 2000 . The vehicle presented in 1972 was designed as a mid-engine sports car; In addition to the Lancia engine, a 3.0 liter six-cylinder Ford engine should also be available. Due to economic difficulties, series production of the FL1 did not take place. The FL1 was the last car that Lombardi introduced.

literature

• Halwart Schrader , Georg Amtmann: Italian sports cars . Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-613-01988-4 .

Web links

Commons : Francis Lombardi vehicles  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Private website about Francis Lombardi
• Company history with numerous images of Lombardi models on the website www.autopuzzles.com (accessed on February 18, 2012)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Images of several Lombardi representative limousines on the website www.zuckerfabrik24.de (accessed on February 18, 2012).
2. ↑ Image of a Lombardi FL1 on the website www.wheelsofitaly.com ( Memento of the original from February 6, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (accessed on February 18, 2012).