Are there any Formula Junior obscurists out there who have chassis number details of Volpini cars? I am particularly interested in chassis number 11, which I guess was built in 1957 or 1958. The reason for my interest is that I will probably be helping to run it next season. Although it has all the correct FIA paperwork, there are apparently few details available of it's early career.
Any information gratefully received.
Attention Volpinisti!
Started by
Cirrus
, Jan 01 2004 18:01
13 replies to this topic
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#2
David McKinney
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Posted 01 January 2004 - 18:28
Presumably you have contacted Hans-Jürgen Boeling, who apparently owned the car for about 20 years before 1997?
When it was offered at auction it was described as being a 1959 car
When it was offered at auction it was described as being a 1959 car
#3
dretceterini
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Posted 01 January 2004 - 18:45
There is very little known about Volpini and the number of cars built.
There is a connection between Volpini, Tinarelli, Colombo (Gilco), Ermini and Roselli, who was an Alfa engineer, and the person behind the creation of the Alfa Bimotore GP car.
Cars exist under all of these marque names, but I don't think anyone can really say which should properly be called which!
Based on some research I have done, it is also possible that Roselli was the person behind the design of the hemi cylinder head.
Powerplants used in these cars ranged from Fiat Topolino to BMW 328.
The person that might have beeen (at least to some degree) behind the connection of all these people might have been Lurani. The Nibbio II 350cc record car was a colaboration between Lurani, Volpini, Arzani and Moto Guzzi.
Many of the cars built by this consortium of figures was bodied by Colli. Drivers of these cars included Bracco, Bonetto, and Bandini.
The best information on Volpini can be found in the book "La Sport E I Suoi Artigiani 1937-1965"; but it gives no indication of how many juniors were built, nor the history of any particular FJ.
A Volpini did appear in the first FJ race ever, at Monza on 4/25/58.
There is a connection between Volpini, Tinarelli, Colombo (Gilco), Ermini and Roselli, who was an Alfa engineer, and the person behind the creation of the Alfa Bimotore GP car.
Cars exist under all of these marque names, but I don't think anyone can really say which should properly be called which!
Based on some research I have done, it is also possible that Roselli was the person behind the design of the hemi cylinder head.
Powerplants used in these cars ranged from Fiat Topolino to BMW 328.
The person that might have beeen (at least to some degree) behind the connection of all these people might have been Lurani. The Nibbio II 350cc record car was a colaboration between Lurani, Volpini, Arzani and Moto Guzzi.
Many of the cars built by this consortium of figures was bodied by Colli. Drivers of these cars included Bracco, Bonetto, and Bandini.
The best information on Volpini can be found in the book "La Sport E I Suoi Artigiani 1937-1965"; but it gives no indication of how many juniors were built, nor the history of any particular FJ.
A Volpini did appear in the first FJ race ever, at Monza on 4/25/58.
#4
vintageautomobilia
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Posted 18 December 2006 - 23:42
Does anyone have information regarding the "first" car labeled as a "Volpini"? What date and powered by what? Two-seater or single seater?
Did Volpini make any front engined specials in the late 1940's and/or early 1950's using the Fiat 1100 (508c, 1100b, and/or 1100/103) with the Fiat 1100 gearbox. Any photos out there?
Did Volpini make any front engined specials in the late 1940's and/or early 1950's using the Fiat 1100 (508c, 1100b, and/or 1100/103) with the Fiat 1100 gearbox. Any photos out there?
#5
dretceterini
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Posted 19 December 2006 - 01:52
In the book "La Sport" it lists cars as Volpinis that to me are generally known as Rosellis. (Roselli and Tinarelli are not listed at all)
As mentioned earlier in the thread, there is a direct connection between Volpini, Roselli and Tinarelli. The earliest car from all these makers (a car which I call a Roselli/Colli 1100 was made in 1939. This car ran in the 1940 MM, #39.
Here is a link to a photo of the 1939 car.
http://new.photos.ya...8803212827947/8
As mentioned earlier in the thread, there is a direct connection between Volpini, Roselli and Tinarelli. The earliest car from all these makers (a car which I call a Roselli/Colli 1100 was made in 1939. This car ran in the 1940 MM, #39.
Here is a link to a photo of the 1939 car.
http://new.photos.ya...8803212827947/8
#6
vintageautomobilia
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Posted 19 December 2006 - 19:06
Did Volpini ever make and market accessory "speed equipment" for various Italian cars, as did Abarth, Nardi, Siata, & etc.?
#7
dretceterini
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Posted 19 December 2006 - 19:15
Not as far as I am aware, but Roselli did. The Alfa Tipo 412 sports that was rebodied by Vignale and ran in the 1951 MM was actually modified by Tinarelli, but in the late 50s there was a article in Road and Track about the car being found in Volpini's shop in Milan circa 1954, and being driven through the streets.
#8
alessandro silva
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Posted 19 December 2006 - 19:58
Originally posted by Cirrus
I am particularly interested in chassis number 11, which I guess was built in 1957 or 1958. The reason for my interest is that I will probably be helping to run it next season. Although it has all the correct FIA paperwork, there are apparently few details available of it's early career.
Any information gratefully received.
I do not think that a Volpini Fj was built in 1957. Below you'll find some detail of the 1958 car. If it does not fit with yours, I'll look for information about the 1959 model.
#9
Cirrus
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Posted 19 December 2006 - 20:48
Thankyou for the pictures, Alessandro.
The car I help out with is very different to the one in the cutaway you posted. It has a live (FIAT) rear axle with coilsprings. This has been modified to allow an offset propshaft (the car in the picture appears to have the propshaft running under the seat. The main chassis tubes are also much straighter.
The front suspension does appear to be quite similar, based on FIAT components, although the trackrods are ahead of, rather then behind, the front wheels. At Monaco in 2004, there were three Volpinis in our pit garage (with consecutive chassis numbers!), and they were all quite similar in design.
I made my original post before we had actually collected the car and studied the FIA papers. I just help to run the car at races, so don't have access to the papers, but I thought it was a '58 car, and that's how the owner, Michael Ashley-Brown describes it in Gary C's "Yesterdays Racers 2".
Interesting.....
The car I help out with is very different to the one in the cutaway you posted. It has a live (FIAT) rear axle with coilsprings. This has been modified to allow an offset propshaft (the car in the picture appears to have the propshaft running under the seat. The main chassis tubes are also much straighter.
The front suspension does appear to be quite similar, based on FIAT components, although the trackrods are ahead of, rather then behind, the front wheels. At Monaco in 2004, there were three Volpinis in our pit garage (with consecutive chassis numbers!), and they were all quite similar in design.
I made my original post before we had actually collected the car and studied the FIA papers. I just help to run the car at races, so don't have access to the papers, but I thought it was a '58 car, and that's how the owner, Michael Ashley-Brown describes it in Gary C's "Yesterdays Racers 2".
Interesting.....
#10
vintageautomobilia
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Posted 19 December 2006 - 21:21
Alessandro and Alan,
Do you have any other photos or drawings of any Fiat 1100 based Volpini motor and gearbox?
Alan, on the car you are familiar with, is the gearbox and shift mechanism similar to the one in Alessandro's cut-away? If it is different, how so? Do you have any photos?
Do you have any other photos or drawings of any Fiat 1100 based Volpini motor and gearbox?
Alan, on the car you are familiar with, is the gearbox and shift mechanism similar to the one in Alessandro's cut-away? If it is different, how so? Do you have any photos?
#11
alessandro silva
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Posted 19 December 2006 - 22:00
Alan,
the photo is of the car raced at the first FJ meeting, 25/04/1958 at Monza. The drawings should concern the same car. The indep. rear suspension design (the project of the car was due to Arzani) was completely unusual with respect to the principles of the time in Italy. Maybe it did not work properly and they reverted to the live axle.
As for the front suspension, the first (national) FJ regulations demanded that it came from the same model as the engine, so a Fiat 1100 103 in this case. I imagine that the international regulations, beginning 1959, relaxed this requirement.
I have no idea how many cars Volpini built in 1958/59. I'll try to find something which could be of interest to you.
the photo is of the car raced at the first FJ meeting, 25/04/1958 at Monza. The drawings should concern the same car. The indep. rear suspension design (the project of the car was due to Arzani) was completely unusual with respect to the principles of the time in Italy. Maybe it did not work properly and they reverted to the live axle.
As for the front suspension, the first (national) FJ regulations demanded that it came from the same model as the engine, so a Fiat 1100 103 in this case. I imagine that the international regulations, beginning 1959, relaxed this requirement.
I have no idea how many cars Volpini built in 1958/59. I'll try to find something which could be of interest to you.
#12
Gary C
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Posted 19 December 2006 - 22:08
and of course, a Volpini FJ is featured in volume 2 of 'Yesterday's Racers' !! (www.yesterdaysracers.com)
#13
alessandro silva
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Posted 20 December 2006 - 14:18
Alan, please watch your mail.
#14
vintageautomobilia
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Posted 04 January 2007 - 21:51
Who can tell me anything about "Votorini", especially anything having to do with Volpini?
