ASA 1000 GT

Production period:	1962 to 1967
Class :	sports car
Body versions :	Coupe , convertible
Engines:	Gasoline: 1.0 liter (66.9-71.3 kW SAE)
Length:	3880 mm
Width:	1550 mm
Height:	1200 mm
Wheelbase :	2200 mm
Curb weight :	720-830 kg

The ASA 1000 GT is a sports car of the former car company Autocostruzione SpA, short ASA. It was introduced in 1962 and built from 1964 until the closure of the company in 1967.

History 

In December of 1959, Ferrari presented the project 854 at a press conference. Under this name, Ferrari wanted to bring a small sports coupe with a four-cylinder engine and a displacement of 850 cc on the market. (Hence the designation 854 - 85 0 cm³ and 4 Cylinder) The production was planned from 3000 to 5000 units per year at an ex-factory price of 1,600,000 lire apiece. For this purpose, Ferrari had already developed a four-cylinder four-stroke inline engine with a bore of 65 mm and a stroke of 64 mm (equivalent to a displacement of 849 cc). He had an overhead camshaft and made, with a Solex carburetor and a compression ratio of 9: 1, 75 hp at 6800 / min. A motor sports journalist pointed in 1960 to the potential of the engine when it would be manufactured in different carburetors and higher compression and then even a slight body came with a corresponding chassis to use.

Shortly after the introduction of the Ferrari 854 Ferrari decided not to produce the car in his company and to give the concept to an outside company. To better present the idea and its potential, he had the engine installed in a suitably modified Fiat 1200 chassis. The wheelbase was 2210 mm and the track 1283 mm. For the designed Pininfarina a two-seat notchback coupe. Further features were 13-inch wheels and a four-speed gearbox with overdrive from the company Laycock-de Normanville for the gears three and four. The empty weight was just over 700 kg. Interesting were the attached trademarks. On the grille was a symbol of a machine gun and on the hood.

Mid-1960, the project was expanded. The vehicle should now gets a motor with three power levels. The resulting model range should include a touring version with 64 hp, a GT version with 72 hp and a sports version with 84 hp. Corresponding engine tests also started at this time. 

In 1960 and 1961 Enzo Ferrari used the Pininfarina Coupé again and again as a personal means of transport. So he drove the car often to sporting events and presented it to interested parties. During this time, there have been repeated reports in the press about negotiations with potential companies concerning the construction of the small sports car, but there was never any agreement.

In 1961, Ferrari made another attempt to represent the attractiveness of the project. For this purpose he had a chassis developed by Giotto Bizzarrini . Bizzarrini incorporated his experience in the construction of the Ferrari 250 GTO . He designed a tubular frame with two oval side rails. The front suspensions had tubular double wishbones, coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers and the rear suspension consisted of a rigid axle with Halbelliptikfedern and telescopic shock absorbers. In addition, Dunlop disc brakes were mounted on all wheels. The company Bertone was commissioned to build the bodywork . The then still working for Bertone Giorgio Giugiarodesigned a hatchback coupe with aerodynamically-disguised headlamps. In his design, he deliberately used stylistic elements of Ferrari, so that Ferrari's participation in the sports car was clearly visible, even if he did not wear the Ferrari emblem. The four-cylinder ohc engine had a displacement of 1000 cc. Since the bonnet was not opened during the exhibition and no official statements about the dimensions of the new engine were announced, the auto press speculated that it was one-third of a Ferrari 250 V12 engine , resulting in 73 mm bore and 58 , 8 mm stroke would result in a displacement of 984 cc. Equipped with two Weber 38 DCO type carburettors and a 9: 1 compression ratio, the engine produced 98 hp at 6800 rpm. The exhaust system came fromAbarth and the Sunbeam four-speed gearbox with Laycock-de Normanville overdrive for gears three and four. 

Bertone exhibited this sports car as Bertone Mille (Bertone Thousand) at the Salone dell'automobile di Torino in October 1961. At the time was decided who the car is built, but not yet by which name.

With the founding of the company Autocostruzione SpA, short ASA, on 5 April 1962 in Milan, it became known who will be the manufacturer of the "Ferrarina". The company was managed by Oronzio de Nora and his son Niccolò. Both also conducted the Milanese Electrochemistry Group de Nora, in which production should take place of the car. To the involved himself still different racers and Giotto Bizzarrini, who had left 1961 Ferrari, at the enterprise. A major influence on the meeting of Ferrari and de Nora Luigi Chinetti (senior) to have exercised, which was well known with both. 

The first appearance of the ASA 1000 GT at the Turin Motor Show in the fall of 1962. On their stand presented Autocostruzione a coupe and a Spider. The coupé body was a slightly different version of the Bertone Mille. So z. B. the headlights moved forward and no longer aerodynamically disguised. This body made of sheet steel was manufactured by the company Carrozzeria Touring . The Spider had the same lines as the Coupe Touring and was obtained from Carrozzeria Corbetta  . For an extra charge could be ordered for him a light metal hardtop. 

1963, 1964

This year it was quiet about the small sports car. Only Giotto Bizzarrini and Piero Drogo surprised the motorsport world with the first ASA 1000 GT derived race car, the ASA GTC. GT stands for Gran Turismoand C for Competizione. Bizzarrini, who carried out the technical development of the GTC, essentially took over the chassis of the 1000 GT. Reduced the displacement of the four-cylinder SOHC engine to 998 cc and built a five-speed gearbox. As power 92 hp were specified. The wheels were equipped with Amadori disc brakes. Drogo developed a coupe body with front engine and hatchback which had a height of about 1090 mm. The complete race car weighed about 600 kg. To use the GTC should come in Sebring and Le Mans , but this did not happen.

After 1963 there was no sign of mass production was the Autopress suspected that ASA slowly withdrew from the market in view of the competition of Alfa-Romeo and Abarth . But at the beginning of 1964, the first vehicles were delivered. It turned out that the car was considerably more expensive than originally estimated. 

1965, 1966

This year, ASA also began to do motorsport operations. For this purpose, two ASA 1000 GT were rebuilt for racing in 1965 for the Targa Florio .the two vehicles were very successful. They took the places five and six in the prototype class up to 1600 cc. In the fall of the same year, ASA introduced the 411. The ASA 411 was another race car derivative of the 1000 GT. The body had the same design as the Coupe of Touring, but was manufactured by the Carrozzeria Marazzi . External differences were especially inclined to the rear diffusers of the headlights , the fuel tank filler neck with quick release, an air scoop on the hood and no air vents in the fenders. To save weight, the body was made of light metal and had plastic side windows and rear window.

Despite looming financial difficulties at ASA, ASA introduced the ASA Roll-Bar to the Geneva Motor Show in the spring of 1966 . He was again a race car derived from the 1000 GT this time for the choice between a six-cylinder 1.3-liter engine and a four-cylinder 1.8-liter engine. The design of the coupe with notchback came from Luigi Chinetti Junior and was made by the Carrozzeria Corbetta made of plastic. Two roll-bar with 1.3-liter engine were used for the first time in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Both vehicles are out during the race. Also in 1966, ASA presented the 1000 GT plastic coupe. The lines were now similar to the ASA 411 with its rear-facing lenses of the headlights. However, in contrast to the 411, the 1000 GT Coupé had no plastic discs and no quick-action cap. The side windows could be sunk, the hood had no air scoop and the engine compartment has side air outlets in the fenders. The press also called this vehicle Series 2. How many of these coupes were built with plastic body, is not known. 

In the first half of 1967 production ceased.

Engine 

The engine is a four-cylinder four-stroke gasoline engine. The cylinders are arranged in series and the pistons run in wet cylinder liners . Cylinder head and block are made of light metal. The camshaft driven by a chain lies in the cylinder head and controls the valves via rocker arms. Each cylinder has two valves suspended at a V angle of 60 °. The mixture preparation is produced by two Weber 40 DCOE9 double carburetors . The radiator is located in front of the engine and holds 5 liters of liquid. After SAE the engine reached 1962 approximately 94 HP per one liter displacement. transmission 

The clutch is a single disc dry clutch. The subsequent transmission has four forward gears and one reverse gear, an overdrive for gears three and four and is fully synchronized. The fourth gear is translated directly if the overdrive is not turned on. In 1962, the gearbox was supplied by Sunbeam with an overdrive from Laycock-de Normanville . From 1964, the ASA 1000 GT got the transmission from Humber with an overdrive of auto transmissions . From the transmission, the force was directed by means of a cardan shaft on the hypoid drive rear axle . 

PERFORMANCE:
ENGINE CAPACITY: 63.12 cu in, 1032 cu cm
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 25.7 m imp gal, 21.4 m, US gal, 11 Ix 100 km
MAX SPEED: 118.0 mph, 190 km, h
max power (DIN): 97 hp at 7000 rpm
max torque: 75 1b ft, 10.3 kgm at 6000 rpm
max number of engine rpm: 7000
specific power: 94 hp/l
max speed in 1st gear: 34.2 mph, 55 km/h
max speed in 2nd gear: 53.4 mph, 86 km/h
max speed in 3rd gear: 83.2 mph, 134 km/h
max speed in 4th gear: 114.9 mph,185 km/h
max speed in overdrive: 118.0 mph 190 km/h
power-weight ratio: 17.6 lb/hp, 8.0 kg/hp
useful load: 353 1b, 160 kg; acceleration: 0—50 mph 80 km/h) 10.4 sec

Chassis and chassis 

The chassis is a tubular frame with two oval side rails. The front wheels are hung individually. The suspension consists of trapezoidal wishbones , coil springs and Telescopstoßdämpfern and are connected together via a cam stabilizer. The rear suspension consists of a rigid axle with coil springs, trailing arms, Watt linkage and Telescop shock absorbers. The brake system is a hydraulic dual-circuit brake. Each wheel has a disc brake from Dunlop. The handbrake acts on the rear wheels. The steering is designed as a rack and pinion steering .

Bodywork 

The first design was the 1961 designed by Giorgio Giugiaro and introduced by Bertone Coupe Mille. On the basis of this prototype, a standard body was designed that was visually substantially the same. The company Carrozzeria Touring was commissioned to mass-produce the two-seat coupé made of sheet steel. Another derivative of the Giugiaro design was the Spider. In its design, essentially the line of the coupe was retained. Since the coupe had a hatchback, the rear had to be redesigned at the Spider. The body was made of plastic. In addition, a hardtop made of light metal could be ordered. Manufacturer of the Spider body was the company Carrozzeria Corbetta. 

In 1966, an unknown number of coupés with plastic body were built at the company Carrozzeria Corbetta. In principle, the design of the coupe of the company Carrozzeria Touring was adopted. It was supplemented with stylistic elements of the race car ASA 411. In the press, the car was also referred to as ASA 1000 GT Series 2.