07.02.2004 CARROZZERIA CASTAGNA OFFER A CLOSER LOOK AT THEIR FERRARI BASED ROSSELLINI CONCEPT
Nine years ago Gioacchino Acampora revived the name of the famous Carrozzeria Castagna by presenting an unusual Alfa Romeo 75-based prototype in Geneva, the Vittorio', after purchasing the right to the historical name.
After a quiet period Acampora bounced back at last year's Geneva Motor Show with two concepts. Castagna re-worked the dashboard controls of the 1995 Auge concept, a four-seat custom body based around a Maserati 3200GT chassis. While the all new G.C. was a two-door, two-seater custom-body based an Alfa Romeo chassis with rear wheel drive.
During the show the coachbuilder offered a glimpse of their next project, the 'Rossellini'. This stylish Barchetta is dedicated to the great Italian director Roberto Rossellini, a real Ferrari enthusiast, who personally ordered a number of coachbuilt Ferraris. Most famous among them being the 375 Mille Miglia, often to be seen with Ingrid Bergmann at the wheel.
Now Castagna have allowed a closer look at the Rossellini. The photos reveal sweeping bodywork covering a sporting Ferrari chassis, a 6.0-litre V12 engined 550 Maranello raced during the year before last's year's GT Championship, which now puts out 720 CV. The flowing styling around a traditional front grille sweeps upwards, incorporating the headlamps, the full length swage continuing rearwards to take in the rear lights before blending into the exhaust tail pipes. Huge, deep bonnet and full side air scoops, along with an unusual cockpit cover, stamp Castagna's individual principles on the Rosellini, continuing a radical tradition first seen when the unusual 'Vittorio' concept signalled the return of the famous name.
With another of their
projects, the 'Miniwagon', a Mini that incorporates a new luxury interior
clothed with a 1970's style 'Countryman' wood trim, set to be revealed in
Geneva next month, Castagna have not yet announced if the Rossellini will also
make its long awaited debut at the Swiss show.
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