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The History of ASA
A small, high-efficiency car created by Bizzarini and as far as the ohc 1032cc four cylinder engine was concerned, by Enzo Ferrari.
It was built in a small factory at Milan, owned by the De Nora Electrochemical Group. A racing version of the 1000 GT Coup? had l092cc and 95 bhp, later even 105 bhp. Only a few ASA cars were made, but they gained successes in Italian sporting events. A few larger four- and six-cylinder cars, mainly prototypes were also individually built to order. All had glass-fibre bodywork.
The Turin Motorshow of 1961 saw the unveiling of a prototype car (labelled simply 'Mille') on the Bertone stand, designed by Giugiaro (working for Bertone) with the blessing of Enzo Ferrari (both the engine and chassis were designed at Maranello). Despite attracting positive comments, Ferrari made it known that they would not be producing it, and so on April 1962 was born ASA or Autocostruzione Societa per Azione (in Milano) to produce it. With financial backing by the Oronzo de Nora petroleum company the car entered volume production in 1964, built at the rate of around one per week. Unfortunately a lack of success meant that after only a few years production stopped and ASA disappeared.
