Giovanni Battista Ceirano (1 October 1860 – 1912) was an Italian entrepreneur and car pioneer. The first motorcar he designed and built was the Well-Eyes, but he sold the rights to Giovanni Agnelli of F.I.A.T. who manufactured it in volume as their first motorcar.
20-496: The Ceirano brothers, Giovanni Battista, Giovanni , Ernesto and Matteo , were influential in the founding of the Italian auto industry, being variously responsible for : Ceirano ; Welleyes (the technical basis of F.I.A.T.) ; Fratelli Ceirano ; S.T.A.R. / Rapid ( Società Torinese Automobili Rapid ); SCAT (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino); Itala and S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) . Giovanni's son Giovanni "Ernesto"
40-638: A controlling interest. In 1931 he left SCAT-Ceirano. In 1934 he acquired the car company Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili (FATA) again with his son Giovanni "Ernesto". Fiat had imposed legal restrictions on the sale of SCAT-Ceirano preventing him from being an automotive manufacturer, so the FATA business was reoriented to make auto parts in 1945. Giovanni Ceirano died in La Cassa on March 30, 1948. Societ%C3%A0 Torinese Automobili Rapid Società Torinese Automobili Rapid , also known as S.T.A.R. and Rapid ,
60-565: The Fabbrica Automobili Ceirano with his son Giovanni "Ernesto". Giovanni while Fabbrica Automobili managed the Ceirano gets the shares of the SCAT, getting a majority stake. On 25 August 1923 he increased the capital of SCAT by 700,000 liras by amalgamating Fabbrica Automobili Ceirano with 'SCAT' to form SCAT-Ceirano . In 1929 SCAT-Ceirano suffers economic difficulties and FIAT acquired
80-1102: The Welleyes motor car in 1899. In July 1899 the plant and patents were sold to Giovanni Agnelli and produced as the first F.I.A.T.s - the Fiat 4 HP . Giovanni Battista was employed by Fiat as the agent for Italy, but within a year he left to found Fratelli Ceirano & C. which in 1903 became Società Torinese Automobili Rapid (S.T.A.R.) building cars badged as 'Rapid'. In 1904 Matteo Ceirano left Ceirano GB & C to create his own brand - Itala . In 1906 Matteo left Itala to found S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) with chief designer, Alberto Ballacco. In 1906 Giovanni founded SCAT (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino) in Turin. In 1919 Giovanni and Giovanni "Ernesto" co-founded Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili (aka Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili ) and in 1922 they took control of Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili (FATA) . Born in Cuneo in 1860, Giovanni Battista
100-877: The Welleyes motor car in 1899. In July 1899 the plant and patents were sold to Giovanni Agnelli and produced as the first F.I.A.T.s - the Fiat 4 HP . Giovanni Battista was employed by Fiat as the agent for Italy, but within a year he left to found Fratelli Ceirano & C. which in 1903 became Società Torinese Automobili Rapid (S.T.A.R.) building cars badged as 'Rapid'. In 1904 Matteo Ceirano left Ceirano GB & C to create his own brand - Itala . In 1906 Matteo left Itala to found S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) with chief designer, Alberto Ballacco. In 1906 Giovanni founded SCAT (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino) in Turin. In 1919 Giovanni and Giovanni "Ernesto" co-founded Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili (aka Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili ) and in 1922 they took control of Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili (FATA) . Giovanni
120-1118: The Welleyes motor car in 1899. In July 1899 the plant and patents were sold to Giovanni Agnelli and produced as the first F.I.A.T.s - the Fiat 4 HP . Giovanni Battista was employed by Fiat as the agent for Italy, but within a year he left to found Fratelli Ceirano & C. which in 1903 became Società Torinese Automobili Rapid (S.T.A.R.) building cars badged as 'Rapid'. In 1904 Matteo Ceirano left Ceirano GB & C to create his own brand - Itala . In 1906 Matteo left Itala to found S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) with chief designer, Alberto Ballacco. In 1906 Giovanni founded SCAT (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino) in Turin. In 1919 Giovanni and Giovanni "Ernesto" co-founded Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili (aka Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili ) and in 1922 they took control of Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili (FATA) . Giovanni Bastista and Matteo Ceirano left F.I.A.T. in 1901 to found Fratelli Ceirano & C. In 1903, Matteo left to found ITALA. In 1904 Giovanni Batista Ceirano transformed Fratelli Ceirano & C. into Società Torinese Automobili Rapid , using
140-580: The Rapid factory at Barriera di Nizza, Turin, into 'Officine Meccaniche Villar Perosa S.p.A.' (RIV) to manufacture ball bearings. In 1926 FIAT, headed by Agnelli, absorbed S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili). The first model was designed in 1904 by Giovanni Battista Ceirano, but later Rodolfo Chio Maggi was appointed chief designer. Between 1905 and 1907 there was a two-cylinder model and the two four-cylinder models 16/24 HP with 4562 cc engine capacity and 24/40 HP with 7432 cc capacity. A common feature of both models
160-506: The cars badged as 'Rapid'. In 1905 he retired to Bordighera where he died in 1912. Giovanni Ceirano Giovanni Ceirano ( Cuneo , 1865 - Turin, March 30, 1948) was an Italian industrialist and automotive pioneer. He cofounded ' Junior Fabbrica Automobili Torinese ' in 1905, 'Società Ceirano Automobili Torino' in 1906, 'Fabbrica Automobili Ceirano' in 1917 and 'SCAT- Ceirano' in 1923. The Ceirano brothers, Giovanni Battista , Giovanni, Ernesto and Matteo , were influential in
180-802: The founding of the Italian auto industry, being variously responsible for : Ceirano ; Welleyes (the technical basis of F.I.A.T.) ; Fratelli Ceirano ; S.T.A.R. / Rapid ( Società Torinese Automobili Rapid ); SCAT (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino); Itala and S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) . Giovanni's son Giovanni "Ernesto" was also influential, co-founding Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili (aka Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili ) and Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili (FATA) . In 1888, after eight years apprenticeship at his father's watch-making business, Giovanni Battista started building Welleyes bicycles, so named because English names had more sales appeal. In October 1898 Giovanni Battista and Matteo co-founded Ceirano GB & C and started producing
200-798: The founding of the Italian auto industry, being variously responsible for : Ceirano ; Welleyes (the technical basis of F.I.A.T.) ; Fratelli Ceirano ; S.T.A.R. / Rapid (Società Torinese Automobili Rapid); SCAT (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino); Itala and S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) . Giovanni's son Giovanni "Ernesto" was also influential, co-founding Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili (aka Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili ) and Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili (FATA) . In 1888, after eight years apprenticeship at his father's watch-making business, Giovanni Battista started building Welleyes bicycles, so named because English names had more sales appeal. In October 1898 Giovanni Battista and Matteo co-founded Ceirano GB & C and started producing
220-445: The management. During World War I the factory produced both trucks and armaments, up to 4,000 artillery shells per day. After World War I , Rapid opened a repair-shop for all brands, but the aftermath of the war meant that in 1921 the company was liquidated and absorbed by S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) , a company founded by Matteo Ceirano, and Cyclecar Italiana Petromilli (C.I.P.). In 1925 Giovanni Agnelli converted
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#1732884892871240-527: The name Rapid as a trademark. Production moved to a 50,000 square meters plant in Barriera di Nizza , Turin, where 500 people worked. The initial share capital was 2,000,000 lire, which in 1905 amounted to 5,000,000. Annual production was 600 units per year. Around 1905 Giovanni Battista suffered poor health and retired to Bordighera on the coast of Liguria , so Rodolfo Chio Maggi was appointed chief designer while Giovani Battista Maggi and Alfonso Scott took over
260-434: The name of Welleyes , because at the time English names had more clout with the public. At the end of 1898, the company Ceirano GB & C was founded with the intention of building cars. Among the workers was Vincenzo Lancia , who founded Lancia . The first car was designed by Aristide Faccioli . It was equipped with a small twin engine (663 cc) and a two-speed gearbox. This car was also named Welleyes and presented to
280-470: The public in mid-1899. Due to the success of this car, a small-series production was planned. This was impossible to implement in the cramped spaces of Ceirano GB & C. . For this reason, Ceirano contacted members of the aristocracy and finance in Turin in order to form a company that could build a factory. The preliminary agreement was reached on 1 July 1899, signed by a group of aristocrats. On 11 July 1899, Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino - F.I.A.T.
300-453: Was also influential, co-founding Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili (aka Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili ) and Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili (FATA) . In 1888, after eight years of apprenticeship at his father's watch-making business, Giovanni Battista started building Welleyes bicycles, so named because English names had more sales appeal. In October 1898 Giovanni Battista and Matteo co-founded Ceirano GB & C and started producing
320-510: Was an Italian car manufacturer founded by Giovanni Battista Ceirano in Turin in July 1904. Rapid was its trademark . In 1921 it was acquired by the S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) company that had been founded by Giovanni Battista's brother Matteo Ceirano, and which, in 1925, was taken over by Fiat . The Ceirano brothers, Giovanni Battista , Giovanni , Ernesto and Matteo , were influential in
340-569: Was born in Cuneo in 1865, the second of four brothers born to Giovanni Ceirano, a watchmaker, and Teresa Corino. In 1904 Giovanni founded the car manufacturer Ceirano Junior & C. , which in 1905 changed its name to Junior Fabbrica Automobili Torinese . In 1906 he left Junior to co-founder and become managing director of the Società Ceirano Automobili Torino (SCAT) He remained as Managing Director until 1918. In 1919 he founded
360-450: Was officially founded and the 'Welleyes' was launched as the F.I.A.T. 4hp . When F.I.A.T. acquired "Ceirano GB & C." Giovanni Battista was paid for his shares and employed as a sales agent for Italy, but being an employee and representative was not in his nature so he left Fiat after only one year to found "Fratelli Ceirano" with his brother Matteo. In July 1903 'Fratelli Ceirano' became Società Torinese Automobili Rapid (S.T.A.R.) with
380-450: Was the eldest of four brothers born to Giovanni Ceirano, a watchmaker, and Teresa Corino. Aged twenty, devoured by the "sacred fire of mechanics", he left Cuneo for Turin to broaden his technical horizon, which was too limited at his father's small watchmaker workshop. In 1888, after eight years of "apprenticeship", he rented a storage space and started to build bicycles with his brothers Ernesto and Matteo . The bicycles were sold under
400-414: Was the shaft transmission and the radiator front section with a flat oval profile. In 1907 they introduced a range of 4-cylinder models with engines ranging from 1750 to 10560 cc, including the 50/70 HP. In approximately 1913 they introduced three four-cylinder models with 1600 cc, 2000 cc and 3100 cc capacity. These also had a 4 speed gearbox and sophisticated rear suspension. Between 1915 and 1916
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