Vittoria, the one-off that gave new life to Carrozzeria Castagna
Born from the owner’s passion for heritage cars and penned by a stylist, the Castagna Vittoria is an exceptional Youngtimer, still looking ahead towards future
That’s the car that marked the rebirth of the Castagnacoachbuilder in Milan. As has happened in more recent times also to the former colossus of aesthetic harmony in movement, the Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera – and other glories of Made in Italy of the last century – the brand was taken over and production restarted in a contemporary key. All traditions continued with the due superlative quality standards – along with the original realities – and high performance. In short, they are cars for the few: for the lucky ones who can afford the whim of treating themselves to a one-off, or a unique piece that no one else owns, moreover made according to their wishes. That’s where the today activity of Castagna is linked with the past: not so much because certain highly successful coachbuilders served many royalty and personalities of the international jet set but also because the level of craftsmanship was very high even in the “series” models and each car was built as a piece in its own right.
Ahead of today’s style. Until the 1950s, the manufacturers themselves entrusted their chassis to the best coachbuilders to “dress” them and not infrequently the creations were highly customized by the future owners. In the specific case of this model we are talking about the Carlo Castagna & C. Carrozzeria of Milan which, from its headquarters in via Montevideo, together with the Carrozzeria Sala has been a reference for the luxurious Isotta Fraschini. Castagna also worked for Alfa Romeo and Lancia; it’s one of the great names of the Italian automotive industry, especially if we talk about pre-war times: it opened at the end of the nineteenth century and went on until 1954. Its cars were often unmistakeable by stylistic features and decisive, sometimes audacious, bright reds and yellows. That’s another element of continuity with the characteristics of the house at the time: the personality, which certainly does not go unnoticed, of the Castagna Vittoria.
Loads of grit. The car is quite well known since in 1995, when it was built, as it was launched at the Geneva Motor Show. How can such a new, different and unprecedented style not leave a memory in the public and in the experts? The bodywork of this coupé, based on the mechanics of the Alfa Romeo SZ, in addition to being eye-catching, also has the advantage of being completely in beaten aluminum, riveted to the reinforced structure, with front and rear spoilers in carbon. If you are wondering about the reason for the name Vittoria, tha’s the name of the owner’s daughter, and as a good lover of speed – like her father – she does not hesitate to enjoy this rear-wheel drive custom-made series dedicated to her, enhancing the characteristics of the classic V6 3.0 Alfa Romeo with 3 thousand displacement (254.8 HP at 5,740 rpm, 5-speed transaxal gearbox plus rear, Brembo 6-piston internally ventilated disc brakes).
© UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION FORBIDDEN