DECEMBER 1991

Still in December 1991, Fiat asked STOLA spa to create an electric research Show Car to be presented in a future motor show.
It’s name was Downtown, and was designed by Roberto Giolito who followed the entire modeling and prototyping process with the support of Ermanno Cressoni, Director of the Fiat Style Center and Chris Bangle, exterior styling manager in Fiat.
Starting from the molds and details of the bodywork built in the Stola modelshop of, a second example was then made which was assembled at Mirafiori in the Centro Sperimemtale Fiat of Via Biscaretti di Ruffia.
The first Downtown, the one made in STOLA was grey and  served to perform the tests of the innovative electric motor, while the second,in green for the Geneva Motor Show had a more efficient motor and was managed by Cav. Rodolfo Gaffino Rossi.
For the record, at the inauguration of the Geneva Motor Show in March 1993, the lawyer Gianni Agnelli drove the prototype from general aviation at Geneva airport to the Fiat stand.

011991/1992 the original drawings by Roberto Giolito from Downtow.021991/1992 the original drawings by Roberto Giolito from Downtow.

031992 Some phases of the construction of the see through model of the Downtown.

051992 Chris Bangle relaxing after working on Fiat Downtown models with the STOLA coat and the tie.

061992 In the center you recognize Robaldo.

071992 realization of the aluminum frame for the interior studies.

081992 Marco Goffi and Lucio Giarolo. 091992 Mauro Palman and Alfredo Stola.

101992 Roberto Giolitto in his office at Fiat.111992 E. Cressoni, R. Giolitto and Peter Devis at the helm.

121992 Roberto Giolitto and Darrin Caddes 131992

14Turin 1992 Vittorio Della Rocca, Alberto Sasso, Rodolfo Robaldo, Zanini and Ardagna can be recognized.

151992 The engineer Alberto Sasso and
the team leader Zanini.

18October 1992 official photo of the grey Fiat Downtown before being sent to Fiat's Experimental Test Center.19October 1992 official photo of the grey Fiat Downtown before being sent to Fiat's Experimental Test Center.

20March 1993 Official photo of the Downtown before the Geneva Motor Show. This green version was developed at the Experimental Test Center with the molds of the first grey Showcar used for the tests.

 

JANUARY1992

011992 Engineer Enrico Fumia director
of the Lancia Style Center.02Original drawing of the Engineer's Lancia Y
Enrico Fumia.

In January 1992 the Fiat-Lancia Style Center instructed STOLA spa to develop two models of exterior and interior styling models for the new Lancia Y to replace the Y10.
The models were specified as Hard see-through and  milled from data supplied by Lancia then finished by hand with all the necessary style modifications included.
One  model was designed by the engineer Enrico Fumia and the second by the architect Massimo Gay, while the interiors from Greg Brew.
The model chosen for the production will be the one designed by the engineer Enrico Fumia.

031992 STOLA spa creates two style models
of the Lancia Y.031992 STOLA spa creates two style models
of the Lancia Y.

041992 STOLA spa creates two style models of the instrument panel.041992 STOLA spa creates two style models of the instrument panel.

 

WINTER 1992

In the winter of 1992, the Alfa Romeo Styling Centre at Arese, directed by Walter De Silva, commissioned Stola s.p.a. to build the style model for the exterior of the new Alfa Romeo 166.
Class B and C styling surfaces were created at the Arese styling center following the precise indications of Wolfgang Egger.
The Stola resident team was made up of the surfacers Carlo Mantovani, Adriano Rossi and Gianfranco Cappa with the support of Giancarlo Besana for the technical pre-feasibility studies.

01Turin 1992 La STOLA s.p.a. realizes the style model of the exterior of the Alfa Romeo 166 on the recommendation of the director of the Alfa Romeo Style Center Walter De Silva. Subsequently in 1994 the surfaces of class A will be made and the milling of the Master's mathematical verification.

n Via La Thuile 71, Turin, the style model was milled, then modified manualy immediately afterwards following the changes requested by the designers Egger, Rosti, Favilla and Giavazzi.
Among the Stola modellers, Stefano Ardagna was noted for having personally resolved demanding requests from Walter Da Silva for the refinement of very difficult lines.
Due to Fiat Auto group’s internal issues, this project experienced several interruptions and restarts, to the point that the style model chosen in1994 did not go into production until three and a half years later.
In 1994, Stola was commissioned to carry out the class A mathematics,mill the mathematical verification master, design the body and external and internal finishes and, last but not least, a modification of the original platform of the Lancia Kappa.
The work was mainly carried out in the offices of Stola in Cinisello Balsamo and to a lesser part in Rivoli. The Stola engineers would liaise with great effectiveness with the hundreds of Alfa Romeo technicians from Arese.

02Alfa Romeo Tipo 936 internal and external clearance / tolerance diagram.

03The complete synoptic picture of the Alfa Romeo 166 project created by Stola s.p.a. for Fiat Auto signed by Autec.

04A detail of the synoptic table.05Project table, Autec in evidence.

06The details of the synoptic table of the Alfa Romeo 166 project.07The details of the synoptic table of the Alfa Romeo 166 project.

Class A class mathematics and master milling were performed in the Rivoli headquarters by the usual Team of Massimo Stola, Carlo Mantovani and Vittorio Della Rocca.
Design activities were under the technical direction of Gottardo Bustreo assisted for contracts and purchases by Carlo Biassoni, who assigned Piero De Micheli as Project Manager.
Roberto Arpini, Marco Destefano, Roberto Bianchi, Marco Brizzolara, Giuseppe Di Nunno, Marco Criveller and Paolo Zerbini were all part of the team.
The Stola team worked with that of Alfa Romeo for three years. Their project manager was Ezio Villa assisted by colleagues Giuseppe Longoni, Pietro Tagliaferro, Luigi Verga, Roberto Guandalini, Domenico De Felice and Masera.
The whole project was developed using Computervision, although the preliminary technical feasibility phase began on a classic drafting board.

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APRIL 1992

In April 1992, during  the Turin Motor Show, STOLA spa became involved in the Barchetta project for Fiat. 
It was  for a turnkey production task also involving  partners Itca and Maggiora.
It was the initiative of engineer Paolo Cantarella to give the project to the three companies and allow them to decelop the car.
The engineer Nevio di Giusto, who had recently been appointed as coordinating director of the Fiat Group’s styling centres, gave his support to quickly integrate the style work already completed into the development  process.

011992 Engineer Paolo Cantarella, CEO of Fiat Auto.

021992 engineer Nevio di Giusto, coordinator of the three style centers of the Fiat group.

03April 1992 the technicians of the STOLA prototype department in coordinating the design work and the first list of sheet metal parts to be made.04April 1992 the technicians of the STOLA prototype department in coordinating the design work and the first list of sheet metal parts to be made.

05April 1992 the first technical drawings of the Fiat Barchetta with the aim of creating two prototypes in sheet metal.06April 1992 the first technical drawings of the Fiat Barchetta with the aim of creating two prototypes in sheet metal.

The Fiat board, wanting to relaunch a spider into their range that had been absent since  the time of the pininfarina built 124 had to find a competitive production solution.
For Fiat, these months in 1992 were very intense, especially for the beginning of the design of the new Punto.
It must be borne in mind that the usual partners Pininfarina and Bertone in 1993 and 1994 were involved in the production of the Fiat Coupé and Punto Cabrio.

07September 1992 beaten model of a panel.08October 1992 The instrument panel lid.

09October 1992 Frontal.10October1992 Trunk structure.

11November 1992 This photo shows Bonetto and Comollo.12November 1992 Felice Chiara and Beppe Comollo.

13December 1992 Ferrero Varsino and Beppe Comollo check the body.14December 1992 the body of the first prototype ready for painting.

15January 1993, Modelleria STOLA. Roberto and Alfredo Stola together with Andrea Granata, one of the painters, next to the first Barchetta sheet metal prototype in the paint oven of via Villa Giusti.

16February 1993 Mechanical assembly of the first prototype.


17February 1993 a group photo on the assembly prototype. From left Franchino, Giorgione, Alfredo Stola, Felice Chiara and Marco Goffi.

18February 1993 The first prototype prototype practically finished. To be precise, original rims and headlights. Instead of the headlights, resin models have been fitted. From left Renato Bianco, Rocco, Ferrero Varsino, Beppe Comollo, Felice Chiara, Danilo Franchino, Bonetto, Mammone, Granata and Giorgione

19May 1993, via La Thuile 71 Alfredo Stola with the little Francesco posing next to the second and final prototype Yellow barchetta made from the sheet metal models. Mirabella, Felice Chiara, beppe Comollo, Alberto Porzio and Aniello Tornatore can be recognized from the back left.

20Turin May 1993. Marco Goffi and Bruno Arienti in the office in Via La Thuile 71 they work on the calculation of the prototype modifications.

Each of the three companies had to call upon their best skills, Stola for modeling, engineering and the first two prototypes derived from wooden models, Itca for test prototypes and the production of the chassis and the Maggiora for the actual production line and purchase of all components.
This consortium, under the direction of Fiat, gave  excellent results in terms of quality, timing and savings. The imposed objective to start production 24 months after styling freeze with an available budget 100.000.000.000 Lire.
In view of synergies coordinated by Fiat, the painting of the Barchetta was planned for the Bertone plant in Grugliasco. The deliveries of the Fiat Barchetta would begin in March of 1995 at the same time as its official presentation at the seventy-fifth Geneva Motor Show.

21February 1995 the official photo of the Fiat Barchetta before being presented at the Geneva Motor Show.

 

MAY 1992

01October 1992 Heuliez Raffica, The final moments
before the delivery of the model.
We recognize Calò and the Sellan Sante.In May 1992, the French company Heuliez contacted STOLA spa to request the construction of an opening model with an electric hood to be presented four months later in October on their stand at the Paris Motor Show.
The design of this model was by Marc Deschamps, a designer well known in Italy having been the director of Stile Bertone.
Vittorio Della Rocca, Workshop Manager at Stola, for this model  also worked as a team leader given the limited time available and the many styling modifications required by Deschamps.

02October 1992 Heuliez Raffica, official photo before the presentation at the Paris Motor Show.

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