//Found and prepared by Jeff Erickson, UW CSE 143 JI student on October 27, 2002 //This timeline is modified from one entitled Italian Car History Timeline //Found at http://www.automuseum.com/Italtimeline.html 1895 Enrico Bernardi builds the first Italian car. 1898 Fiat is started. Giovanni Agnelli and partners founded a small firm in Turin that becomes Fiat. 1901 Isotta Fraschini. Isotta established, equivalent of Duesenberg, Rolls-Royce or Bugatti. Known for supreme engineering and world-class styling. 1906 Lancia Founded. Vincenzo Lancia first prototype is destroyed by fire in 1907. First Targa Florio Race 1908 Lancia produces first production car the Alpha with a 4 cylinder. 1909 Lancia introduces the Beta automobile. 1910 Alfa begins. Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili or A.L.F.A. for short produces first car in a new factory outside of Milan. 1912 Bertone Founded. Giovanni Bertone creates company that produces body parts and components for other companys. 1919 Carrozzeria Zagato begins Zagato, a bodyworks and design company. 1923 Ghia founded. Giacinto Ghia started his own coach building firm. 1926 First Maserati built named the Tipo 26. 1927 First Mille Miglia Giovanni Canestrini, Renzo Castagneto, Aymo Maggi and Giacomo Mazzotti all came from Brescia. The race began in Brescia, traveled 1000 miles to Rome and back; Florence, Ferrara and Verona were among the stops along the way. Interrupted by World War II, it would become one of the most famous motorsports events in the world. 1932 Alfieri Maserati, dies 1936 Alfa 8C 2900 is created The most significant pre-War Alfa, and certainly one of the most important cars in the Alfa history, the 8C 2900 was a fast race car. The production version, dubbed 2900 B was the world's fastest sports car. 1937 Fiat 500 Topolino introduced. 1938 Vittorio Jano leaves Alfa to join Lancia in 1938. 1939 Maserati wins at Indy. 1947 The First Ferrari is built. Cisitalia 202 Debuts. 1948 Vignale Founded Alfredo Vignale starts his own carrozzezia in Turin 1949. Ferrari wins at Le Mans! 1950 Alfa Romeo 1900 1951 Scaglietti Body Works is formed outside of Modena. The coachworks constructor of choice by Ferrari, relationship continues presently. 1955 Fiat. Styling Hires Giorgetto Giugiaro one of the most legendary careers in automotive design. 1952 Siata 208S & Other Fiat 8V Projects The Siata 208S, was introduced somewhat resembling a scaled down Cobra, using the all new 70-degree overhead valve 2-liter V8. The 8V moniker came from Fiat's understanding that the term "V8" had been patented by Henry Ford. Alberto Ascari won in ï52 & ï53 on the Italian race circuit for Ferrari. 1953 Franco Scaglione designs three aerodynamic studies for Alfa, dubbed the B.A.T.s. The first, B.A.T. appeared in 1955. 1955 Nobody questions Fangio's greatness as a driver, but his ride to the 1956 F1 driving title is considered by some to be more Lancia than Ferrari. 1957 Final Mille Miglia (1927-1967), won by Piero Taruffi in a Ferrari 1957 Maserati IFS title. 1959 DeTomaso Automobili 1961 Automobili Turismo e Sport (ATS) formed. 1962 Iso Rivolta introduced 1963 Ford bids for Ferrari 1965 Lamborghini Miura experimental chassis are shown at Geneva. Ferrari wins its most recent victory at Le Mans. 1966 P400 Miura revolutionized exotic sports car design with a transverse, mid-mounted V12, a racing derived chassis, and beautiful body design. 1968 Ital Design formed by Giorgetto Giugiaro 1969 Fiat acquires a 40% interest in Ferrari. Vignale acquired by DeTomaso / Ford. 1970 DeTomaso runs Formula 1 team for the last time 1971 DeTomaso Pantera. With the Pantera, DeTomaso became a volume car builder. 1972 Lamborghini Countach 1974 Ford DeTomaso end their partnership Iso discontinues car manufacturing 1977 Final Targa Florio 1983 Constructor's Crown. Ferrari F1 remains the most recent Constructor's Championship for an Italian team. 1987 Ferrari F40 1989 Enzo Ferrari dies at the age of 90 1991 Alfa ends IndyCar effort 1994 Alfa Romeo ends selling cars in the United States. 1995 Maserati is bought by Fiat. Fiat now owns 90% of all Italian car manufacturers. 1997 Maserati & Ferrari join.