Chiribiri

Chiribiri, automobile manufacturer, 1910-1928. In 1910 the Venetian Antonio Chiribiri founded Torinese Velivoli Chiribiri & C., (Chiribiri Aircraft of Turin), along with associates Maurizio Ramassotto and the engineer Gaudenzio Verga.

It became known for quality and was licensed to build 100 aeronautical motors for Gnome ET Rhone. This enabled Chiribiri to open a ‘flying school’ at the factory, training pilots who flew in the Great War.

Chiribiri started building automobiles in 1914, when Gustavo Brunetta d'Usseaux, a rich land owner, commissioned the construction of 100 examples of the ‘Siva’ economy car, but the financial side failed so Chiribri carried on alone.

In 1915 they started a second production series with a larger chassis and 1300cc, 12 HP engine, and continued throughout the war.

At the 1919 Paris Motor Show Chiribiri launched a new open bodied, 4 seater, 1593cc, 12 HP model that remained in production until 1922 when it was replaced by the 100kph ‘Rome 5000’ (Touring and Sport versions) with a 1500cc engine producing 25 CV engine at 3,200 rpm.

The racing debut of the Monza GT model in the hands of Ada Chiribiri, Amadeo Chiribiri, Tazio Nuvolari, Gigi Platé and I'inglese Scalese brought three victories in the Susa-Moncenisio race, the Aosta-Gran San Bernardo race and the Vetturette GP at the Monza autodrome. On 6 June, 1921 Amadeo Chiribiri, racing under the pseudonym of Deo, won the 'Coppa della Cascine' in Florence.

In the 1922 II Grand Prix de la Penya Rhin at Circuit de Vilafranca, a road circuit in the hills behind Sitges, Ramassotto finished 3rd and Amadeo Chiribiri set the fastest lap (112 kph) for 'Voiturettes' up to 2000cc. In the 1923 III Grand Prix de la Penya Rhin at the Circuit de Vilafranca Tazio Nuvolari was 5th in the 1500cc Chiribiri, and in the II Spanish Grand Prix at the banked Autodrom Sitges-Terramar, he finished 4th.

In 1924 Alete Marconcini was Italian National Champion driving a Chiribiri 12/16 to 3 victories in the Circuito del Belfiore, the Circuito di Cremona and the Circuito del Montenero. Additionally Tazio Nuvolari won the Circuito del Savio and the Circuito del Polesine, whilst Rodolfo Caruso won the Coppa della Perugina.

In 1923 a road version was released with either a 45CV engine or a new 65CV version using 5,000 rpm. 2 years later a supercharger was added, delivering 95CV at 5,700 rpm, and achieving 180 kph.

In 1925 the name was changed to 'Auto Costruzioni Meccaniche Chiribiri'.

As financial crisis hit Europe the company closed on 3rd September 1929