Chrysler's Connection To Italy

Chrysler's history with Italy actually stretches a little beyond Fiat's recent purchase of the American car company.

Back in the 1950s, they hooked up with Ghia to produce magnificent concept cars including the GS-1 Chrysler Ghia (1953), the handsomely gorgeous Dual-Ghia (1958 - pictured from My Car Quest) and 'Thomas Special':





From Conceptcarz:

"After World War II many maruqee's saw their production figures begin to rise while Chrysler's stayed stead but falling behind the rest of the pack. Chrysler looked to Europe for inspiration.

A war torn Europe was recovering from years of battle. Many factories had been ruined and many intellectual knowledge had been destroyed. Fiat invited Chrysler to Italy to aid in their rebuilding and to train their technicians in the latest methods and techniques of automotive production. This included teaching them modernized ways of constructing cars and the most effective means of assembly line techniques. Not only was Chrysler imparting knowledge to a struggling economy, they were gaining knowledge on the art of carrozziere, Italian meaning custom coach building. This was a dying art but had been very popular in the early 1900s. A manufacturer would supply a rolling chassis to a custom coachbuilder to complete. The coachbuilder often corresponded with the customer to determine the exact specifications, resulting in unique creations.

Chrysler began discussions with one of the most famous coachbuilders of all time, Pinin Farina. However, it would be Ghia in Turin who would be commissioned to build a series of cars inspired by the designs of Virgil Exner, Chryslers chief stylist. Ghia and Chrysler continued working together for 15 years creating some of the most memorable Chryslers of all time."

Ghia's partnership with Chrysler was not exclusive over the years having also corroborated with Volkswagen, Plymouth and Ford.

Airbus Helicopter Deal For Avio

More technology news:

"Airbus Helicopters and Avio Aero have signed an agreement for the supply of the transmissions of future advanced helicopters: Avio Aero will manufacture and test gearboxes for further installation on Airbus new generation twin-engine helicopters, including X4. "

"...Italy is home to the main headquarters and important plants in Turin, Pomigliano d’Arco (Naples) and Brindisi. Worldwide it employees 4700 people (about 4000 in Italy) and has production plants in Poland, Brazil and China."

Italian Hydraulics Haul Canadian Hogs

How do you say oink, oink, moo, moo in Italian?

As is usually the case, English translation can be improved on company websites. Pezzaioli is based in the northern city of Brescia.

From Trucknews.com:

“...Years ago, when I was young—and my father started the business in 1951—the way we hauled livestock was barbaric. First off, we didn’t know better and we definitely didn’t have the technology. Now we certainly know better,” said Luckhart..."

"...Luckhart was contacted by the Italian trailer maker Pezzaioli, inquiring about the North American market, and after touring each other’s companies, Luckhart struck a deal to be Pezzaioli ‘s North American distributor. In return, Pezzaioli committed to supplying HarBra with between 100 and 120 trailers over the next two years.

“We know these things are very well built. I can say when they’re better, and they are better than mine. I can recognize that.”

"...Like the trailers he was modifying, the Italian ones have hydraulic decks, but they offer a number of features Luckhart didn’t offer including a double-skinned, Styrofoam-insulated roof that raises to offer ventilation, double-walled sides, fans, a heated water system with stainless steel tanks, water bowls for cattle, and stainless steel air tanks. And while these trailers are designed and built in Italy, they aren’t too European for the North American market."

Italy To Provide F-35 Maintenance

I don't post too many news articles on this sit but this is relevant I should think:

"...Lockheed is developing three variants of the F-35 for the U.S. military and eight partners that funded its development: Britain, Australia, Italy, Norway, Turkey, the Netherlands, Denmark and Canada. Israel, Japan and South Korea have also placed orders for the planes.

The Marine Corps plans to start initial combat use of the planes in July 2015, with the Air Force following suit in 2016.

In Italy, much of the work will be done by Finmeccanica SpA's Alenia, which manages a $1 billion-plus government-owned final assembly and checkout facility in Cameri."

Italy continues its strong aviation tradition:

"Italy’s Cameri air base will become the European hub for maintenance of F-35 fighter jets stationed in Europe, the U.S. Defense Department said Thursday.

“Italy invested nearly $1 billion in building” the Cameri facility in northern Italy, “and it’s very hard, on a cost basis and value basis, to match that,” Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, the Pentagon’s F-35 program manager, told reporters in Washington, D.C. “Italy is a stable and very important partner.”

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/aviation/article4427578.html#storylink=cpy

10 Italian Inventions That Changed The World

Spotlight: Mille Anni di Scienza

One thousand years of Italian science.

In Italian.

Italian Inventions

I think I'm going to cross-post this with The Commentator.

List of Italian inventions.

That's a lot of them. And those are just the 'patented' ones. Imagine those they come up with that don't get recognized.

Red Beauty

Lamborghini Miura:

Automobile Book: Italian Legends

Italian Auto Legends by photographer Michel Zumbrunn.

Looking into buying it myself. Only problem is I have four other books on the table including books on Spanish, German and Italian soccer.

I have to pace myself given we are in December - a high expense month.

Concept Mini Superleggera

Brera's The Word

Brera is a busy name. First, it's a district in Milan. Second, it's got an Alfa-Romeo named after it...




...and third it's a luxury watch.

Ammunition Innovation: Fiocchi

Here's a tour of the Fiocchi factory founded in 1876 based in Northern Italy. As is the case with many great Italian companies, it is still private and family owned.



Italy is the 7th largest manufacturer of weapons in the world. It places eight companies in the top 100.

A Journey Into Italy's Technological Designs

Italian aeronautical, aerospace and naval technology all in one video.

Enjoy.

Technology In Home Furniture Design

Making Italy A Start-Up Nation

From ZDNet.

Excerpt:

"On paper, the idea of synergies between startups and more established companies is a no-brainer. Italy has a strong tradition of manufacturing, especially in small and mid-sized enterprises which are now struggling to keep up with the pace of innovation.

Wouldn't it make sense for them to partner with startups that would function almost as external R&D departments? Unfortunately, things are not so simple."

Italy's stagnant growth in start-ups is a cautionary tale for us in North America as the bureaucracy slowly grows in size and influence.