Noble Sisters: Innocenti Mini De Tomaso

Today, we talk about a little-known car – which makes it an interesting prospect for collectors – the Innocenti Mini De Tomaso Turbo. To fully understand the story behind this car, one must know the key figures involved in this project, which was born during a complex time for the world. The oil crisis of the early '70s, marked by the sharp rise in oil prices orchestrated by OPEC, forced the automotive industry to make tough, often painful, decisions. Among those affected was the Italian company Innocenti.

Founded in 1933, Innocenti achieved significant success outside the automotive world: it is famous for its patent and production of "Tubi Innocenti" and the functional assembly system, still used today for scaffolding. After the war, Innocenti ventured into scooters, creating the Lambretta, which, alongside the Vespa and Isomoto, helped motorize Italy. Innocenti entered the automobile industry in 1959 with an agreement with British Leyland to assemble models like the A40 and the Innocenti 950 Spider, bodied by Ghia and built on Austin Healey Sprite mechanics. Launched in 1960, its most significant success was the Mini Minor, with bodies stamped in Italy and mechanics from the UK, leading British Leyland to acquire Innocenti and make it a European logistics hub. The Italianization of models led to versions like the Mini 90 and 120, with styling overseen by Marcello Gandini, then chief designer at Bertone.