The myth of Italian coachbuilders: Carrozzeria Touring

Roarington's discovery journey of Italy's most important coachbuilders arrives today at Carrozzeria Touring, which revolutionized the automotive world with a new way of manufacturing that was destined to set the standard. In 1926, the two Milanese lawyers Gaetano Ponzoni and Felice Bianchi Anderloni, brother-in-law of Cesare Isotta and Vincenzo Fraschini, acquired Carrozzeria Falco from Vittorio Ascari, brother of driver Antonio. Touring began its operations in the immediate suburbs north of Milan, a location not coincidentally located near the headquarters of Alfa Romeo, Citröen Italia and Isotta Fraschini. It was precisely the cars of these brands that would be the first to be “dressed” by the Milanese coachbuilder.

Touring did not limit itself to the design styling of the bodywork and carefully considered the technical side of the design with the goal of reducing weight and improving aerodynamics. The first step was to acquire a license to construct according to the Weymann system, which allowed the heavy iron sheets to be replaced with lighter panels made of pegamoid-a leather-like fabric-attached to the body, which was also lightened.