Cars
The myth of Italian Coachbuilders: Castagna
Explore the history of Carrozzeria Castagna, an Italian coachbuilder from Milan known for luxurious carriages and cars, surviving challenges from its 1849 start through a modern revival in 1994.
Roarington's journey exploring significant Italian coachbuilders stops today in Milan, taking us back over a century: In 1849, Carlo Castagna took over the prestigious Milanese workshop Ferrari, known for making carriages for royal and aristocratic families across Europe. This led to an early entry into the burgeoning automobile industry: The company's reputation for using exquisite materials and quality finishes led Italian importers of Benz quadricycles to contact Castagna for the creation of motorized carriages.
This was a unique opportunity that increased the prestige of this "coachbuilder" by crafting custom motor vehicles for wealthy clients. Royal commissions also came in, including from Queen Margherita of Savoy with her double phaeton on a Fiat 24-32 HP chassis and later, in 1913, from Count Ricotti with the famous Alfa 40-60 HP featuring an aviation-inspired body, marking the first monovolume in history.
