Grand tourer: Difference between revisions

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* The design, both "inside and out, should be geared toward complete control by the driver".
* Its "chassis and [[Suspension (vehicle)|suspension]] provide suitable handling and roadholding on all routes" during travels.
Grand tourers emphasize comfort and handling over straight-out high performance or [[Asceticism|ascetic]], spartan accommodations. In comparison, [[sports car]]s (also a "much abused and confused term") are typically more "crude" compared to "sophisticated Grand Touring machinery".<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=gaht86fdYhcC&q=crude+to+those+who+were+into+sophisticated+Grand+Touring+machinery,+there+was+no+doubt+that+this+was+truly,+in+every+sense+of+the+word,+a+sports+car.+It+was,+in+fact,+a+rolling,+moving+definition+of+that+much+abused+and+confused+term |page=80 |title=Shelby Cobra Gold Portfolio 1962~1969 |first=R.M. |last=Clarke |edition=Revised |publisher=Brooklands Books |year=1990 |isbn=9781855200234 |access-date=6 December 2015}}</ref> However, the popularity of using GT for marketing purposes has meant that it has become a "much misused term, eventually signifying no more than a slightly tuned version of a family car with [[Alloy wheels|trendy wheels]] and a [[Racing stripe|go-faster stripe]] on the side".<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=YYe0huG3_2gC&q=GT+became+a+much+misused+term,+eventually+signifying+no+more+than+a+slightly+tuned+version+of+a+family+car+with+trendy+wheels+and+a+go-faster+stripe+on |page=197 |title=History of the Automobile |first=Peter |last=Roberts |publisher=Exeter Books |year=1984 |isbn=9780671071486 |access-date=6 December 2015}}</ref>
 
Historically, most GTs have been [[Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout|front-engined with rear-wheel drive]], offering more cabin space than [[rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout|mid-mounted]] engine layouts. Softer suspensions, greater storage, and more luxurious appointments add to their appeal.
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<gallery widths="240" heights="180">
File:Alfa-Romeo 6C-1750-GTC-Touring.JPG|[[Alfa Romeo 6C]] 1750 GTC Berlinetta [[Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera|''carrozzeriacc touring'']] Mille Miglia 1932
File:Fiat 508-S-Balilla BerlMM.JPG|[[Fiat 508]] Balilla S ''berlinetta'' Mille Miglia 1935
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=== 1951 Ferrari 212 Export ===
Ferrari's response for the new Italian ''Gran Turismo Internazionale'' championship in 1951 was the road/race [[Ferrari 212 Export|Ferrari 212]]. Twenty-seven short-wheelbase competition versions called Export, some with increasingly popular ''gran turismo''-style ''berlinetta'' coupé coachwork, were produced for enthusiasts (Ferrari called the very first example 212 ''MM''<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/5654/Ferrari-212-MM-Vignale-Berlinetta.html |title=Ferrari 212 MM Vignale Berlinetta |website=ultimatecarpage.com|access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.barchetta.cc/english/all.ferraris/detail/0070m.212mm.htm |title=0070M 51 212 MM (Export) Berlinetta Vignale |website=barchetta.cc |access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>) while the road version was called ''Inter''. The Ferrari 212 Export featured long-range fuel tanks, high compression pistons and triple [[Weber carburetor|Weber 32 DCF carburettors]]; power was 170&nbsp;bhp from the 2600cc [[Ferrari Colombo engine|Gioacchino Colombo-designed 'short-block' V12 engine]], evolved from the earlier Ferrari 166 (2000cc) and 195 (2300cc).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z11148/Ferrari-212-Export.aspx |title=1951 Ferrari 212 Export |website=conceptcarz.com |access-date=2 March 2016}}</ref> All versions came with the standard Ferrari five-speed non-synchromesh gearbox and hydraulic drum brakes.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.conceptcarz.com/z23142/Ferrari-212-MM.aspx|title=1951 Ferrari 212 MM |website=conceptcarz.com |access-date=2 March 2016}}</ref> All 1951 Ferraris shared a double tube frame chassis design evolved from the 166. [[Double wishbone suspension|Double-wishbone front suspension]] with [[transverse leaf spring]], and [[Suspension (vehicle)|live rear axle]] with [[semi-elliptic leaf spring]]s and [[radius rod]]s were employed.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Development of the 250GT Ferrari|journal=Motor Sport|issue=March 1963|page=174|last1=D. S. J.}}</ref> The Ferrari 212 Export (212 MM) ''gran turismo berlinetta'' (chassis No. 0070M) debuted in first-place overall at the April 1951 Coppa Inter-Europa, driven by Luigi Villoresi,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Monza-1951-04-15.html|title=Europa 1951 > Race Results |work=Racing Sports Cars |access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.barchetta.cc/english/all.ferraris/detail/0070m.212mm.htm |title=212 MM (Export) Berlinetta Vignale |website=barchetta.cc |access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> and in June (chassis no. 0092E) was first in the ''gran turismo'' category at the [[Coppa della Toscana]] driven by Milanese Ferrari concessionaire and proprietor of Scuderia Guastalla, Franco Cornacchia.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.barchetta.cc/english/all.ferraris/detail/0092e.212export.htm|title=212 Export s/n 0092E |website=barchetta.cc |access-date=10 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Coppa_della_Toscana-1951-06-03-4699.html|title=Coppa della Toscana 1951 – Race Results |work=Racing Sports Cars|access-date=10 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://wsrp.wz.cz/nonchamp1951.html|title=Non Championship Races 1951 |work=World Sports Racing Prototypes |access-date=10 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/13164/lot/204/ |title=The ex-Franco Cornacchia, 1953 Coppa Intereuropa-winning,1952 Ferrari 212/225 Inter Berlinetta 0237EU |website=bonhams.com |access-date=10 March 2016}}</ref> The 212 Export continued to serve Ferrari well in the Sports and GT categories until replaced by the 225 S, and although it would later be overshadowed by the internationally famous [[Ferrari 250|250 GT]], the 212 Export was an important model in the successful line of Colombo-engined V12 GT cars that made Ferrari legendary.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.supercars.net/cars/2310.html|title=1951→1952 Ferrari 212 Export |website=supercars.net |access-date=2 March 2016|date=16 April 2016}}</ref>
 
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<blockquote>This outwardly conventional saloon bristled with innovation and ingenuity, in which the masterly hand of [[Vittorio Jano]] is apparent. In the B20 are elements of the Cistalia of 1947, coupés which Pinin undertook on a 6C Alfa Romeo and Maserati in 1948, along with the Fiat 1100 S coupé with its rear accommodation for children. The original Aurelia had been under-powered and, in 1951, the V6 was enlarged to 1991 cc, which was also extended to the coupé, though in 75 rather than 70 bhp form as the B20 was developed as a sporting model in its own right. In addition the B20 had a shorter wheelbase and a higher rear axle ratio, making it a 100 mph car. Lancia chose the ''Gran Turismo'' name for its new model and the suggestion could only have come from Vittorio Jano himself, for had he not been responsible for the original 1750 Alfa Romeo of the same name back in 1929?<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>
 
Four ''semi-ufficiali'' works B20 GTs, together with a number of privateer entrants, were sent to the Mille Miglia in April 1951, where the factory [[Giovanni Bracco|Bracco]] / [[Umberto Maglioli|Maglioli]] car finished second overall, behind only a Ferrari sports racer of twice the engine capacity. Lancia Aurelias swept the GT 2.0 Liter division.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Mille_Miglia-1951-04-29.html|title=Mille Miglia 1951 – Race Results – Racing Sports Cars|website=racingsportscars.com|access-date=2 September 2016}}</ref> In June 1951, Bracco was partnered with the "father of GT racing" himself, [[Giovanni Lurani|Johnny Lurani]], to race a B20 GT at Le Mans, where they were victorious in the 2.0 liter sportscar division, placing a very creditable 12th overall. A 1–2 finish at the famous Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.barchetta.cc/all.Ferraris/coppa-d-oro---story/index.html |title=Coppa d'Oro – Story |website=barchetta.cc |access-date=2 September 2016}}</ref> among other victories including the 6 Ore di Pescara,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.thornleykelham.com/1950-ferrari-195s/1951-mille-miglia-lancia-aurelia-b20gt-series-1/#ad-image-3 |title=1951 ex-Mille Miglia, ex-Le Mans, Lancia Aurelia B20GT » Thornley Kelham |website=thornleykelham.com |access-date=2 September 2016 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805215841/https://www.thornleykelham.com/1950-ferrari-195s/1951-mille-miglia-lancia-aurelia-b20gt-series-1/#ad-image-3 |url-status=dead }}</ref> rounded out an astonishing debut racing season for this ground-breaking car, winning its division in the Italian GT Championship for Umberto Castiglioni in [[:it:Risultati sportivi della Lancia Aurelia|1951]]. Lancia B20 GTs would go on to win the over 2.0 liter Italian GT Championship in 1953, 1954 and 1955 with the [[Lancia Aurelia#Third series|B20-2500]].
 
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===1937–1948 CSAI===
Italy's national governing body of motorsport was the ''Commissione Sportiva Automobilistica Italiana'' (CSAI).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.csai.aci.it/ |title=CSAI |website=csai.aci.it |access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref> [[Giovanni Lurani|Count Giovanni Lurani Cernuschi]] (popularly known as Johnny Lurani) was a key commissioner.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/dl.htm |title=The Golden Era of GP Racing 1934–40 |website=kolumbus.fi |access-date=4 September 2016 |archive-date=21 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021034743/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/dl.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was also a senior member of the world governing body, the ''[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]]'' (FIA).<ref name=":23">{{cite web|url= http://www.historicracing.com/driver_az.cfm?type=drivers_alpha&tStartRow=1&AlphaIndex=L&driverID=7749 |title=Giovanni Lurani, obit.|website=historicracing.com |last1=Silva|first1=Allesandro|access-date=15 February 2016 |url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160507173501/http://historicracing.com/driver_az.cfm?type=drivers_alpha&tStartRow=1&AlphaIndex=L&driverID=7749 |archive-date=7 May 2016}}</ref>
 
Lurani was instrumental in designing the regulations for the Italian 1937 ''Turismo Nazionale'' championship, whereby production vehicles approved by the CSAI were raced with the original chassis and engine layout as specified in the factory catalog and available for customers to buy;<ref>The concepts of production (or "touring") car racing and homologation (meaning "official approval") originate with the regulations for the inaugural [[1923 24 Hours of Le Mans|1923 24 Heures du Mans]], credited to: Charles Faroux, a motoring journalist for ''La Vie Automobile;'' Georges Durand, Secretary General of ''[[Automobile Club de l'Ouest|l'Automobile Club de l'Ouest]]''; and Emile Coquille, Managing Director of the French branch of the [[Rudge-Whitworth]] detachable-wire-wheel company. The regulations required for each entry a formal document swearing thirty identical examples had been produced conforming strictly to the manufacturer's catalog, and conceiving "of a day-long touring car race featuring the cars, equipment, accessories, fuels and lubricants normal motorists could actually buy" and "presaging the entire Grand Touring concept".--''Le Mans: Before the 24'' by Charles ("Chuck") Dressing, Radio Le Mans, Brumos Racing; originally published on www.speedvision.com in 2000.</ref> engines could be tuned and bored out, but the bodywork had to conform to regulations. The CSAI were concerned that FIA (known as AIACR at the time) '[[Sports car racing|Annexe C]]'<ref name=":21">{{cite web|url= http://historicdb.fia.com/regulations/period-appendix-c |title=Regulations - Period Appendix C {{!}} FIA Historic Database |website=historicdb.fia.com |access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref> Sports cars were becoming little more than thinly-disguised two-seat [[Grand Prix motor racing|Grand Prix]] racers, far removed from the cars ordinary motorists could purchase from the manufacturers' catalogs.<ref name=":19">{{cite web|url= http://forums.autosport.com/topic/36913-campionato-italiano-sport-1937-1965/?p=727413 |title=Campionato Italiano Sport 1937–1965 |work=Autosport |last1=McKinney |first1=David |access-date=15 February 2016}}</ref>
 
The CSAI was shut down by the Italian [[Fascism|Fascist]] government under [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]] at the end of 1937, and replaced with a new organization called FASI.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://8w.forix.com/40s-nice.html |title=8W – When? – Racing in the 40s |website=8w.forix.com |access-date=30 November 2016|quote=A federation of teams and drivers affiliated with the Italian Olympic Committee.}}</ref> The [[National Fascist Party|Italian Fascists]], as in [[Nazi Germany]], sought control of motor racing as an important vehicle for national prestige and [[propaganda]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://eu.eot.su/2015/11/05/the-rule-of-italian-fascism-political-formation-and-fascist-practices-part-ii/ |title=The rule of Italian fascism |work=Essence of Time |access-date=15 February 2016 |date=5 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.grandprixhistory.org/mille_miglia_history.htm |title=Mille Miglia - History |website=grandprixhistory.org |date=November 2007 |access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref><ref>"The nationalist Fascist government promoted Italian motorsport as one of the pillars of its sporting propaganda under Il Duce Benito Mussolini, who embraced motorsport as one of the most important activities of the new Fascist era."[http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2701.htm --http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2701.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630064926/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2701.htm |date=30 June 2019 }}</ref> FASI replaced ''Turismo Nazionale'' with the less strictly regulated ''Sports Nazionale'' championship, which ran in 1938 and 1939.<ref name=":19" /><ref>"The nationalist Fascist government promoted Italian motorsport as one of the pillars of its sporting propaganda under Il Duce Benito Mussolini, who embraced motorsport as one of the most important activities of the new Fascist era."--http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2701.htm</ref>
 
Postwar, the CSAI was re-established and in 1947 Italian national championships were held for both ''Sports Internazionale'' (FIA Annexe C sports cars) and ''Sports Nazionale''. ''Sports Nazionale'' was abolished in 1948, creating the opportunity for a new category in 1949.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://forums.autosport.com/topic/36913-campionato-italiano-sport-1937-1965/?p=727526 |title=Campionato Italiano Sport 1937–1965 |website=Autosport.com |last1=Silva |first1=Alessandro |access-date=15 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.racingsportscars.com/championship/Italian%20Championship%20Sport.html |title=Campionato Italiano Sport |work=Racing Sports Cars|access-date=15 February 2016}}</ref>