"Rapid (automobile)" redirects here. For other vehicles with the name, see Rapid (disambiguation).
Società Torinese Automobili Rapid, also known as S.T.A.R. and Rapid, was an Italian car manufacturer founded by Giovanni Battista Ceirano in Turin in July 1904. Rapid was its trademark. In 1921 it was acquired by the S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) company that had been founded by Giovanni Battista's brother Matteo Ceirano, and which, in 1925, was taken over by Fiat.
In 1888, after eight years apprenticeship at his father's watch-making business, Giovanni Battista started building Welleyes bicycles, so named because English names had more sales appeal.[1] In October 1898 Giovanni Battista and Matteo co-founded Ceirano GB & C and started producing the Welleyes motor car in 1899. In July 1899 the plant and patents were sold to Giovanni Agnelli and produced as the first F.I.A.T.s - the Fiat 4 HP. Giovanni Battista was employed by Fiat as the agent for Italy, but within a year he left to found Fratelli Ceirano & C. which in 1903 became Società Torinese Automobili Rapid (S.T.A.R.) building cars badged as 'Rapid'. In 1904 Matteo Ceirano left Ceirano GB & C to create his own brand - Itala. In 1906 Matteo left Itala to found S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) with chief designer, Alberto Ballacco. In 1906 Giovanni founded SCAT (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino) in Turin. In 1919 Giovanni and Giovanni "Ernesto" co-founded Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili (aka Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili) and in 1922 they took control of Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili (FATA).
History
1900s S.T.A.R. Rapid poster
1900s S.T.A.R. Rapid poster
Giovanni Bastista and Matteo Ceirano left F.I.A.T. in 1901 to found Fratelli Ceirano & C. In 1903, Matteo left to found ITALA. In 1904 Giovanni Batista Ceirano transformed Fratelli Ceirano & C. into Società Torinese Automobili Rapid, using the name Rapid as a trademark. Production moved to a 50,000 square meters plant in Barriera di Nizza, Turin, where 500 people worked. The initial share capital was 2,000,000 lire, which in 1905 amounted to 5,000,000. Annual production was 600 units per year.[2]
Around 1905 Giovanni Battista suffered poor health and retired to Bordighera on the coast of Liguria, so Rodolfo Chio Maggi was appointed chief designer while Giovani Battista Maggi and Alfonso Scott took over the management.[3]
During World War I the factory produced both trucks and armaments, up to 4,000 artillery shells per day.[3]
After World War I, Rapid opened a repair-shop for all brands,[4] but the aftermath of the war meant that in 1921 the company was liquidated and absorbed by S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili), a company founded by Matteo Ceirano, and Cyclecar Italiana Petromilli (C.I.P.).
In 1925 Giovanni Agnelli converted the Rapid factory at Barriera di Nizza, Turin, into 'Officine Meccaniche Villar Perosa S.p.A.' (RIV) to manufacture ball bearings. In 1926 FIAT, headed by Agnelli, absorbed S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili).
Cars
1907 Targa Florio - Cariolato in S.T.A.R. Rapid 6C
The first model was designed in 1904 by Giovanni Battista Ceirano, but later Rodolfo Chio Maggi was appointed chief designer. Between 1905 and 1907 there was a two-cylinder model and the two four-cylinder models 16/24 HP with 4562 cc engine capacity and 24/40 HP with 7432 cc capacity. A common feature of both models was the shaft transmission and the radiator front section with a flat oval profile.[3][4]
In 1907 they introduced a range of 4-cylinder models with engines ranging from 1750 to 10560 cc, including the 50/70 HP.[4]
In approximately 1913 they introduced three four-cylinder models with 1600 cc, 2000 cc and 3100 cc capacity. These also had a 4 speed gearbox and sophisticated rear suspension.[3][4]
Between 1915 and 1916 the only car was a 10/12 hp model.[3]
Between 1919 and 1921 the Type 10 was equipped with a 4-cylinder 1,592cc side valve engine.[3]
Competition
1907 Targa Florio - Gallina in STAR Rapid 6B whi finished 23rd
In 1907 three Rapid cars entered the Targa Florio. Gallina, driving car 6B, finished in 23rd position, completing the 3 laps in 9 hours, 50 minutes and 10 seconds. Ernesto Ceirano, driving car 6A, retired after 2 laps and Tallio Cariolato, driving car 6C, retired after 1 lap.[4][5]
This article contains some content translated from Spanish Wikipedia.
External links
Storia e Cultura Dell Industria. Profile of S.T.A.R. Storia. Image of STAR Rapid advertisement poster.
Storia e Cultura Dell Industria. Profile of Ceirano & C. Protagonisti. Image of STAR Rapid advertisement poster.
Auto Passion - Profile and images of RAPID (Società Torinese Automobili Rapid) (STAR) - (1.904 - 1.921)
Targa Florio 1907 - Image of 'Le RAPID di GALLINA'.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Società Torinese Automobili Rapid.
February 21, 2023
società, torinese, automobili, rapid, rapid, automobile, redirects, here, other, vehicles, with, name, rapid, disambiguation, also, known, rapid, italian, manufacturer, founded, giovanni, battista, ceirano, turin, july, 1904, rapid, trademark, 1921, acquired, . Rapid automobile redirects here For other vehicles with the name see Rapid disambiguation Societa Torinese Automobili Rapid also known as S T A R and Rapid was an Italian car manufacturer founded by Giovanni Battista Ceirano in Turin in July 1904 Rapid was its trademark In 1921 it was acquired by the S P A Societa Piemontese Automobili company that had been founded by Giovanni Battista s brother Matteo Ceirano and which in 1925 was taken over by Fiat S T A R Rapid Societa Torinese Automobili RapidTypePrivateIndustryAutomobile industryFounded1904FounderGiovanni Battista CeiranoDefunct1921 SPA 1925 FiatFateTaken over by S P A Societa Piemontese Automobili 1921 Taken over by Fiat 1925 SuccessorS P A Societa Piemontese Automobili HeadquartersTurin ItalyArea servedItalyProductsAutomobiles Contents 1 Ceirano family background 2 History 3 Cars 4 Competition 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksCeirano family background EditThe Ceirano brothers Giovanni Battista Giovanni Ernesto and Matteo were influential in the founding of the Italian auto industry being variously responsible for Ceirano Welleyes the technical basis of F I A T Fratelli Ceirano S T A R Rapid Societa Torinese Automobili Rapid SCAT Societa Ceirano Automobili Torino Itala and S P A Societa Piemontese Automobili Giovanni s son Giovanni Ernesto was also influential co founding Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili aka Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili and Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili FATA In 1888 after eight years apprenticeship at his father s watch making business Giovanni Battista started building Welleyes bicycles so named because English names had more sales appeal 1 In October 1898 Giovanni Battista and Matteo co founded Ceirano GB amp C and started producing the Welleyes motor car in 1899 In July 1899 the plant and patents were sold to Giovanni Agnelli and produced as the first F I A T s the Fiat 4 HP Giovanni Battista was employed by Fiat as the agent for Italy but within a year he left to found Fratelli Ceirano amp C which in 1903 became Societa Torinese Automobili Rapid S T A R building cars badged as Rapid In 1904 Matteo Ceirano left Ceirano GB amp C to create his own brand Itala In 1906 Matteo left Itala to found S P A Societa Piemontese Automobili with chief designer Alberto Ballacco In 1906 Giovanni founded SCAT Societa Ceirano Automobili Torino in Turin In 1919 Giovanni and Giovanni Ernesto co founded Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili aka Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili and in 1922 they took control of Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili FATA History Edit 1900s S T A R Rapid poster 1900s S T A R Rapid poster Giovanni Bastista and Matteo Ceirano left F I A T in 1901 to found Fratelli Ceirano amp C In 1903 Matteo left to found ITALA In 1904 Giovanni Batista Ceirano transformed Fratelli Ceirano amp C into Societa Torinese Automobili Rapid using the name Rapid as a trademark Production moved to a 50 000 square meters plant in Barriera di Nizza Turin where 500 people worked The initial share capital was 2 000 000 lire which in 1905 amounted to 5 000 000 Annual production was 600 units per year 2 Around 1905 Giovanni Battista suffered poor health and retired to Bordighera on the coast of Liguria so Rodolfo Chio Maggi was appointed chief designer while Giovani Battista Maggi and Alfonso Scott took over the management 3 During World War I the factory produced both trucks and armaments up to 4 000 artillery shells per day 3 After World War I Rapid opened a repair shop for all brands 4 but the aftermath of the war meant that in 1921 the company was liquidated and absorbed by S P A Societa Piemontese Automobili a company founded by Matteo Ceirano and Cyclecar Italiana Petromilli C I P In 1925 Giovanni Agnelli converted the Rapid factory at Barriera di Nizza Turin into Officine Meccaniche Villar Perosa S p A RIV to manufacture ball bearings In 1926 FIAT headed by Agnelli absorbed S P A Societa Piemontese Automobili Cars Edit 1907 Targa Florio Cariolato in S T A R Rapid 6C The first model was designed in 1904 by Giovanni Battista Ceirano but later Rodolfo Chio Maggi was appointed chief designer Between 1905 and 1907 there was a two cylinder model and the two four cylinder models 16 24 HP with 4562 cc engine capacity and 24 40 HP with 7432 cc capacity A common feature of both models was the shaft transmission and the radiator front section with a flat oval profile 3 4 In 1907 they introduced a range of 4 cylinder models with engines ranging from 1750 to 10560 cc including the 50 70 HP 4 In approximately 1913 they introduced three four cylinder models with 1600 cc 2000 cc and 3100 cc capacity These also had a 4 speed gearbox and sophisticated rear suspension 3 4 Between 1915 and 1916 the only car was a 10 12 hp model 3 Between 1919 and 1921 the Type 10 was equipped with a 4 cylinder 1 592cc side valve engine 3 Competition Edit 1907 Targa Florio Gallina in STAR Rapid 6B whi finished 23rd In 1907 three Rapid cars entered the Targa Florio Gallina driving car 6B finished in 23rd position completing the 3 laps in 9 hours 50 minutes and 10 seconds Ernesto Ceirano driving car 6A retired after 2 laps and Tallio Cariolato driving car 6C retired after 1 lap 4 5 See also Edit Italy portal Companies portalList of Italian companies List of automobile companies founded by the Ceirano brothersReferences Edit Lancia the essentials STAR Societa Torinese Automobili Rapid museotorino it MuseoTorino museo della Citta di Torino Retrieved 2020 01 14 a b c d e f Auto Passion Profile and images of RAPID Societa Torinese Automobili Rapid STAR 1 904 1 921 a b c d e Targa Florio 1907 Profile and images of STAR Rapid and Le Rapid di Gallina Team Dan Results Archive 1907 This article contains some content translated from Spanish Wikipedia External links EditStoria e Cultura Dell Industria Profile of S T A R Storia Image of STAR Rapid advertisement poster Storia e Cultura Dell Industria Profile of Ceirano amp C Protagonisti Image of STAR Rapid advertisement poster Auto Passion Profile and images of RAPID Societa Torinese Automobili Rapid STAR 1 904 1 921 Targa Florio 1907 Image of Le RAPID di GALLINA Wikimedia Commons has media related to Societa Torinese Automobili Rapid Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Societa Torinese Automobili Rapid amp oldid 1067137221, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
