From the Maranello Rosso Collection - 'The Little Ferrari'
c.1964 ASA Mille Gran Turismo Coupe
Chassis no. 01018
Engine no. (on plate) 173/539

Autocostruzioni SpA of Milan took on manufacture of this 'Ferrarina' or 'little Ferrari' in 1962. It was in fact Ferrari at Maranello who had – as early as 1958 – produced the twin overhead-camshaft 4-cylinder power unit used by ASA, originally displacing just 850cc. In 1961 the engine was installed in a chassis designed by Giotto Bizzarrini – himself the prime design engineer involved with Ferrari's legendary 250 GTO programme – and the result was in effect a scaled-down GTO, suitably bodied by Carrozzeria Bertone. Ferrari opted not to proceed with the project, which was then acquired by a group of enthusiastic industrialists.

ASA then launched the Mille model in both Coupe and Cabriolet versions, offering disc brakes front and rear while the engine – which has been described as effectively "two-thirds of a Ferrari V12 cylinder bank" – was enlarged to 1032cc. Producing some 84bhp it gave the ASA an impressive 115mph performance.

After two years the Mille was replaced by the ASA Rollbar GT Spider with 6-cylinder 1.3-litre engine, while a 1.7-litre was produced for export. Costs were later reduced by moulding the body in glassfibre, but after around 50 had been made the project ceased in 1967.

This fascinating little Ferrari-originated small-capacity Gran Turismo is pretty, and stylish, and very rare. We understand that it was previously Milan-registered 'MI 505921', and it is offered here complete with old libretto and folio complementare documentation.

The car was on display for many years in the wonderful Maranello Rosso Collection at Falciano, San Marino, and in common with all the other long-term preserved cars that we have offered we recommend specialist inspection and restoration before any serious attempt is made to run it. Here, however, is a Ferrari-originated starlet that could become a surefire small-capacity hit on the International concours circuit...not to mention its attractions for the touring-type rally events that are now so popular. EU taxes have been paid and this Lot is therefore in free EU circulation.