ERMINI (Italy)
Pasquino Ermini learnt his trade as a mechanic and driver during
the 1920's and 30's with the Squadra Materassi and its Bugatti
and Talbot cars. Following the war he built his first car, a combination
of a (heavily modified) Fiat 1100 chassis and an Alfa Romeo 2500
engine. With this he competed in various events.
He then decided to produce his own engine, choosing to enter the
then popular 1100 class. The result was a twin-cam 1094cc unit
which emerged in 1947, one of the first twin-cams in that class.
It immediately proved successful and was sold to many competitors,
who fitted it to a variety of cars, usually either based on the
1100 or with a chassis by Gilco. Bodies were supplied by numerous
carrozzeria. In 1949 Ermini began building complete cars, with
his 1100 dohc engine, the chassis by Gilco and the bodywork by
Tofani.
The early 1950's saw the Ermini 1100 as the car (or engine for
those who chose to fit it to different chassis') to have. Tofani
were unable to meet the demand, and so Motto and Morelli were
used to produce the bodies. In 1953 Ermini introduced a new engine.
Still a dohc 1100 it now had an aluminium block and five main-bearing
crankshaft. Around 20 engines were built and were fitted to cars
by Ermini themselves (with a chassis designed by Gilco), Scaglietti,
Morelli and Frua (designed by Michelotti).
source:
www.carsfromitaly.com
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