Innocenti
IndexHistoryModelsWorldBrandsGallery

Archive · History

The history

One factory at Lambrate, three product lines. Origins and the four eras first, then each narrative on its own subject; dates and technical data live in Models.

1960 — 1997

Innocenti, the car marque

From 1961 onwards, “Innocenti” was no longer only the name on the factory gate at Lambrate — it became a car marque in its own right. The story begins with the 950 Spider, a Ghia-styled roadster on the Austin-Healey Sprite / MG Midget platform, and grows into a full range of saloons, estates and Minis built under BMC licence.

The marque's character changed with each owner. Under BMC and British Leyland it produced Italian-trimmed versions of the British range — the A40 Berlina, the IM3 and the Mini. Under De Tomaso the Bertone-bodied Mini 90/120 and the turbocharged Mini De Tomaso gave the name a sporting edge. In the final Fiat years the badge lived on Brazilian-sourced models until it was retired in 1997.

Model milestones

The marque, year by year

  • 1960

    Innocenti 950 Spider

    The first Innocenti car and the fruit of BMC's association with the Innocenti firm: a Ghia-styled roadster on the Austin-Healey Sprite / MG Midget platform, bodied by OSI near Milan. Heavier and more expensive than the Spridget ($2,900 in the US in 1964) but with wind-up windows years before the British cars got them.

  • 1961

    Innocenti A40

    Austin A40 Farina built under BMC licence at Lambrate — around 100 cars a day at peak.

  • 1962

    Innocenti 950 / 1100 Coupé

    Bertone-bodied coupé derived from the Spider; new pressed-part production supports the whole car line.

  • 1963

    Innocenti IM3 (Regular & Super)

    Innocenti-developed Morris 1100 saloon. Car output reaches 30,600 units by the end of the year.

  • 1965

    Innocenti Mini Minor 850

    Italian-built Mini with better trim and instrumentation than the British original.

  • 1966

    Innocenti Mini Cooper 1000

    Higher-performance Mini in Innocenti specification; the J4 saloon joins the range.

  • 1968

    Innocenti Mini Cooper 1300 / IM3 S

    The peak of the BMC-based line before British Leyland took control of the car division.

  • 1974

    Innocenti Regent

    Austin Allegro built at Lambrate; the same year Bertone's wedge-shaped Mini 90 and Mini 120 appear.

  • 1976

    Innocenti Mini De Tomaso

    Alejandro de Tomaso takes over Innocenti; the 1300 De Tomaso becomes the sporting flagship.

  • 1982

    Innocenti Mini Three (Daihatsu)

    Bertone body with a three-cylinder Daihatsu engine — the BMC mechanicals are finally replaced.

  • 1990

    Innocenti Elba / Mille

    Fiat-based models after Fiat acquires the company; Innocenti car production ends in 1996.

1960 — 1997

Innocenti road car timeline

Thirty-seven years of car building, from the BMC licence years through De Tomaso and Fiat ownership to the end of the marque in 1997.

Owner
BMC
BMH
BLMC
De Tomaso
De Tomaso / Fiat S.p.A.
Fiat S.p.A.
Type
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s

City car

Mini
Minitre / 990 / 650 / 500
Small
Mini 90 / 120
Sports
Mini de Tomaso
Sports
Mini Turbo de Tomaso

Supermini

Koral
Mille Clip
Estate
Elba

Small family car

A40 / A40S Berlina / Combinata
Regent
IM3 / IM3S / Austin I4 / I5

Sportscar

Coupé
C
Spider
950 / 1100 Spider

  • BMC 1960–1966

    British Motor Corporation licences the Austin/Morris range to Innocenti at Lambrate.

  • BMH 1967–1967

    British Motor Holdings, the short-lived BMC–Jaguar merger.

  • BLMC 1968–1975

    British Leyland Motor Corporation; Innocenti becomes Leyland Innocenti.

  • De Tomaso 1976–1989

    Alejandro de Tomaso takes over; Bertone-bodied Minis and the Daihatsu-engined Minitre.

  • De Tomaso / Fiat S.p.A. 1990–1992

    Fiat buys in alongside De Tomaso.

  • Fiat S.p.A. 1993–1997

    Fiat-badged derivatives close out the marque; the Innocenti name is retired in 1997.

Model / period / body / engine / power

Car production by period

The car programme in four phases — the BMC licence years, the short British Leyland interlude, the Bertone / De Tomaso Mini era and the final Fiat-sourced models.

Early BMC licence models

1960–1975
ModelPeriodBody styleEnginePowerNotes
A40 / A40S Berlina & Combinata1960–19672-door hatchback / estate948 / 1098 cc A-series34–44 hpPininfarina styling, Italian assembly
950 Spider1960–1963Roadster948 cc≈ 43–48 hpGhia design on the Austin-Healey Sprite base
1100 / S Spider1963–1968Roadster1098 cc≈ 58 hpImproved version with disc brakes
C Coupé1966–19682-door coupé1098 cc≈ 58 hp≈ 794 units built, Ghia / Sartorelli styling
IM3 / IM3S1963–19704-door sedan1098 cc55 hpPininfarina front, luxury version of the ADO16
I4 / I4S / I5 (Austin)1964–19744-door sedan1098 cc48–55 hpMore standard Morris 1100 look
Mini (Minor / T / Cooper)1965–19752-door sedan + Traveller848 / 998 / 1275 cc34–71+ hpItalian version of the classic Mini, often better appointed

British Leyland period

1974–1976
ModelPeriodBody styleEnginePowerNotes
Regent 1300 / 15001974–19754-door sedan1275 / 1485 cc66–79 hpItalian Allegro, short production run

Bertone Mini / De Tomaso period

1974–1993
ModelPeriodBody styleEnginePowerNotes
Mini 90 / 120 L1974–19823-door hatchback998 / 1275 cc A-series43–65 hpBertone body by Marcello Gandini
Mini De Tomaso1976–19823-door hatchback1275 cc≈ 70–77 hpSport version
3 Cilindri / Minitre / 650 / 5001982–19923-door hatchbackDaihatsu 993 / 617 / 548 cc (3- or 2-cylinder)31–52 hpSwitch to Japanese engines
Turbo De Tomaso1983–19903-door hatchback993 cc turbo≈ 68–72 hpSport version with the Daihatsu turbo
Mini 990 / 990 Diesel / Matic1986–19923-door, longer wheelbase993 cc petrol / diesel≈ 37–53 hpLonger version

Final years — Fiat period

1990–1997
ModelPeriodBody styleEnginePowerNotes
Koral (incl. Cabriolet)1991–1993Hatchback / convertibleYugo base—Rebadged Yugo
Elba1991–1996Estate1.3 / 1.5 / 1.7 diesel—Brazilian Fiat Duna Weekend
Mille / Mille Clip1994–1997HatchbackVarious—Brazilian / Polish Fiat Uno
Porter1994–1997Van / multi-purposePiaggio base—Passenger versions

Extra / prototype · 1963–1964

Innocenti 186 GT

2+2 coupé with a Ferrari 1.8 V6 of ≈ 156 hp. Bertone / Giugiaro styling. Only two prototypes built.

Full identification, dimensions, powertrain and performance data for each model family lives in the specifications archive.