View source for S.P.A. (automobile)

{{Short description|Italian vehicle and aero-engine manufacturer}}
{{other uses of|Ceirano}}
{{Infobox company
| name = S.P.A.<br>Società Piemontese Automobili
| logo = Logo Società Piemontese Automobili.svg
| logo_size = 150
| foundation = 1906
| defunct   = {{end date and age|1926}}
| fate      = Taken over by [[Fiat S.p.A.|Fiat]]
| location = [[Turin]], [[Italy]]
| industry = [[Automotive]]
| key_people = [[Michele Ansaldi]], [[Matteo Ceirano]] founders
| products = [[Automobile]]s, [[military vehicle]]s
| parent = 
| owner=  
| subsid = 
}}
'''S.P.A.''' ('''Società Piemontese Automobili''') was an Italian [[automobile]], military vehicle and [[Aircraft engine|aero-engine]] manufacturer founded in Turin by [[Matteo Ceirano]] and [[Michele Ansaldi]]. It was active between 1906 and 1926. In 1908, it merged with [[Fabbrica Ligure Automobili Genova]] (FLAG) and the new company, Società Ligure Piemontese Automobili, was headquartered in Genoa while manufacturing in Turin.

In 1923 it moved to Turin and in 1925 was taken over by [[Fiat S.p.A.|Fiat]], whereby car manufacture ceased but commercial and military vehicle production continued. Although car production resumed after [[World War II]], by 1947 the company was fully absorbed into Fiat.

==Ceirano family background==

The Ceirano brothers, [[Giovanni Battista Ceirano|Giovanni Battista]], [[Giovanni Ceirano|Giovanni]], [[Ernesto Ceirano|Ernesto]] and [[Matteo Ceirano|Matteo]], were influential in the founding of the Italian auto industry, being variously responsible for : [[Ceirano GB & C|Ceirano]]; [[Ceirano GB & C|Welleyes]] (the technical basis of F.I.A.T.); [[Fratelli Ceirano]]; [[Società Torinese Automobili Rapid|S.T.A.R./Rapid]] ([[Società Torinese Automobili Rapid]]); [[SCAT (automobile)|SCAT]] (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino); [[Itala (company)|Itala]] and S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili). Giovanni's son [[Giovanni "Ernesto" Ceirano|Giovanni "Ernesto"]] was also influential, co-founding [[Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili]] (aka [[Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili|Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili]]) and [[Aurea (car)|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.<ref>[http://www.italiancar.net/site/cars/lancia/index/lancia.html Lancia, the essentials]</ref> 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|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 (company)|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 [[Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili|Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili]]) and in 1922 they took control of Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili (FATA).

==History==
[[File:AS42-1.gif|thumb|[[SPA-Viberti AS.42]] in North Africa, March 1943, crewed by the PAI. It is part of the "103rd Compagnie Arditi Camionettisti", half of which fought on the Tunisian Front and the other half on the Libyan Front]]
[[File:Bus spa 1.jpg|thumb|SPA bus model 34]]
The company was established in 1906 by [[Matteo Ceirano]] and [[Michele Ansaldi]] (founder of [[Ansaldi]] automobiles) in [[Turin]] under the name of Società Piemontese Automobili. The chief designer was Alberto Ballacco.

In 1908, the company merged with [[Fabbrica Ligure Automobili Genova]] (FLAG) and the new company became Società Ligure Piemontese Automobili. The headquarters was in [[Genoa]] while production continued in Turin.

During World War I the company produced aero engines such as the [[SPA 6A|6A]]. Shortly afterwards, in 1916, both Ceirano and Ansaldi left.

In 1923 the company moved to Turin. Severe financial problems lead to a take-over by Fiat in 1925 and the discontinuation of car manufacture in favor of commercial and military vehicles.<ref name="Georgano" />

After [[World War II]] they resumed car production, but, in 1947, the company was fully absorbed into Fiat.

==Cars==
[[File:SPA dell Automobile.jpg|thumb|1922 SPA 23S at Museo dell'Automobile]]
The first S.P.A.s designed by Alberto Ballacco and Ceirano were the ''28/40HP'' and ''60/70 HP'' which had four cylinder engines, [[side valves]] and [[live axle|live rear axles]]. They were exhibited at the ''Esposizione di Torino''.<ref name="Georgano">''The Complete History of the Motor Car'' by [[G.N. Georgano]]. [[Ebury Press]] 1973. pp 636</ref>

By 1907 they also produced two six-cylinder models, one of which had the [[flywheel]] mounted at the front of the crankshaft.<ref name="Georgano"/>

By 1911 they had introduced ''L-head'' [[monobloc engine]] designs, [[unitary gearbox]]es, and [[High voltage|High tension]] [[ignition magneto#High tension|magneto]] ignition systems.<ref name="Georgano"/> The next year they sold 500 cars and introduced a new four cylinder 14/16&nbsp;hp engine as the basis of their modern, compact car.<ref name="Georgano" />

By 1914 the range included twin, four and six cylinder cars - the biggest had an 11,536cc displacement.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}

After [[World War I]] production resumed with the pre-war models; the ''14/16 HP'' using a 2.700cc side-valve engine and the '''25/30 HP'' using a 4,400cc six cylinder engine.<ref name="Georgano"/>

In 1922 the highly sophisticated 30/40 Super Sports was launched, with a 4,400cc six cylinder engine, using twin overhead camshafts ([[dohc]]) operating four valves per cylinder. The aluminium alloy cylinders had steel liners and aluminium pistons, plus dual carburettors and dual-ignition. The car was also equipped with front-wheel brakes and a V-shaped radiator.<ref name="Georgano"/> By the next year, the sporting range was marketed as ''Tipo 23'', ''Tipo 24'' and ''Tipo 25''.

==Racing==
[[File:SPA 50 HP 9000 1914.jpg|thumb|S.P.A. 50 HP 9000 1914]]
In 1908 [[Ernesto Ceirano]] finished third in the [[Targa Florio]] driving a four-cylinder, 7,785cc, S.P.A. 28/40 HP.

In [[1909 Grand Prix season|1909]] an S.P.A. racer driven by [[Francesco Ciuppa]] won the [[Targa Florio]] race. Completing a single lap of the 148km ''Grande Circuit'' in 2 hours 43 minutes 19 seconds at an average speed of 54.67&nbsp;km/h.<ref name="Targa all">[http://www.targaflorio.info/index2.htm History of Targa Florio ]</ref><ref name="Targa 1911">[http://www.targaflorio.info/04.HTM History of Targa Florio - 1909]</ref>

=== Range===
* 28/40 HP
* 50 HP
* 60/70 HP
* 25/30 HP
* 14/16 HP
* Tipo 23
* Tipo 23 S
* Tipo 24
* Tipo 25

==Aero engines==
{{main|SPA 6A}}
[[File:SPA 6A inline engine (2).JPG|thumb|SPA 6A inline engine]]
During [[World War I]] the company also produced [[Aircraft engine|aero engines]]. The [[SPA 6A|S.P.A. 6A]] was a water-cooled [[Inline engine (aviation)|inline]] six-cylinder engine that produced 220 horsepower (164&nbsp;kW).

The SPA 6A was used to power: 
* [[Ansaldo A.1 Balilla]] - Italy's only domestically-produced [[fighter aircraft]]; 
* [[Ansaldo SVA]] -  [[reconnaissance]] biplane; 
* [[Breda A.2]] - a 1921 Italian sport and touring aircraft;
* Breda A.3; 
* Breda A.9 and A.9bis - a 1928 Italian [[biplane]] [[Trainer (aircraft)|trainer]] for the ''Regia Aeronautica'';
* [[CANT 7]] - a 1920 Italian [[Flying boat]];
* [[Marchetti MVT]]/[[Marchetti MVT|SIAI S.50]] - a 1919-1920s Italian [[Fighter (aircraft)|fighter aircraft]].

==Military vehicles==
* SPA 9000 da 102/35 
* [[SPA Dovunque 35|Dovunque 35]]
* [[SPA Dovunque 35 protetto|Dovunque 35 protetto]]
* Dovunque 41
* 25C/10 (''see [[Ursus A]]'')
* 36R
* 38R
* S37
* AS37
* AS42
* AS43
* CL39
* TL37
* TM40
* A-10000

==See also==
{{Portal|Italy|Companies}}
* [[List of Italian companies]]
* [[List of automobile companies founded by the Ceirano brothers]]
* [[Ursus A]], a license-built Polish modification of SPA 25C

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.spa-militare.com/ Società Piemontese Automobili unofficial site {{in lang|it}}]
*[http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/lost_marques_spa.htm Unique Cars and Parts. Lost Marques: SPA - Societa Piemontese Automobili]
*[http://www.spa-militare.com/ SPA Militare]

{{Automotive industry in Italy}}
{{Fiat}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ceirano family]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of Italy]]
[[Category:Defunct aircraft engine manufacturers of Italy]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1906]]
[[Category:Italian companies established in 1906]]
[[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Turin]]
[[Category:Fiat]]
[[Category:Brass Era vehicles]]
[[Category:1900s cars]]