Giovanni Lurani, the son of musicologist Francesco Lurani, studied mechanical engineering at Milan Polytechnic in the 1920s. After graduating, he made a career as a car designer. He worked for Salmson, Derby, Maserati and Alfa Romeo, among others. In the 1950s, he developed the Nibbio record-breaking cars, with which he himself set several automobile records.
Lurani began racing at the end of the 1920s. During his time in the United Kingdom, he drove club races from 1925, first with Salmson racing cars, then with Derbys. In 1930, he finished fifth in the Brooklands 24-hour race and third in the Coppa Castelli in an Alfa Romeo 6C 1500. In 1932, he made his debut at the Mille Miglia, where he competed a total of nine times.
He competed twice in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1951 and 1953.
After the Second World War, Lurani was also an official of the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile and played a leading role in the introduction of the GT class and Formula Junior.
In 1937, together with Luigi Villoresi, Franco Cortese and Eugenio Minetti, he founded the Scuderia Ambrosiana racing team, named after Ambrose of Milan, which was active until 1954. The cars were painted in blue and black stripes, derived from the jerseys of the Inter Milan football club. The greatest success was Franco Cortese's victory in the Frazer-Nash at the 1951 Targa Florio.
- Ambrosiana badge.jpeg (25.01 KiB) Viewed 1333 times
Still racing today, the 1935 C4S Maserati bought by Count Lurani and Luigi Villoresi for the Scuderia Ambrosiana team.
- 1935 C4S Maserati.jpeg (67.24 KiB) Viewed 1333 times
The Nibbio was the first vehicle developed by Lurani in the quest for record times. The car was powered by a 500cc two-cylinder Moto Guzzi motorbike engine that produced 46 hp, and the Nibbio broke four world speed records with the owner and designer at the wheel. The Lurani Nibbio was also the first automobile with a displacement of 0.5 litres to reach a speed of more than 100 mph (160.9 km/h). In 1939, Carrozzeria Riva optimised the body of the record-breaking car. A further eight records were the result. But even more successes were to follow. The Lurani Nibbio broke six more speed records in the period up to 1947. This time, the car was powered by a 250 cc single-cylinder supercharged engine, which was also manufactured by Moto Guzzi. The supercharger was later replaced by a 43 hp naturally aspirated engine, which still powers the Lurani Nibbio today.
- Moto Guzzi Nibbio by Lurani 3.jpeg (195 KiB) Viewed 1333 times
- 1935_Nibbio_1_Lurani_Facetti_and_others.jpg (678.1 KiB) Viewed 1333 times
- Giovanni Lurani with Nibbio 1.jpeg (75.05 KiB) Viewed 1333 times
- Moto Guzzi Nibbio by Lurani 1.jpeg (101.48 KiB) Viewed 1333 times
- Moto Guzzi Nibbio by Lurani 2.jpeg (160.09 KiB) Viewed 1333 times
The Nibbio II was built by Giovanni Lurani in 1955 with Moto Guzzi engine and body by Ghia, designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi.
- Moto Guzzi Nibbio II-3.jpeg (178.88 KiB) Viewed 1333 times
- Moto Guzzi Nibbio II-1.jpeg (178.2 KiB) Viewed 1333 times
- Moto Guzzi Nibbio II-2.jpeg (95.49 KiB) Viewed 1333 times
more posts from the vehicles of the Scuderia Ambrosiana
PG1964 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2023 7:55 pm Converted immediately after the 1952 MM with the #005, following the order of Diego Capelli, Fiat dealer of Milan and also President of the Scuderia Ambrosiana at that time. He drove this car for almost a year and later he assigned it to the Leto di Priolo brothers.
PG1964 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:37 pm The 2 Lancia sport cars coached by Colli: a 1938 Astura (this car is on display at the Nicolis museum in Villafranca di Verona today) and a 1937 Aprilia, both rebodied in 1940. Both the car had the engine tuned by Pagani and joined to the 1940 1000miglia with the Scuderia Ambrosiana race team (Minetti/Aprilia and Villoresi/Astura), without success unfortunately: the Astura never arrived to the starting line and the Aprilia retired because an engine failure.
