Bodies from Castagna
Castagna began manufacturing automobile bodies in 1905. Following on from the customer base of Ferrari, Mainetti & Orsaniga, the automobile bodies were also intended for wealthy clients. From the beginning, Castagna produced for the Italian nobility; Later vehicles were also created for popes. The first car dressed by Castagna was a Fiat 24 HP for the Princess of Savoy. Further chassis came in the early phase from Mercedes-Benz, OTAV and Rochet-Schneider. Among the sensational creations from the pre-war period was a teardrop-shaped limousine called Aerodinamica, which was commissioned by the Milanese industrialist Marco Ricotti in 1914 and based on the ALFA 40/60 HP. During the First World War, the production of automotive bodies for private customers came to a standstill; Castagna built ambulances and trailers during the war years.
After the end of the war, Castagna turned back to luxury automobiles. The company designed and built unique models and small series for chassis from Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Isotta Fraschini and Lancia, and more rarely also from Mercedes-Benz and Duesenberg.[7] They also used innovative techniques such as bodywork made of aluminum sheets for their bodies. From 1929 onwards, station wagons were also created in the Woodie style adopted from the US, which the Castagna Milano company, which was founded in 1994, also repeatedly took up. In the second half of the 1930s, Emilio Castagna's designs were often influenced by the trend in aerodynamics; Numerous bodies with flowing, rounded lines were created, particularly on Alfa Romeo 6C chassis. Another special feature of Castagna were the so-called Vistotal bodies. These bodies had frameless windshields. With the side windows directly adjacent to it, which were also without frames, there was an undisturbed all-round view, which anticipated the effect of a panoramic window. For the Vistotal bodies, Castagna used a patent from the French body manufacturer Labourdette, which the latter had marketed under the name Vutotal since 1935.[8]
During the Second World War, Castagna produced military vehicles. After the end of the war, the company continued to produce a few unique pieces and small series upon customer request, increasingly in the pontoon style since the late 1940s. Advertising vehicles were also created, including a Simca designed as a sewing machine.[3]
