{{Short description|Italian coachbuilding company}}
{{Infobox company | trading_name = Carrozzeria Coriasco S.p.A. | industry = Automotive coachwork | founded = 1921 | founder = Giovanni Coriasco | defunct = 2000 | hq_location_city = Turin | hq_location_country = Italy | key_people = Giuseppe Coriasco, Cesare Bruno }}
'''Carrozzeria Coriasco S.p.A.''' is a former Italian company which developed and produced automobile coachwork, with a focus on commercial derivatives of popular Fiat vehicles.
== History == After a failed attempt in 1920 with his brothers, Giovanni Coriasco restarted the company in 1921 together with his son Giuseppe, to produce transformations of standard cars.<ref name=AS17192>{{cite book |title=Enciclopedia dei Carrozzieri Italiani |trans-title=Encyclopedia of the Italian Coachbuilders |publisher=Societa Editrice Il Cammello |year=2017 |isbn=9788896796412 | volume = 1 | ref = AS17| first=Alessandro | last=Sannia | location=Turin, Italy | page = 192 }}</ref> It would become one of the famous Italian ''carrozzieri "fuori serie"'' (custom build coachworkers). They did not only start this venture for producing passenger cars, but even more for commercial vehicles.
In the 1920s the company became known for good value for money coachwork based on [[Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili|Ceirano]], Fiat, [[Chiribiri]], [[Diatto]], and [[Itala (company)|Itala]] chassis.<ref name="louwman">{{cite web | url=https://www.louwmanmuseum.nl/en/car/fiat-1100-boat-car-carrozzeria-coriasco/ | title=This Fiat 1100 'boat on wheels' is definitely not seaworthy | access-date=3 August 2024 | website=www.louwmanmuseum.nl| date=3 September 2013 }}</ref> In the 1930s its activities were more focused on transforming utilitarian vehicles for use by street traders, for example the [[Fiat 508|Fiat 508 Balilla]]. Starting around 1940, the coachwork company realised models specifically for promotional vehicles.<ref name=AS17192 /> It was the [[Fiat 600 Multipla]] that established the brand's reputation with its van version, the Fiat 600 M Coriasco.<ref name="Sannia2019">{{cite book |title=Carrozzeria Coriasco |publisher=Societa Editrice Il Cammello |year=2019 |isbn=9788896796627 |editor-first=Alessandro |editor-last=Sannia |location=Turin, Italy |ref=AS19}}</ref>
The models that followed mostly were adaptations of [[Fiat]] models, both passenger and commercial vehicles. Thanks to the success with the 600 Multipla and 850 T derivates, in Italy 'Coriasco' nowadays is a household name for light vans.<ref name=Sannia2019108>[[#AS19|Sannia 2019]], p. 108</ref> Apart from those commercial vehicles, Coriasco also made many one-offs, even elaborate cars like the 1953 Fiat 1100 Boat-car and a few racing cars.<ref name="Sannia2019" />
== The main transformations == From 1948 until the end of the 1980s, '''Carrozzeria Coriasco''' created numerous transformations based on a variety of models, almost exclusively Fiats. Often they are models specifically produced in small series and distributed directly via the Fiat dealer network, such as:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coriasco |url=https://www.carrozzieri-italiani.com/dealers/coriasco/?paged=1 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240430164947/https://www.carrozzieri-italiani.com/dealers/coriasco/?paged=1 | archive-date=30 April 2024 |website=www.carrozzieri-italiani.com}}</ref>
* '''Fiat 508 C Balilla''' (1938) - Commercial vehicle built on the passenger car chassis. This was one of the first transformations of the Carrozzeria Coriasco. * '''Fiat 1400 Giardinetta Metallica''' (1951) - Commercial vehicle built on the basis of the [[Fiat 1400 and 1900|Fiat 1400 sedan]]. * '''Fiat 1100 Giardinetta''' (1954) - Commercial vehicle based on the [[Fiat 1100|Fiat 1100 berlina]]. * '''Fiat 1100 Boat-car''' (1953) - Experimental car built on the basis of the famous [[Fiat 1100|Fiat 1100-103]] with a boat 'coachwork'! Some sources suggest it was a study for an amphibious vehicle, others say it was a promotional car for the Scuola Guida & Nautica Scarani in [[Bologna]].<ref name="louwman" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kozak |first=Graham |date=31 March 2014 |title=Set Sail In The Fiat 1100 Boat Car By Carrozzeria Coriasco |url=https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/a1892156/set-sail-fiat-1100-boat-car-carrozzeria-coriasco/ |access-date= 30 April 2024 |website=www.autoweek.com}}</ref> * '''Fiat 600 M Coriasco''' (1956) - Van versions, pick-up, ambulance and minibus, built on the basis of the [[Fiat 600 Multipla]] with a specific body except for the 600 Multipla front. This model has been the most successful project of the brand with more than 18,000 units built.<ref name="Sannia2019" /><ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.carmodel.com/miniminiera/coriascofinestratobp/1-18/fiat/multipla-coriasco-pulmino-minibus-1960/103970 | title = Miniminiera Fiat Multipla Coriasco Pulminio Minibus 1960 | first = David | last = Tarallo | publisher = carmodel.com | access-date = 2024-08-06 | archive-date = 2024-08-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240806101113/https://www.carmodel.com/miniminiera/coriascofinestratobp/1-18/fiat/multipla-coriasco-pulmino-minibus-1960/103970 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{ cite web | url = https://getyourclassic.com/item/fiat-900-t-carrozzeria-coriasco/ | title = Fiat 900 T Carrozzeria Coriasco | publisher = GetYourClassic.com | access-date = 2024-08-06 | archive-date = 2024-02-23 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240223225340/https://getyourclassic.com/item/fiat-900-t-carrozzeria-coriasco/ | url-status = live }}</ref> * '''Fiat 600 T''' (1966) - Variants derived of the model produced in large volumes by [[Fiat Professional|Fiat Veicoli Commerciali]]. * '''Fiat 127 Familiare''' (1972) - Stationwagon version of the [[Fiat 127|127]] that was never realised by Fiat. This model was also offered as a panel van named "Furgoncino". The taillights come from the [[Renault 6]].<ref name=alvolante>{{cite web | url = https://www.alvolante.it/news/automotoretro-2022-le-fiat-che-non-ti-aspetti-377930#fiat-127-sw-amr_3 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230406121519/https://www.alvolante.it/news/automotoretro-2022-le-fiat-che-non-ti-aspetti-377930#fiat-127-sw-amr_3 | archive-date = 2023-04-06 | title = Rare o nuove di fabbrica: ad Automotoretrò 2022 le Fiat che non t'aspetti | trans-title = Rare or factory fresh: the Fiats you never expected at Automotoretrò 2022 | first = Alberto Amedeo | last = Isidoro | date = 2022-04-29 | work = Al Volante.it | publisher = Unimedia Srl | language = it }}</ref><ref name="Sannia24">{{cite book | first = Alessandro | last = Sannia | title = Le fuoriserie Fiat degli anni '70 | publisher = Società Editrice Il Cammello | trans-title = The custom-made Fiats of the 1970s| year = 2024 | language = it | page = 34 | isbn = 9788896796863 | ref=San34 | location=Turin, Italy}}</ref> * '''[[Fiat 242]]''' (1975) - Minivan and camper versions realised by Coriasco.<ref>{{cite news | title=Minibus Urbano 242 Coriasco | publisher = Società editrice l'Unità | trans-title = 242 Coriasco Urban Minibus| date = 1977-11-05 | work=l'Unità |language = it | page = 11 | location=Turin, Italy}}</ref> * '''[[Fiat 900T]]''' (1976) - Variants derived of the [[Fiat 900T|Fiat original]], with specific adaptations, in particular the "camioncino" version. * '''Fiat Coriasco 127 ''Farm''''' (1978) - Vehicle using the Fiat 127 2nd series of 1977 as a basis, with the rear part raised following the concept of the [[Matra Rancho|Matra-Simca Rancho]], a [[recreational vehicle]].<ref name="Sannia24"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Javillac |first=Javi |title=Fiat 127 Familia, the variant that SEAT did not do |url=https://en.escuderia.com/fiat-127-familiar-the-variant-that-did-not-seat/ |access-date=30 April 2024 |website=La Escuderia }}</ref>
In the 1980s, Coriasco developed a number of specially equipped versions of Fiat and Lancia models with the label 'Style'.<ref>{{cite web | first = Alberto Amedeo | last = Isidoro | title = Lancia Thema, viaggio in prima classe sulle "speciali" | trans-title = Lancia Thema, first class travel on the “specials” | language = it | publisher = Editoriale Domus SpA | work = Ruoteclassiche | url= https://ruoteclassiche.quattroruote.it/lancia-thema-viaggio-in-prima-classe-sulle-speciali/ | access-date = 2024-08-06 | date = 2019-03-15 | archive-date = 2023-04-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230402094227/https://ruoteclassiche.quattroruote.it/lancia-thema-viaggio-in-prima-classe-sulle-speciali/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Carrozzeria Coriasco closed down in 2000.<ref name=AS17193>[[#AS17|Sannia 2017]], p. 193</ref>
<gallery widths=200 heights=150> Furgoni 1954.jpg|Fiat Furgoni 1953 Fiat 1100 Boat-Car Carrozzeria Coriasco.jpg|Fiat 1100 Boat-car 600_Multipla_"autolettiga"_-_1960_(7534272230).jpg|Fiat 600 M Coriasco Ambulance Fiat Abarth 750 Multipla Coriasco (52913503237).jpg|Fiat Abarth 750 Multipla Coriasco Fiat 127 Coriasco Familiare, rear.jpg|Fiat 127 Familiare Coriasco Fiat 900 T Coriasco (28663787398).jpg|Fiat 900T Coriasco </gallery>
== Notes and references == {{Reflist}}
[[Category:Companies based in Piedmont]] [[Category:Italian designers]] [[Category:Automotive companies of Italy]] [[Category:Car manufacturers of Italy]] [[Category:Coachbuilders of Italy]]