Itala Tipo 61 History
History
The Tipo 61 was designed by Giulio Cesare Cappa, the engineer hired to rescue Itala after its post-war financial difficulties. Presented at the Paris Motor Show in October 1924 and entering production in late 1925, it featured a 2-litre single-overhead-camshaft six-cylinder engine producing 50 bhp at 3,000 rpm, driving through a four-speed gearbox with servo brakes and centre-lock wheels.
A Sport variant with improved output appeared in 1927–1928 and proved the car's competition worth: at the 1928 24 Hours of Le Mans, Robert Benoist and Christian Dauvergne drove a Tipo 61 to first in the 1,501–2,000 cc class and sixth overall. The victory gave Itala its last significant international racing result.
The Tipo 61 was the most commercially viable car Itala produced in its final decade, but even Cappa's engineering talent could not overcome the structural financial damage from the war years. Production ended in 1929 as the company entered its terminal decline.
Generations
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First series · Tipo 61 standard
2-litre SOHC six, 50 bhp at 3,000 rpm; four-speed gearbox; servo brakes; presented at Paris 1924, production began late 1925.
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Second series · Tipo 61 Sport
Photo: “File:Itala tipo 61 coupé 1929 - Lesa.jpg” by Capricornis crispus / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
Uprated Sport version; class winner at Le Mans 1928 (1,501–2,000 cc category, 6th overall with Benoist/Dauvergne).
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1929 Photo: “File:Itala tipo 61 coupé 1929 - Lesa.jpg” by Capricornis crispus / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
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Body styles
- Sports car
- Touring car
- Saloon
Notable special editions & performance variants
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Le Mans 1928 class winner
Tipo 61 Sport driven by Robert Benoist and Christian Dauvergne — first in the 2-litre class, sixth overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Related models