Piaggio Ape TL 2T 50cc 1975

Another Italian F3 constructor whose roots were in Formula Junior. They built an FJ car in 1958 and continued to use it in 1959, although it was already obsolete compared to cars like the Cooper when it was announced. An F3 car was produced in 1964 and the Foglietti name continued to appear on the Italian F3 grids until 1971, but many of these cars were probably updates of an earlier chassis rather than a new car. + Mr. Ernesto Foglietti worked on his first Formula car for the new Formula Junior in 1958 in his Fiat workshop on Via Montegani, just a few hundred meters from Milan's city center and the famous Duomo. His first design was rather unconventional with a tubular chassis and an offset mounted Fiat 1100 engine and gearbox that allowed the drive train to pass to the right of the cockpit. The next generation of Foglietti Formula Juniors already had a rear engine and used Fiat or DKW engines and were raced successfully in the Italian Formula Junior Championship. Up to 6 Foglietti cars participated in the races of the 1961 and 1962 seasons. + For the 1963 season, Foglietti developed a new, rather revolutionary car. The combined tubular chassis with centrally mounted tank was fitted with a very sleek and aerodynamic body, largely made of materials that were modern for the time. The front suspension was a revolutionary system with reaction arms and internal suspension and shock absorbers. This reduced frontal area and unsprung mass. Brakes where state-of-the-art Girling Lockeed mix. Most shocking (for a Fiat "Concessionare like Foglietti) was the choice of a Ford Cosworth engine. But Foglietti well understood that this was a must to build a frontrunner in Formula Junior. Only two cars were built. After that, Foglietti built a number of Formula 3 and Formula Ford cars, but stopped in the late 1960s. + In 1964 a neat, albeit conventional F3 chassis with Ford engine was built (although it appeared to have push-rod front suspension) driven by Antonio Ascari Jr. (son of Alberto). During the year, a number of top six finishes were achieved. To get a good idea of the lot, we recommend coming to the viewing day.