Let me introduce SuperTurismo A.S.A

[FrBosquet]

*Hi guys!!
Let me first introduce myself: Im FrBosquet, im from Spain and i had bought Automation like ¿2 years? Ago and it’s becoming more awesome every day. But more awesome than automation its it community. I haven’t read the forums before noticing in facebook the der bayer´s BRC. I entered it because I looooooooooooooooooooooove the B-Group machines and I really liked the idea of designing one (or something that looks like one) and this way I began to read the forums looking for info about this event, I noticed the other events, then the “companies” people is creating in the forums, the cars they design… Suddenly automation became twice as fun as before. Then, a week ago I was bored and I designed a car. I particularly liked it front look so I decided to share it in the forum.

But people there where designing brands, not single cars. More or less, everyone was giving some kind of background to its cars, at least some kind of “Super brand is presenting its new 2014 super ´99 looking coupe with 1500hp which is cheaper than a twingo”. I particularly loved those more sensitive, more coherent with history and car shapes, the more humble ones… Those kind of brands that makes you think they may have existed.

So I decided to write my own history about a brand and its owners, what have happened before that car I designed a week ago became real in 2014. Actually, I have wrote down the entire core of the story, so I’m just going to post it here in chapters at the rate that my limited free time let me translate it from the original Spanish, make the screenshots, etc. The Brand´s name is SuperTurismo, I know it is like super fu***ng pretentious, I have tried to make the name the only pretentious thing about this brand. So let me start with this story by the end of it

Press note: Introducing the 2014 SUPERTURISMO ONE
The recently refunded Superturismo brand has presented the concept for its very first car for this new era: The One. The One recovers the old classic style features of the Superturismos and puts it in a brand new 2014 styled shape.

The ´99 Superturismo 199 was known by the name of “Skull Face” because of its round front lights and the quad grill wich resembles four teeth. In fact, those “Four teth” were the identity of every Superturismo since the very first one. The One recover that “Skull face” in a smooth way.

In the side view we found another classic from ST: The four teeth (again) as a side grill with a round indicator. The car´s feet are 18” rims with 225mm wheels in the front and 245mm in the back.

In the wide back face, we found the double round backlights which were also a classic feature of the superturismo and a double exhaust (one is fake).

Classic superturismos used the naming “1xx” to designate the inline 6 coupes, that’s why they called this model “One”, to make an homage to all of those. The ST3224V is a 3.2 litre aluminium inline six which produces 326hp@7400rpm with a pretty flat torque curve thanks to variable valve timing. Joined to a 6 gears gearbox and the AWD this engine can accelerate the full carbon fibre (both chasis and panels) ONE to 100Km/h in 3,80s and produces a top speed of 270km/h. According to SuperTurismo, the one can make a lap in the world famous Automation Test Track in 2:23,89 sec.

The interior is handmade in leather. Inner luxury has been one of the main focus of this brand since its creation and this model really fullfill expectations. Superturismo haven’t tell if they are going to mass produce this model, neither the price. We hope they do. But probably many of our readers don’t know much about this company, so let us tell you its interesting story…*

[Pleb]

I love the unique design of your car, FrBosquet. I hope this kind of design is a regular thing amongst your cars!

EDIT: And I agree with Frankschtaldt, the back story is of that humble nature you mentioned at the start of your post .

[Frankschtaldt]

I hope they mass produce it too, it looks great!
Looking forward to reading some more back story =)

[FrBosquet]

Thank guys!! Thats what i mean when i speak about a great community!! The ONE is not precisely a humble car, is more like a humble small company trying to make grat cars. Is that what this story is going about!

[FrBosquet]

*So lets go with the first chapter of the story. Sadly no cars this time, its all about background, but its important to the story. Its a great moment to apologize for every English mistake i commit, i dont use it everyday and some thing arent easy to express :S Also, the historical facts I merge with the fiction are not in depth studied by myself and probably you are gonna read some really silly things *

FIRST CHAPTER: FROM 1899 to 1957, THE DREAM

SuperTurismo story begin with its father, Miguel Campoviejo. Born in Granada, Spain, in 1899, Campoviejo moved as a teenager to Madrid and raised a reputation as an intelligent business-opportunity-seeker during its twenties. By the time he reached 30, he has a huge emporium of companies in building, industry, transport, always looking for innovations which can give him advantage over its competitors, and was in relationships with many of the most influencing businessmen of the country. In 1930, in a business trip in Barcelona a client showed him his Hispano Suiza H6 and Miguel fell in love with that incredible machine. He began to look for other cars and became interested in mechanics, competition, design… The idea of fund its very own car company and bring the wonders which were already running in France, Germany, UK… to the heart of Spain began to grow in his mind.

Early 1935, the 36 years old Miguel registered the name SuperTurismo and ordered the building of the very first Spanish car factory in Madrid. The Spanish term Turismo (Tourism), recently invented, stands for an automobile which is intended to transport from 4 to 9 people. Miguel wanted to make superior auto mobiles. He liked specially the idea of luxurious interiors to make the passengers feel like they are in the wealthiest house, but with wheels, and by the way traveling at high speed. That was what he was trying to express with SuperTurismo.

In 1936 with the factory almost built, he began to look for the best engineers in Spain, for people from outside the country who known well the recently created car industry, for mechanics who can built the cars… The dream was becoming true but in July the Spanish civil war began and Miguel had to leave Spain to settle in France.

He lost almost every business, the factory, a great part of his fortune… but he began to work in France and in a couple of years he was doing almost as well in Paris as he does in Madrid before. In 1938 he married Marie Renard, daughter of a business partner, and in 1939 their first son, Jean-Michelle, born. Marie really liked the ideas of Miguel about a car company and proposed the emblem: A circled Dragon, the mightiest mythological beast, to express might, force and power, crowned with a tiara which express luxury and ostentation. Miguel liked the idea and saved the it for the moment he re-establish SuperTurismo.

But another war became: The Second World War. May 10 of 1940 Hitler´s troops invaded France, and to ensure the safety of his family, Miguel Campoviejo moved again, to Switzerland this time, and stayed low profile during those years. Once the war was finished, 1946, they go back to Paris and Miguel started to work one more time. When he was 54, he opened two garages in Paris and began to establish relationships with people from Citroen, Peugeot, Simca… And make a great friendship with Jean Daninos, whose company Facel launched that year the Vega, a 4.5 V8 coupe which fascinated Miguel, who decided to try again. By January 1957 the SuperTurismo brand was launched for the second time in Paris. The building of small factory begin in Versailles. Enginers and mechanics from famous French brands (Simca, Peugeot, Ranault, Talbot…) where hired and began to work in the first ST.

*More Superturismo coming tomorrow *

[07CobaltGirl]

I like the car! I also like the detailed story. Keep it coming.

[size=50]And more cars![/size]

[EnryGT5]

Wow! The SuperTurismo ONE looks fantastic! one of the best designs i ever saw, the backstory is great too! Great Job!

[Killrob]

Really cool design! Definitely unique from what I’ve seen. Good stuff!

[strop]

I agree, a unique aesthetic in design, that makes me want to emulate it! Great work!

[LoucurasdoPortal]

¡El Superturismo es ESTUPENDO!

[TheTom]

Hi FrBosquet! First of all, i agree with others that your design is definitely unique! You are creative and i’m sure there will be more unique designs coming!
That said, there are a few things i don’t like on your first car. I like the idea with multiple vents on the bottom part of the front, but the upper part is too simple for my taste. The big headlights look like you just put them somewhere because the car needed headlights. They look lost, i would have put them above the vents with the smaller lights in them. Or i would have put a grille between those headlights, even a very thin one, just so there’s at least something. The upper part of the front is overall too empty for me.
I like the 4 teeth on the side! That’s very creative, i haven’t seen that before.
On the back, you could try moving the inner red tail light a bit closer to the outer one and then adjust the length of the indicator again. But again, the lower part looks nice! I like the black vents and the placement of the small brake lights between the exhausts.

Greets,
Tom

[FrBosquet]

Thanks Everybody for the comments, im gona post the second part of the story right behind this post. Thank for your critic TheTom, i wanted to kept it simple and personal and maybe is way to simple… But thats the good thing about tastes, everybody have one! I hope you found the next old school designs more compensated.

[FrBosquet]

SECOND CHAPTER: FROM 1957 to 1961

After one year of development SuperTurismo presented the 1•58, or simply 158. The 1 stands for being the first car of the Company and the 58 for the year. The development of this car was marked by the technical and economical limitations of SuperTurismo.
A mid-sized coupe with some angular forms which contrasted with the more curvy styled cars of that era, but made it easier get built while giving a simply yet fancy form factor which reminds the Italian style from cars like Lancia Flamina. The body and panels were made of steel and the suspension featured a McPherson strut with a solid axle coil in the back.

The front face features the four teeth grill for the first time. Those where an idea of Miguel´s son, Jean-Michelle (19yo), who loved the 1956 BMW 507 and wanted something similar but with own personality for his father car. The bundle were completed by two round front lights and the Crowded Dragon badge.

The silhouette, with angular forms.

The back featured a twin round backlight configuration. In the inside, the 158 included a full luxury handcrafted interior for the driver and a passenger, as Miguel stated is was “Totally indispensable for a car of mine”.

Mechanically, the 158 included the very first engine from ST: The ST1812N58 (SuperTurismo 1.8 litre 12 valve non modified from 1958). Many third party engines (like the Chrysler V8 that his friend Jean Daninos was putting into the Facel Vega) where offered to Miguel, but he wanted some kind of “purity” in his car, an own engine, and ordered a very own design inspired on the UK inline 6 coupes from the fifties like the Aston Martin DB3 (2.6 107bhp), the Bristol 406E (2.2 105bhp) or the Jaguar XK150 (3.4 190bhp). The 1812 was an inline 6 1.8 liter engine with 2 valves per cylinder, OHV, a four barrel twin carburettor which performs a reasonable 93 hp at 5000revs. A three-speed gearbox joined it with the rear wheels to make the car reach the 100kmh in 14,70s and achieve a top speed of 170km/h, making a turn into the Automation test track in 3:14,74.

This own designed and built engine, due to the after war taxes for high performance cars in France (the same which killed Bugatti) and the many handmade elements of the cars, greatly increased the price of the 158. Although, the car was interesting enough to sold well in France make Miguel start to think in other models.

[utopian201]

Nice! It has a very Italian feel - in the middle photo, with the 4 gills, it looks like a cross between a Maserati and from the C pillar an Alfa Romeo!

[TheTom]

I like this one much better than the first car! I love the back end

[07CobaltGirl]

Still a great story, and another great design! I agree, definitely a nice Italian 1950’s feel, and it’s nice to see someone using what would be considered “normal tech” for the era. 3-speeds were ever common in the 50’s and 4-speeds didn’t really make a mark until the mid-late 60’s! Great job again!

[FrBosquet]

Im like superbusy right now but i will try to bring some more soperturismo next weekend with the 262

[Pleb]

Seriously, we could start a team of authors with the kind of writing skill showcased on the forums.

I agree with TheTom, I love the back of the 158. Keep it up!

[FrBosquet]

THIRD CHAPTER: FROM 1961 to 1963

The 158 worked well during its firsts year in the market, but Miguel didn’t wanted a car Company to make money but to build special cars. 158 was one of those but just one more between the luxury coupes of its era. To put that spine away (and to reinforce to rising Brand image of SuperTurismo), Miguel put its engineers to work in a “new” car to be over the 158 and make the Brand fly. The aim was to have not just pretty fancy coupe, but to have one aggressive sports car to put in trouble cars like the corvette or the 250 GTO. Four years after the launch of the 158, the 262 appeared. The 2 stands for being the second car and the 62 for the year.
Basically, it was the same car as the 158 with a new engine, revised chassis, aesthetic… everything. They tried to make a super car without losing all the work made in the 158.

The front face kept the look of the 158 but refines it with new double optics and chromed details. The Bonnet was bumped to make room for the new and bigger engine.
They choose and inverted triangle shaped which became another classic feature of the SuperTurismos.

The side view was improved with two chromed stripes over the wheel arches

The backside features new vertical backlights.

But SuperTurismo cheated… a lot! The new car needed a new engine with enough power to impress but the knowledge about engine design was a still a bit short in SuperTurismo. So Miguel asked Jean Daninos for help and with the aid of its Company (Facel Vega) they made some kind of reverse engineering on the 4.5 Chrysler V8 (180hp, which was mounted on the Facel II), designed a prototype V8 based on that and then touched here and there to hit the mark of 250hp, which where insane for 1962. The final design ended in a 4.2 V8 wich used a 2 barrel triple carburettor and a very aggressive cam profile to achieve massive 260hp@5500rpm, almost as powerful as the supercar of that era, the 265hp Jaguar E-Type. The name was ST4216N62. The three speed gearbox wasn’t enough anymore, so a new gearbox was develop with four gears. The chassis was modified to, changing the old Solid Axle Coil with a new modern Semi Trailing arm, and mounted new 185/195 tyres with 16 inch rims. With all these changes, the 300kg heavier 262 beat the old 158 in every aspect: It accelerates way much faster (7.50s for 14,7 in the 0-100), it was faster (223km/h for 170km/h), it was as luxurious and comfortable as the 158 and makes a turn in the Automation test track in just 2:46.61 (30 seconds faster than the 158).

But the car was like three times much expense tan its old brother, almost hitting the line of the E-Type, so the 262 needed to hit really hard to survive. Did it do it? We´ll see in the next chapter.

[FrBosquet]

FOURTH CHAPTER: FROM 1963 to 1972

Sadly, the 262 didnt achieved it. In 1963 the founder of the company Miguel Campo Viejo died leaving the company in hands of the young and unexperienced Jean Michelle. The lack of course in the direction of the company results in no new developments appearing during the decade. Finally in 1968 the sales of the expensive 262 and of the veteran 158 did not manage to compensate the high costs derived from the manufacture of the two coupes and in 1968 the company decides to stop the production immediately. With Miguel´s death six years before, the rest of the family enterprises could not support Superturismo anymore. So JM had to think about a solution to give continuity to the company.

Once again, a risky bet is done. Instead of proposing an economic car that supports the costs by means of volume, a luxury saloon appears with the eyes put in cars like the Iso Fidia S4 or the Jaguar XJ. The V8, in spite of having suffered certain problems of reliability in his beginnings, was the sufficiently refined to be a guarantee in the following ST and the plant of production was ready to make a chassis and an interior to be at the height.

In 1969 the new Supertourism 969 was presented in the Paris Auto Show, one giant saloon of 4,8 meters of length with an elegant line. This vehicle came to claim the values of the brand in a much more versatile format, offering exclusivity, luxury and power. According to Jean Michelle, the 9 of 969 was mean to indicate that it was a car 9 times better that the 1 • 78, nevertheless the rumors speak that adopted because of the aesthetic power of a palindrome and with the intention of expressing that it was not one more car in the series, since the following car must have begun with 3.

In the front, the 969 appears with a very subtle offer. Round lights embedded in rectangular optics with the touch of the integrated indicators gives a very modern look. In the skirt only the four teeth, in an exercise of conceptual purity. The bonnet featured the inverted triangle already dress in the 262.

The side view shows a saloon with a great fall in C-pillar to preserve the sporty character of the previous cars. The elongated image translated in a great interior space that was one of the commercial claims of the vehicle. Wheelarches where solved with prominent forms and a round indicator appears in the side.

The back view was solved in an even more subtlely and elegant form, with a grid that hides the indicators. The rest turns out to be clean.

Mechanically, the ST4216N62 was recovers without changes, to take maximun advantage of the resources of the company and to keep costs as low as possible. Nevertheless, the former steel chassis was relected for a new monocoque of corrossion ressistant Steel and dressed in panels of aluminium. The suspension changes for one of double wishbone to keep the 1480kg cars agile. These two changes increased significantly the price of production. The 4-speed gearbox of the 262 was revisited to adapt it to the new type of car and an acceleration of 8,9s to 100 was achieved with it. The car got a time in the circuit of 2:55.13. The handcrafted interior changed for a more reasonable luxury one, facilitating the mechanization of the car. In addition, the entertainmente and safety equipment was added for the first time.

969 turns into the second life or death bet of Supertourism, a supersaloon that was coming to beat the best ones and to demonstrate the capacity of the company.