In 1959, Innocenti signed a deal with BMC that would see it become a car manufacturer for the first time. (Photo: Gaetano Zagra) WHEN BMC joined forces with Innocenti in the late 1950s, the first fruit of their union was the Innocenti A40. The car must almost have suggested itself for production in Italy: after [...]

The Innocenti factory was a world class facility, as these pictures clearly show. In many ways, this Mini production line was more advanced than its progenitor back in Longbridge. Pictures kindly supplied by Henk Schuuring and Gaetano Zagra

In 1960, BMC entered into a collaboration with Italian component and scooter manufacturer Innocenti, which saw the latter company produce BMC/BL-based models in Italy for the next 15 years. This page presents a brief rundown of these models, plus a potted history of Innocenti. A potted history Viewed from the air, the Innocenti plant in [...]

In 1974, Leyland’s Italian subsidiary Innocenti introduced a rebodied, 3-door hatchback Mini, sytled by Bertone. However, within a year of its launch, BLMC went bankrupt and Innocenti was sold to de Tomaso. Prior to the launch of the Metro, the Innocenti was briefly available in the UK, and it continued to be sold as part [...]

The 1970 Innocenti Mini-Minor; a name long since dropped in the UK… Thanks to Giovanni Marchisio for scanning and submitting the images on this page

The Italian-built estate version of the Mini was called the Innocenti Mini t… Thanks to Graham Arnold for scanning and submitting the images on this page

THE Italian Allegro, that it seemed, no one wanted… Short and not-so sweet THERE’S not much to say really about the Innocenti Regent. This version of the Allegro was produced in Italy under licence during 1974 and 1975, and lasted a scant 18 months in production. The Italians allegedly begged British Leyland to let it [...]

The first 1100-based Innocenti – the IM3 – was so-named as it was the third Innocenti-Morris joint venture, following the A40 and 950 Spider. It was launched as a Morris in the spring of 1963, and was joined the following year by a more basic, Austin-badged model. Production of the Morris models ended in 1970, [...]

For 2007′s final Car of The Month, we take a look at a rather special ADO16 – one you couldn’t buy an IM3 in the UK, but it is now seen as the ultimate collector’s item for anyone with 1100s in their blood… German BMC>MG enthusiast, Alexander Boucke, managed to secure a prime example to [...]

INNOCENTI The Innocenti 90/120 hatchback Mini is announced. Link: Innocenti Mini

The British Leyland Motor Corporation is shortly to complete a £3m. deal to buy outright Innocenti Autoveicoli of Milan, the company which assembles and sells Austin-Morris cars in Italy. Announcement of the proposed acquisition came at the weekend after several days of heavy speculation in Italy that a deal was imminent. The new managing director [...]

THE OBSERVER STOKES TO TAKEOVER INNOCENTI By Roger Eglin British Leyland is to buy the Italian family-owned car company, Innocenti Autoveicoli , of Milan, for some £3 million. Innocenti already assembles Austin and Morns cars, mainly Minis , imported in kit form. A few minor technical points have to be resolved before the deal goes [...]

THE GUARDIAN By Anthony Harris British Leyland is holding talks with Innocenti, the Milan engineering company which makes the BMC Mini and 1100/1300 for the Italian market. This could lead to a partial takeover of the Italian firm, and IRI, the Italian State holding company, is also involved in the talks. The talks, being led [...]