1965 ASA 1000 GT #1
Based on a Ferrari prototype, the ASA 1000 undoubtedly was the fastest one-litre production sports car in the world. Very few people got to see this sleek two-seater, however, much less to drive it. Only an estimated 50 to 75 were ever made.
Pocket-Size Ferrari 250GT
Enzo Ferrari had built a prototype of what he called the "Ferrarina" in 1958, and this was the basis for rumors that his company planned to issue a mini sports car. In 1962 a two-seat fastback coupe, bodied by Bertone and unveiled at the Turin Motor Show, met this description. It bore no nameplate, but the chassis layout and engine indicated that it was a scaled-down version of the Ferrari 250GT. The engine was effectively a four cylinder bank of the Colombo v12, although the cylinders were different in size, so the parts were not interchangeable.
A Short Career
But Ferrari had no intention of building the car itself. In 1962 the head of the de Nora petrochemical group founded a company called Autocostruzioni Societa per Azioni (ASA) and took over the rights to make it. Production of the ASA 1000, which included some convertibles, was never more than one per week. The company folded in 1967.
Specifications
Performance: Top speed of 115 mph
Engine Type/Drivetrain: Single overhead-cam, in-line 4-cylinder
Displacement: 1,032 cc (1.0 L)
Power Rating: 84-96 hp
Transmission: 4-speed, with overdrive
Chassis: Coil-spring suspension, indipentant in the front, with live rear axle; rack-and-pinion steering, disc brakes; 1,565-1,830 lbs