Following the Great Walkout of 1961, when Enzo Ferrari had some of his important employees ousted from the company, the birthing of ATS became the next big thing in the 1960s. Carlos Chiti (Ferrari's chief engineer) and Giotto Bizzarrini (Ferrari's development chief), along with some of Ferrari’s key staff, had some disagreements with the company’s management and formed a new company - ATS.
Automobili Turismo e Sport (ATS) was created as competition for Ferrari, and the aim was to topple the Prancing Horse's dominance on the race track and general sport car ranks. ATS began formal operations in 1963. Despite the glamour, expectations, vehicles built by ATS failed to live up to the hype. Today the ATS 2500 GT stands in the Frist Art Museum in Tennessee. Here's what gearheads forgot about the car.
10 Sleek Design
When it comes to looks, the ATS 2500 GT certainly awed car lovers. Designed by Franco Scaglione, who had styled many successful Italian cars at that time, the vehicle was simply fine art on four wheels. The idea was to build a fastback with a rear hatch and an integrated front bumper.
The original vehicle was built with a steel body, while ATS used aluminum to build the GTS. After the design by Franco Scaglione, Turin-based coachbuilder, Carrozzeria Allemano interpreted the design to perfection
9 Elegant Interior
What made ATS 2500 GT stand out from its competition was the fact that its interior included power windows. With an upscale, leather-upholstered cabin, the car had a mature air of elegance about its interior compared to other vehicles of that time.
This, along with a gorgeous Nardi wooden steering wheel, gave the ATS 2500 GT a luxurious feel about its interior. The car was also fitted with power brakes, which was a rarity at the time.
8 Speed and Power
With a 2.5 liter V8 making 220 hp, the ATS 2500 GT was up there in the supercar category by 1960 standards. Its top speed was around the 150 mph mark, which was not bad for a 1963 car. It could rev up to 9,000rpm and had a 90-degree vee angle.
The all-aluminum model provided close to 215hp and 188lb-ft of torque with the help of Weber twin-choke carburetors. The ATS 2500 GT’s estimated potentials following its power and speed analysis were jacked a little too high. Still, it was great the short while it lasted.
7 Excellent Handling
Due to its central engine system, the drive experience for this racing/road sports car was quite enjoyable. The optimal weight distribution caused by the engine positioning meant that the car had superior cornering.
With the height and mass of the engine eliminated from the front, the ATS 2500 GT had a more aerodynamic shape and feel when on the road or track, which is in line with its original objective to dominate the tracks and outdo the Ferrari.
6 Similarities With Ferrari Models
ATS 2500 GT and the Ferrari racing power plants of the 1960s shared obvious similarities mainly because they were designed by the same person - Chiti - who helped create the Ferrari racing power plants while still working in Maranello. Asides from its difference in operating a novel mid-engine, every other feature of the ATS 2500 GT had glaring pointers to Ferraris of its time.
The reason for this cannot be so far-fetched; in the desire to out-Ferrari the Ferrari, Chiti and his team simply modified the Ferrari, creating a new brand in the process. Ultimately, it didn’t achieve the original aim; instead, it inspired Ferrari to improve.
5 1963 Exhibit
The tune emanating from the custom-made Abarth exhaust system mated to a five-speed Colotti gearbox was the first thing that awed car lovers at the 1963 Paris Motor Show, where it made its first official appearance and showcased itself to the automobile world. This, coupled with the incredibly sleek body, left nothing but awe and rave reviews from onlookers and experts alike.
The ATS 2500 GT is arguably one of the cars in history which received pure positive feedback and appraisal on its first appearance without any hint of criticism. Unfortunately, the ATS 2500 GT failed to live up to the hype.
4 Premium Price Tag
The ATS 2500 GT sold for $850,000 as a limited edition. This hefty price did not help its cause in any way. Soon enough, the car was out of the spotlight because the price tag didn’t just tally with what it offered.
ATS was a newbie in the industry and couldn’t command the fat prices that came with prestige. Moreover, they had the unwanted record of losing every race they entered, which led to very little demand in the midst of more established rivals.
3 String Of Failures
After the notable driver Phil Hill rode the ATS 2500 GT to another stunning loss, not much could be salvaged from the reputation of this beautiful European sports car. The ATS 2500 GT lost in every race it competed, and the sports car simply offered no value for its high cost at that time.
Due to its failures on road and track, other automobiles which had been intimidated by its arrival simply thrived again. Well, the ATS 2500 GT had been likened to a peacock - beauty without flight.
2 Revival Efforts
After ATS hit rock bottom in 1985, the co-founders ventured into other enterprises. Bizzarrini started his own firm, then went on to join Lamborghini. Chitti also founded Autodelta, which liaised with Alfa Romeo for over ten years.
In 2012, there were efforts to revive the ATS 2500, and in 2014, Daniele Maritan and Emanuele Bomboi acquired the ATS marque. In 2017, ATS announced something of a successor to the 2500 GT. They dubbed the new car the ATS GT, and it borrows lots of features from the original version.
1 Pioneering The Central Engine
The engine of the ATS 2500 GT was among the first mid-engine sports car ever created in automobile history. The strange mid-engine supercar was the brainchild of Chiti, while Bizzarrini made the tubular steel space frame chassis, employing a double-wishbone independent suspension configuration on both axles.
The car had a 2.5L 90V8 engine with a 5-speed manual transmission which was among the most sophisticated at the time. This engine arrangement based on the sole purpose of creating a dual-purpose road/racing car was simply one of the most sophisticated at its time.