Carrozzeria Boneschi
Carrozzeria Boneschi is an Italian coachbuilder founded in 1919 that became known for bespoke passenger-car bodies, commercial-vehicle conversions, prototypes, and special-purpose vehicles.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Carrozzeria Boneschi was an Italian coachbuilding business established in 1919 by Giovanni Boneschi near Milan. Its work covered the construction and styling of special bodies for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, buses, prototypes, and other purpose-built vehicles. The company’s history reflects the changing role of the Italian carrozzeria: it began in an era when automobile manufacturers commonly relied on independent body makers for complete or highly customized coachwork, and later broadened its activities toward commercial and industrial applications. The company’s early orders included bodies for the Lancia Lambda. During the interwar period and the years surrounding the Second World War, Boneschi worked on several important Italian and foreign marques, including Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Talbot, and Rolls-Royce. Its Lancia-related output included work associated with the Dilambda, Artena, Astura, and Aprilia. The firm also produced or developed bodies for models such as the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 and Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8C Monterosa. These projects positioned Boneschi within the Milan-area coachbuilding tradition, where engineering, craftsmanship, and individualized styling were combined for private clients and manufacturers. Boneschi moved from Milan to Cambiago in 1933. Its factory was rebuilt in 1946 after wartime disruption. Giovanni Boneschi died after the postwar rebuilding, but the business continued under later management and design leadership. Among the figures associated with the company’s later years was Dr. Bruno Pezzaglia, who served as a designer and director. The postwar period brought a mixture of production-derived special bodies, show cars, advertising vehicles, prototypes, and commercial conversions. Examples include a wood-bodied Fiat 1100/103 Giardinetta from 1949 and the toothpaste-shaped Pubblicigario promotional car created for Binaca in 1951. During the 1950s and 1960s, Boneschi developed an extensive portfolio of one-off or limited projects. It built an Alfa Romeo 1900C Astral presented at the 1953 Turin Motor Show, with another example reportedly sold to Rafael Trujillo, and produced a Lancia Aurelia B53 convertible. Its later projects included the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Weekendina station wagon, the Fiat 1500 Spider Bonetto designed by Rodolfo Bonetto, the Lancia Flaminia Spider Amalfi, multiple designs for the O.S.C.A. 1600 GT Swift, a Maserati 3500 GT variant, and the Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Studionove. Boneschi also worked on a Ford Fairlane prototype in 1963. Until approximately 1960, the company was largely associated with automobile manufacturers and special passenger-car bodies. Thereafter, commercial and industrial work became increasingly important. The portfolio included a Fiat 306 bus conversion for Gancia Asti and an armored Iveco OM55 truck in 1977. The company also developed a Lancia Thema Gazella coupé prototype in 1987, showing that it retained an interest in experimental passenger-car design while maintaining broader vehicle-conversion capabilities. A United States patent granted in 1972 is also associated with the company. Carrozzeria Boneschi is primarily remembered as a historically significant Italian coachbuilder rather than as a mass-market vehicle manufacturer. Its surviving work is relevant to the study of Italian automotive design, custom coachwork, show cars, promotional vehicles, and commercial-vehicle specialization. In more recent years, the Boneschi brand was acquired by the coachbuilder Savio. The available reference material does not establish a separate current product range, production volume, or independent operating status for Boneschi.
History
Carrozzeria Boneschi was founded in 1919 by Giovanni Boneschi in the Milan area. It emerged during the formative period of the Italian coachbuilding industry, when automobile manufacturers frequently supplied rolling chassis to independent firms for the design and construction of complete bodies. Boneschi’s first recorded orders included bodies for the Lancia Lambda, and the company subsequently worked with a broad range of manufacturers and marques. Before and around the Second World War, Boneschi was associated with vehicles from Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Talbot, and Rolls-Royce. Its Lancia work included the Dilambda, Artena, Astura, and Aprilia. The company also produced bodies for the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 and the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8C Monterosa. These projects placed it among the specialist Italian firms whose output combined hand-built construction with individualized styling for luxury, sporting, and executive automobiles. In 1933, Boneschi moved from Milan to Cambiago. The factory was rebuilt in 1946 following wartime damage or disruption. Giovanni Boneschi died after the rebuilding, but the company continued its operations. Later management and design personnel included Dr. Bruno Pezzaglia, identified in reference material as both a designer and director. The postwar decades were particularly varied. Boneschi produced bodies derived from existing Fiat and Alfa Romeo models, as well as unusual promotional vehicles and show cars. A 1949 Fiat 1100/103 Giardinetta used wood-based station-wagon construction. In 1951, the company made the Pubblicigario, a toothpaste-shaped promotional vehicle for Binaca. Its 1950s work also included an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 convertible, the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8C Monterosa Cabriolet, the Alfa Romeo 1900C Astral, and a Lancia Aurelia B53 convertible. The Astral was displayed at the 1953 Turin Motor Show, and a second example was reportedly sold to Rafael Trujillo. Boneschi remained active in experimental and low-volume design through the 1960s. Notable projects included the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Weekendina station wagon, the Fiat 1500 Spider Bonetto designed by Rodolfo Bonetto, the Lancia Flaminia Spider Amalfi, two different O.S.C.A. 1600 GT Swift designs from 1962 and 1963, a Maserati 3500 GT variant, the Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Studionove, and a Ford Fairlane prototype. The range demonstrates the firm’s ability to move between manufacturer-related projects, independent styling proposals, and one-off or limited-production bodies. The company’s business increasingly included commercial and special-purpose vehicles. It converted a Fiat 306 bus for Gancia Asti and later worked on an armored Iveco OM55 truck in 1977. Boneschi also developed the Lancia Thema Gazella coupé prototype in 1987. A United States patent granted in 1972 is associated with the company, although the available reference does not provide enough detail to describe the patented technology reliably. Carrozzeria Boneschi is therefore best understood as a long-running specialist coachbuilder rather than a conventional automobile brand with a standardized model range. Its historical importance lies in the breadth of its collaborations, its contribution to Italian custom body design, and its later work in commercial and special-purpose vehicles. The Boneschi brand was subsequently acquired by Savio, another Italian coachbuilder. The available material does not establish the precise date of acquisition, the current operating structure, or whether Boneschi continues as an independently active production business.
- 1987
Lancia Thema Gazella prototype
[1]The company developed the Lancia Thema Gazella coupé prototype.
- 1977
Armored Iveco OM55
[1]Boneschi worked on an armored Iveco OM55 truck.
- 1972
United States patent
[1]A United States patent, numbered 3,797,880, was associated with the company.
- 1962
O.S.C.A. 1600 GT Swift design
[1]Boneschi developed one of two recorded O.S.C.A. 1600 GT Swift designs associated with 1962 and 1963.
- 1953
Alfa Romeo 1900C Astral shown in Turin
[1]The Alfa Romeo 1900C Astral was displayed at the Turin Motor Show; a second example was reportedly sold to Rafael Trujillo.
- 1951
Pubblicigario promotional vehicle
[1]The company created a toothpaste-shaped promotional car for Binaca.
- 1949
Fiat 1100/103 Giardinetta
[1]Boneschi produced a wood-bodied station-wagon-style Giardinetta based on the Fiat 1100/103.
- 1946
Postwar factory rebuilding
[1]The company rebuilt its factory after the Second World War.
- 1933
Move to Cambiago
[1]Boneschi relocated its operations from Milan to Cambiago.
- 1919
Company founded near Milan
[1]Giovanni Boneschi established the coachbuilding company in the Milan area.
Products and positioning
Independent Italian coachbuilder specializing in custom automobile bodies, prototypes, promotional vehicles, and commercial or special-purpose vehicle conversions.
Automobile coachwork
Lancia Lambda bodies
The Lancia Lambda was among Boneschi’s earliest recorded assignments. The work illustrates the company’s original role as an independent body maker supplying specialized coachwork for manufacturer-built chassis.
Station wagon coachwork · 1949
Fiat 1100/103 Giardinetta
Introduced in 1949, the Giardinetta was a wood-based station-wagon-style body built on the Fiat 1100/103. It represents Boneschi’s postwar ability to adapt a mainstream Fiat platform into a more practical and visually distinctive body configuration.
Promotional vehicle · 1951
Pubblicigario
The Pubblicigario was a toothpaste-shaped advertising vehicle created in 1951 for Binaca. Its highly literal product-inspired form made it an example of Boneschi’s work beyond conventional passenger-car coachwork.
Show car · 1953
Alfa Romeo 1900C Astral
The Astral was a special body based on the Alfa Romeo 1900C. One example appeared at the 1953 Turin Motor Show, while another was reportedly sold to Rafael Trujillo. It is associated with Boneschi’s one-off and exhibition-oriented design work.
Convertible coachwork · 1953
Lancia Aurelia B53 convertible
The Lancia Aurelia B53 convertible was one of Boneschi’s postwar special bodies for Lancia. It belongs to the firm’s period of developing individualized open-car designs on established Italian chassis.
Station wagon prototype or special body · 1957
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Weekendina
The Giulietta Weekendina was a station-wagon-style interpretation of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. It shows Boneschi applying practical body formats to a sporting compact-car platform during the 1950s.
Sports-car coachwork · 1961
Lancia Flaminia Spider Amalfi
The Spider Amalfi was a special open-bodied design for the Lancia Flaminia. It formed part of Boneschi’s 1960s portfolio of elegant, low-volume bodies created for established Italian luxury and sporting platforms.
Sports-car prototype · 1962
O.S.C.A. 1600 GT Swift
Boneschi produced two different recorded designs for the O.S.C.A. 1600 GT Swift in 1962 and 1963. The projects demonstrate the firm’s continuing role in independent sports-car styling and prototype body development.
Sports-car coachwork · 1963
Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider Studionove
The Studionove was a special Spider design based on the Alfa Romeo 2600. It was part of Boneschi’s series of 1960s proposals and special bodies for Italian performance-oriented automobiles.
Armored commercial vehicle · 1977
Iveco OM55 armored truck
In 1977, Boneschi worked on an armored version of the Iveco OM55. This project reflects the company’s later emphasis on commercial, industrial, and special-purpose vehicle conversions.
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