Carrozzeria Savio
Italian coachbuilder founded in Turin after World War II, now specialised in industrial bodies and emergency-vehicle conversions.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
Carrozzeria Savio is an Italian coachbuilding firm founded in Turin in the aftermath of the Second World War by brothers Antonio and Giuseppe Savio. The brothers had previously spent more than twenty years at Marcelle, a maker of carts, horse-drawn carriages and carriages, and their reputation there helped them win an early contract to build 900 bodies for the Italian manufacturer Itala. From that start they went on to body chassis for Ceirano, Lancia, OM, Isotta Fraschini, Ansaldo, Alfa Romeo and above all Fiat, with whom relations became continuous. In the 1930s Savio produced special bodies for the Fiat 508 Balilla and Fiat 1100 and created the avant-garde Box-Body concept, a forerunner of today's off-roaders. During the Second World War the company converted to ambulance production; its workshops were heavily damaged, and Antonio Savio handed leadership to his brother Giuseppe, who renamed the firm Stabilimento Savio Giuseppe Carrozziere Automobili. After Giuseppe's death in 1954 his son-in-law Alfredo Caracciolo took over and relaunched the business, moving all activities to a new plant at Moncalieri in 1959. The 1960s brought coupé models on Fiat 1500, 2300 and 1600 S bases and, in 1965, the Fiat 600 Savio Jungla, an open leisure vehicle that was also adapted for armed forces; more than 3,200 were built between 1965 and 1974. Savio also created an Autobus division for special bodywork and conversions, and in the 1970s Lancia entrusted it with building 200 bodies for the rally Lancia Delta S4. In 1987 it produced the Fiat Freely, an ideal descendant of the 600 Jungla on a Fiat Panda base. In 1995 Savio bought Carrozzeria Boneschi through its holding OMNIA SpA, and the merged entity formed Gruppo Savio. Today Carrozzeria Savio no longer builds special automobiles; it specialises in industrial bodies, special trucks and buses, and the equipping of medical and emergency vehicles, including ambulances.
History
Carrozzeria Savio was founded in Turin by brothers Antonio and Giuseppe Savio, who had gained extensive experience over more than twenty years at Marcelle, a company that built carts, horse-drawn carriages and carriages. Their former employer associated them with an important order for 900 bodies for the Italian manufacturer Itala. After this positive start and the reputation they acquired, they were able to offer their talents to other manufacturers. Among the first manufacturers to homologate Carrozzeria Savio was Fabbrica Automobili Giovanni Ceirano, absorbed by Fiat Auto in 1923; on a Ceirano chassis the Savio brothers built the first automobile equipped with a silent-block system. The company's activity grew with orders from Lancia, OM, Isotta Fraschini, Ansaldo, Alfa Romeo and especially the giant Fiat, with whom commercial relations were the most extensive and continuous, still ongoing as of 2015. In the 1930s Savio distinguished itself with special bodies for the Fiat 508 Balilla and Fiat 1100, and created the avant-garde Box-Body concept car, a prototype forerunner of today's off-roaders. During the Second World War Carrozzeria Savio converted to ambulance construction. At the end of the conflict the workshops were very heavily damaged, and Antonio Savio, elderly and exhausted by those difficult years, left the management to his brother Giuseppe, who changed the company name to Stabilimento Savio Giuseppe Carrozziere Automobili. In 1954 Giuseppe Savio died and the company was led by his son-in-law Alfredo Caracciolo, who relaunched the business. In 1959 a new factory became operational at Moncalieri, in the Metropolitan City of Turin, where all activities were transferred. The company continued with its ambulance division, while automobile coachbuilding grew with new Fiat models and the start of the Italian economic miracle. In 1961 and 1963 Savio launched two coupé models based on the Fiat 1500. In 1963 the company distinguished itself with creations based on the Fiat 2300 and Fiat 1600 S, with a new variant launched the following year. In 1965 Savio began production of one of the two best-known cars in its range, the Fiat 600 Savio Jungla, built on a Fiat 600 platform with an open body intended for leisure but adapted for special uses by the armed forces; more than 3,200 examples were produced between 1965 and 1974. During the second half of the 1960s Savio presented several prototypes of coupé and estate bodies based on the Fiat 125. At the same time Savio built a coupé on a Fiat 124 platform and mechanics, reworked by the Italian tuner OTAS. It was during this period that Savio created its Autobus division, specialising in specific bodywork and conversions; this division is still operational as of 2015, though for transformations or adaptations on existing complete models, whereas at the time Savio built the entire body. The 1970s saw the company particularly solicited by Lancia, which entrusted it with building the 200 bodies of the monstrous and glorious Lancia Delta S4 rally cars. More recently, in 1987, Savio produced the Fiat Freely, an ideal descendant of the 600 Jungla, built on a Fiat Panda base. In 1995 the Savio company bought Carrozzeria Boneschi through its holding OMNIA SpA, which after merger formed Groupe Savio. As of 2015, Carrozzeria Savio no longer builds special automobiles but specialises in industrial bodies, special trucks and buses, and the equipping of medical vehicles.
Founded in Turin by Antonio and Giuseppe Savio after World War II.
Built 900 bodies for Itala, an important early contract.
Built first automobile with silent-block system on a Ceirano chassis.
1930s: special bodies for Fiat 508 Balilla and Fiat 1100; Box-Body concept car.
World War II: converted to ambulance production.
After WWII: renamed Stabilimento Savio Giuseppe Carrozziere Automobili under Giuseppe Savio.
1954: Giuseppe Savio dies; son-in-law Alfredo Caracciolo takes over.
1959: new factory operational at Moncalieri; all activities transferred.
1961 and 1963: launches two coupé models based on Fiat 1500.
1963: creations based on Fiat 2300 and Fiat 1600 S; new variant in 1964.
Products and positioning
Specialist coachbuilder and converter of industrial, emergency and medical vehicles.
Fiat 508 Balilla Savio
Fiat 1100 Savio
Fiat 1500 Savio Coupé
Fiat 2300 Savio Coupé
Fiat 1600S Savio Coupé
Fiat 600 Savio Jungla
Fiat 600 Multipla Panoramica
Fiat 500 Jungla
Fiat 124 Savio Coupé
Fiat 125 Savio Roadster
Fiat Panda Freely
Ambulances
Industrial vehicle bodies
Special trucks and buses
Sources6 sources
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