Officine Ermini Firenze
Italian sports-car manufacturer and racing-oriented marque founded in Florence by Pasquale Ermini.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Officine Ermini Firenze was an Italian sports-car manufacturer based in Florence and associated with lightweight competition cars, specialist engineering, and small-volume coachbuilt production. The company was founded by Pasquale Ermini in 1932, when he opened a workshop on Via Campo D'Arrigo and began preparing sports cars for local drivers. Its early identity was therefore closely tied to competition support and mechanical development rather than large-scale automobile manufacturing. Ermini's own car-building work became more prominent after the Second World War. In 1946, Pasquale Ermini developed a sports car derived from the Alfa Romeo 2500SS. The car helped him secure the Italian vice-championship in the Sport Maggiore category. During the same year, he designed and built a twin-cam cylinder head intended for use with the Fiat 1100 platform. This combination of modified production-car foundations and specialized engine work became characteristic of the marque. In 1947 Ermini founded Scuderia TESS, an organization whose name referred to the Testa Emisfera Super Sport, or hemispherical super-sport cylinder head. The team competed in major Italian road races and achieved seventh place overall in the 1947 Mille Miglia. Ermini cars subsequently appeared in a range of small-displacement competition and grand-touring configurations. Their engineering typically emphasized tubular chassis construction, compact four-cylinder engines, overhead camshaft layouts, multiple carburetors, and relatively low weight. Some cars used Fiat-based power units, while bodywork was supplied or designed by specialist coachbuilders. The marque's documented production was extremely limited. Between 1946 and 1955, Ermini built nineteen cars and one additional chassis. The recorded output included Alfa Romeo- and Fiat-based competition cars, the Fiat Grand Prix and Silver models, a Berlinetta, Sport International cars, the Gran Turismo, and the 357 Sport in 1100 cc and 1500 cc forms. A Gran Sport Coupé shown at the Turin Motor Show used an enlarged 1350 cc Fiat four-cylinder engine producing a stated 90 horsepower, with double overhead camshafts, dual ignition, and a Weber carburetor; its bodywork was created by Pietro Frua. The open two-seat 1100 model followed in 1956. Ermini's racing record included victory in the 1950 National Sports Car Championship for the class up to 1100 cc. The marque also achieved notable results in the Targa Florio: Aldo Terigi finished fourth overall in 1952, while Piero Scotti won his class in the event. These results helped establish Ermini as a specialist Italian competition marque despite its very small production volume. Production ended in 1956 because of Pasquale Ermini's health. The workshop continued assisting Ermini drivers until 1962, when the final facility on Viale Matteotti closed. The brand was later revived in 2007. Its modern revival culminated in the presentation of the Ermini Seiottosei in 2014. The car used a chassis developed by Osella from its sports-prototype technology, styling by Giulio Cappellini, and a 320-horsepower Renault engine. Planned production was reported at approximately nine units. The available reference material does not establish whether the revived operation remains active, whether the proposed production was completed, or who currently owns or operates the marque.
History
Pasquale Ermini established his first workshop in Florence in 1932. The business initially prepared sports cars for local competitors, placing Ermini within the network of Italian specialist garages that supported private racing drivers before and after the Second World War. Rather than beginning as a conventional mass-market manufacturer, the company developed through tuning, fabrication, and competition preparation. Ermini's first major complete-car project appeared in 1946. Based on the Alfa Romeo 2500SS, it enabled him to achieve the Italian vice-championship in the Sport Maggiore category. That year he also designed and built a twin-cam cylinder head for the Fiat 1100, demonstrating the company's interest in improving the performance of relatively compact production-car engines. In 1947, Ermini created Scuderia TESS, named for the Testa Emisfera Super Sport hemispherical-head concept. The team placed seventh overall in the 1947 Mille Miglia. The cars built during the following decade were highly specialized and produced in tiny numbers. The first Ermini model used a tubular frame, a four-cylinder double-overhead-camshaft engine, two downdraft carburetors, and a five-speed gearbox. Later Fiat-based cars used enlarged or extensively modified engines. The Gran Sport Coupé displayed at the Turin Motor Show used a 1350 cc Fiat four-cylinder engine rated at 90 horsepower, with double overhead camshafts, dual ignition, and a Weber carburetor. Pietro Frua provided the bodywork for that model. An open two-seat 1100 appeared in 1956. The recorded production total for 1946–1955 was nineteen cars plus one chassis. The list includes one Ermini-Alfa Romeo 2500 cc, one Fiat Type Golden Wing 1100 cc, two Fiat Grand Prix 1100 cc cars, five Fiat Silver 1100 cc cars, one Fiat Berlinetta 1100 cc, three Sport International 1100 cc cars, one Gran Turismo 1390 cc, four 357 Sport 1100 cc cars, one 357 Sport 1500 cc, and one 1390 cc chassis. These figures underline the marque's role as a boutique competition and sports-car constructor rather than a volume producer. Ermini's racing activities produced several notable results. The company won the 1950 National Sports Car Championship in the up-to-1100 cc class. At the Targa Florio, Aldo Terigi finished fourth overall in 1952, and Piero Scotti won his class. Such results gave the small Florentine constructor recognition beyond its limited manufacturing scale. Pasquale Ermini's health led to the cessation of production in 1956. The company continued supporting its drivers for several years, but the last workshop, located on Viale Matteotti, closed in 1962. The marque was revived in 2007. In 2014, the reborn Ermini presented the Seiottosei, a modern sports car whose chassis was developed by Osella from its sports-prototype work. Giulio Cappellini designed the bodywork, and the car was specified with a 320-horsepower Renault engine. The planned production run was approximately nine vehicles. The available references do not provide verified information about later deliveries, current management, present production, or the legal status of the revived company.
- 2014
Ermini Seiottosei presented
[1]The revived company presented the Seiottosei, a proposed limited-production sports car using an Osella-developed chassis and Renault engine.
- 2007
Brand revival
[1]The Ermini brand was revived after the closure of its original manufacturing operation.
- 1962
Final historic workshop closes
[1]The last Ermini workshop on Viale Matteotti closed.
- 1956
Original production ends
[1]Production ceased because of Pasquale Ermini's health, although driver assistance continued afterward.
- 1952
Targa Florio result
[1]Aldo Terigi finished fourth overall in the Targa Florio in an Ermini.
- 1950
National Sports Car Championship victory
[1]Ermini won the Italian National Sports Car Championship in the class for cars up to 1100 cc.
- 1947
Scuderia TESS reaches seventh at the Mille Miglia
[1]Pasquale Ermini founded Scuderia TESS, which achieved seventh place overall in the Mille Miglia.
- 1946
First Ermini sports car and twin-cam development
[1]Ermini developed an Alfa Romeo 2500SS-based sports car and designed a twin-cam cylinder head for the Fiat 1100 platform.
- 1932
Pasquale Ermini opens a Florence workshop
[1]Pasquale Ermini founded the business and opened its first workshop on Via Campo D'Arrigo, preparing sports cars for local drivers.
Products and positioning
A Florentine specialist marque positioned around lightweight sports cars, competition engineering, limited production, and Italian coachbuilding.
Sports and competition car · 1946
Ermini-Alfa Romeo 2500 cc
Ermini's first documented complete car was based on the Alfa Romeo 2500SS and appeared in the immediate postwar period. Its competition use helped Pasquale Ermini secure the Italian vice-championship in the Sport Maggiore category. The model represented the marque's early approach of adapting established Italian mechanical platforms for specialist sporting use.
Competition car · 1948
Ermini-Fiat Grand Prix 1100
The Grand Prix 1100 was part of Ermini's Fiat-based competition range. Two examples were built in 1948. Like other Ermini cars of the period, it belonged to a small-volume program focused on performance preparation and racing rather than standardized series manufacture.
Sports and competition car · 1949
Ermini-Fiat Silver 1100
Five Silver 1100 cars were built between 1949 and 1951. The model used the compact Fiat 1100 basis associated with Ermini's engine-development work and formed one of the larger production groups in the company's extremely limited output.
Sports and competition car · 1951
Ermini Sport International 1100
Three Sport International 1100 cars were built between 1951 and 1953. The model belonged to Ermini's international sporting and road-racing-oriented range, combining a small-displacement power unit with the lightweight construction expected of the marque.
Grand tourer · 1953
Ermini Gran Turismo 1390 cc
The Gran Turismo 1390 cc was one of Ermini's mid-1950s specialist models. One example is recorded in the production list for 1953. It illustrates the company's movement beyond strictly stripped-down competition cars toward more road-oriented grand-touring body styles.
Sports and competition car · 1954
Ermini 357 Sport
The 357 Sport was produced in both 1100 cc and 1500 cc forms during 1954 and 1955. Four 1100 cc cars and one 1500 cc car are recorded. The model was among the final cars built during Ermini's original production period.
Modern sports car · 2014
Ermini Seiottosei
Presented in 2014 after the brand's revival, the Seiottosei used a chassis developed by Osella on the basis of its sports prototypes. Giulio Cappellini designed the bodywork, and the car was specified with a 320-horsepower Renault engine. Planned production was estimated at nine units; the available reference does not confirm the final number built or current availability.
Brand decisions
2014
Presentation of the SeiottoseiProduct launchBackground
The revived marque sought to return to the limited-volume Italian sports-car sector.
Action taken
Ermini presented the Seiottosei with an Osella-developed chassis, Giulio Cappellini bodywork, and a 320-horsepower Renault engine.
Aftermath
The planned production was approximately nine units, but the available reference does not verify completed production or subsequent commercial development.
2007
Revival of the Ermini marqueStrategyBackground
The historic Ermini name returned after the original company had stopped building cars.
Action taken
The brand was relaunched as a modern specialist sports-car project.
Aftermath
The revival led to the presentation of the Seiottosei in 2014.
1956
End of original vehicle productionStrategyBackground
Pasquale Ermini's health conditions affected the company's ability to continue manufacturing its specialist sports cars.
Action taken
Ermini ceased production while continuing to provide assistance to its drivers for several more years.
Aftermath
The final workshop closed in 1962, bringing the original operating period to an end.
Sources1 sources
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