If you have ever owned vintage FIATs or Lancias, chances are you have wrenched on a Lampredi Twin Cam 4 cylinder engine (also known as the FIAT Twin Cam). For the uninitiated, the Lampredi twin cam powered many Fiats, Lancias, and more for almost 4 decades from the 60s on.
A bit of background first.
Aurelio had actually wanted to study piano but, in a power Dad move enthusiasts should forever be grateful for, his father told him to pursue a more stable career path. He submitted to his father's desires and ended up getting a degree in mechanical engineering.
Aurelio Lampredi got his start in the automotive world with Piaggio in 1937. When World War II began, he was drafted and shifted to Reggiane, where he helped design aircraft engines for the military. While at Reggiane, Lampredi's skill impressed Carlo Runi, Reggiane's chief designer, so much he recommended Lampredi to Enzo Ferrari. Lampredi's first stay at Ferrari was short. With Giuseppe Busso and Gioacchino Colombo already holding the senior design positions, Lampredi felt his room for growth and advancement was limited so, after just 1 year, Aurelio left Ferrari for Isotta Franchini. (Lampredi and Colombo pictured right)
Several years later, Busso left Ferrari for Alfa Romeo and Colombo moved to an advisory role. Ferrari quickly hired Lampredi back. After designing a V12 that garnered Ferrari their first ever Formula 1 victory (the British Gran Prix at Silverstone in 1951), Lampredi was asked by Enzo to design a Formula 2 motor. A loophole in the rules at the time allowed Formula 2 motors to be used in Formula 1. Lampredi created a twin cam 4 cylinder engine that secured wins in both Formula 1 and 2, including the F1 manufacturer's championships in both 1952 and 1953.
Despite his succcess, Ferrari dumped Lampredi in 1955 when acquisition of Lancia's race team brought former Alfa Romeo designer Vittorio Jano on board. Abandoned by Ferrari, Aurelio moved on to FIAT, taking with him invaluable lessons learned designing 4 cylinder motors.
In 1966, his iconic dual overhead cam 4 cylinder motor debuted with the introduction of the 124 Sport Coupe and 124 Sport Spider. It proved so robust and adaptable, it continued to power new cars until the year 2000.
With the Lampredi Twin Cam, Aurelio made a novel move. He shifted the placement of the shims used to adjust the valves to a position above the tappets. Previously, overhead cam motors had put the shims inside the tappets, a position that required removal of the cam shafts to adjust valve clearance. Lampredi's pioneering placement of the shims above the tappets allowed valve adjustment without removal of the cam shafts, greatly facilitating ease of maintenance while reducing the associated costs at the same time.
Even better, it allowed remarkable power from a small engine. At the time it was introduced, the Lampredi Twin Cam offered the same power-per-liter ratio as the motor in a Porsche 911T!
Lampredi's design ended up being produced in multiple displacements over the years, ranging from a tiny 1,297cc to a much larger 1,995cc. Its general design was even built into the Ferrari/Fiat Dino's V-6.
When front wheel drive cars became the rage in the 1980s, the intake and exhaust valve positions were swapped, allowing the motor to continue its life until the year 2000. From family cars to sports cars, variations of the Lampredi Twin Cam ended up powering Fiats and other brands for 34 years.
(Pictured left: The Lampredi Twin Cam)
While this run in longevity was impressive enough, it was on the rally circuits of Europe that the engine really made a name for itself.
In the lesser known World Sportscar Championships, a turbocharged Lampredi Twin Cam powered Lancia Beta Montecarlo took the Group 5 titles in 1980 and 1981. On the larger stage of World Rally Championship racing; however, the Lampredi engine cemented its legacy as one of the best small motors ever. Over a 15 year period, from 1977 to 1992, Lampredi Twin Cam powered cars won 10 of the 15 championships, including a 6 in a row streak from 1987 to 1992. Neither the Lampredi's 10 championships nor its 6 in a row streak have ever been surpassed.
Lampredi himself worked with Fiat until 1977. He retired from engine design, but continued to manage Abarth's rally team until 1982. Aurelio died in in his birth town, Livorno, in1989. FIAT owes him gratitiude for their huge commerical success in the latter half of the 20th century. Aurelio Lampredi designed many successful engines, from 12 cylinders and 4 cylinders for Ferrari to multiple motors for FIAT. One of the last engines he designed, the FIASA 4 cylinder, made FIAT a commercial success in Brasil. To this day, FIAT remains the top automotive company in Brasil.
Of all the motors Aurelio designed, none were more successful in both the commercial automotive and racing world than his dual overhead cam for FIAT which has become known and revered as the Lampredi Twin Cam.
LAMPREDI TWIN CAM RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS
World Sportscar Champisionship
1980 - Grp 5 Lancia Beta Montecarlo
1981 - Grp 5 Lancia Beta Montecarlo
1987 - Lancia Delta HF 4WD
1988 - Lancia Delta HF Integrale
1989 - Lancia Delta HF Integrale
1990 - Lancia Delta HF Integrale
1991 - Lancia Delta HF Integrale
1992 - Lancia Delta HF Integrale