Colotti Trasmissioni

History 1958-1979

Valerio Colotti, known as the chassis designer of the Maserati 250F, founded Tec-Mec in 1958. His early work included designing and manufacturing a differential gear set and housing for Rob Walker, which built his reputation in Grand Prix circles. After constructing a Grand Prix car for Jean Behra (the Behra-Porsche), Colotti built his own Grand Prix car, the Tec-Mec F415, based on the Maserati 250F; driver Fritz d'Orey finished 10th at the 1959 French Grand Prix.

Around the same time, Alf Francis, Chief Engineer at Rob Walker Racing, began collaborating with Colotti, and the company name changed to Colotti-Francis. Under this name, a Formula Junior car called the T.C.A. (Trips Colotti Automobili) was built for Graf von Trips, but the project ended with Trips' death at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix. Rob Walker later asked Colotti to analyze and modify the front suspension of two Lotus cars, leading to Colotti reviewing the design of the Walker Special.

For the new 1.5-liter Formula One regulations effective in 1960, Colotti designed the T.32 5-speed and T.34 6-speed transaxles, weighing under 35 kg. Outside racing, Colotti worked as G.S.D. (Gear Speed Developments) on a Hovercraft transmission for Britten-Norman and a power take-off system for cement mixer trucks.

1980-present

Gianpaolo Dallara asked Colotti Trasmissioni to develop a racing transaxle for the Lancia Montecarlo, intended for Fiat Group's FIA Group 5. Equipped with the new Duo-Block limited-slip differential, this transaxle won the World Endurance Championship in 1980 and 1981; Duo-Block was patented. In the rally sector, the company developed a limited-slip center differential for four-wheel drive cars, patented as Split-Diff.

Ferrari 125

Valerio Colotti worked at Ferrari in the late 1940s and early 1950s, contributing to the chassis and transmission of their first Grand Prix car design. Later, Piero Ferrari asked Colotti Trasmissioni to build an exact replica of the Ferrari 125, using the original engine and drawings from the Maranello factory. The completed replica now resides in the Museo Ferrari in Maranello.