Founded in 1920 by the Giannini brothers - Attilio and Domenico - as a garage, the company began tuning the little FIAT 500 Topolino in the 1930s and secured 12 world speed records with one of its modified cars.

In the early 1960s, the original company closed, the brothers going their separate ways to found new enterprises.

Attilio's new design company lasted only until 1971 but, that founded by Domenico, - Giannini Automobili SpA - survives today as part of the FIAT Group.

In 1963 Giannini Automobili began modifying cars and selling tuning kits.

That same year it introduced its own modified version of the baby FIAT - the 500TV - and throughout the decade and into the 1970s Giannini-tuned cars battled with those of its rival Abarth on the racetracks of Europe.

In more recent years, Giannini has specialised in the production of limited-edition versions of FIAT production models.

For the 500TV (Tourismo Veloce), the standard 499.5cc engine was retained but benefited from a ported ...