Gioacchino Colombo

Gioacchino Colombo[1] (9 January 1903 – 24 April 1988) was an Italian automobile engine designer.

Born in Legnano, Colombo began work as an apprentice to Vittorio Jano at Alfa Romeo.

Colombo's most successful work for Ferrari was a tiny 1.5 litre V12, first used in the Tipo 125, 159, and then 166 sports cars.

Unsatisfied with the results, Ferrari brought in fellow designer Aurelio Lampredi to create a large naturally aspirated V12, which replaced Colombo's.

Colombo left Ferrari in 1950 and returned to Alfa Romeo, where he oversaw that company's racing efforts - including the Formula One World Championship success that year of Nino Farina and, in 1951, of Juan-Manuel Fangio.