Anzani

Anzani
Company type	Private
Industry	Engine manufacturing
Founded	January 1, 1907; 119 years ago in Paris, France
Founder	Alessandro Anzani
Headquarters	Paris (originally), France
Area served	Worldwide (Britain, France, Italy)
Products	Aircraft engines, automobile engines, boat engines, motorcycle engines

Anzani was a manufacturer of engines founded by the Italian entrepreneur Alessandro Anzani (1877–1956), producing proprietary power units for aircraft, automobiles, boats, and motorcycles through facilities located in Britain, France, and Italy.

Overview

After relocating from Italy to France, Anzani participated in cycle racing and subsequently engineered a lightweight motorcycle engine that set records. In 1907, he launched a modest workshop in Paris staffed by three workers, where he focused on engine development and created a hydrofoil propelled by his own engine design.

Aircraft engines

Anzani created a three-cylinder, air-cooled radial engine that became well-suited for early aircraft. His 25 hp Anzani W-3 powered Louis Blériot’s historic 1909 flight across the English Channel.

Types

Anzani 3-cylinder Fan 10-12 hp
Anzani 3-cylinder Fan 12-15 hp
Anzani 3-cylinder Fan 25-30 hp
Anzani 3-cylinder Fan 30-35 hp
Anzani 3-cylinder Fan 40-45 hp
Anzani 3-cylinder Fan 45-50 hp
Anzani 3-cylinder Y (Radial) 30 hp
Anzani 4-cylinder V (water-cooled) 30-35 hp
Anzani 4-cylinder V (water-cooled) 60-70 hp
Anzani 5-cylinder Radial 45 hp
Anzani 5-cylinder Radial 60 hp
Anzani 6-cylinder Radial 45 hp
Anzani 6-cylinder Radial 70 hp
Anzani 7-cylinder Radial 95 hp
Anzani 10-cylinder Radial 100 hp
Anzani 14-cylinder Radial 160 hp
Anzani 20-cylinder Radial 200 hp

New factories

To meet growing demand, the initial Paris workshop was replaced by a larger factory in Courbevoie and supplemented by a London facility, alongside licensed manufacturing in other locations. In Italy, a factory was inaugurated at Monza in 1914.

Motor racing

During the 1920s, Anzani ventured into motor racing by producing a compact automobile powered by a two-cylinder air-cooled engine of 750 cc, which achieved multiple victories. Additionally, they built a 1098 cc cyclecar utilized by T.B. Sports between the years of 1923 and 1924.

Sale of factories

On his fiftieth birthday in 1927, Alessandro Anzani divested his Paris and London manufacturing plants but kept ownership of the Monza factory, which was managed by Natale Baccanti.

British Anzani

British Anzani contracted engine production to Coventry Ordnance Works Ltd and underwent financial restructuring under the names British Vulpine Engine Company and later British Anzani Engineering Company. Their focus was on small engines for cars and motorcycles. They supplied AC Cars with the base model of their side-valve four-cylinder engine at 1496cc, provided Frazer-Nash with similar engines that were eventually supercharged, delivered V-twin engines to Morgan Motor Company, and supplied Squire with the R1 twin cam engine. Berkeley Cars incorporated small motorcycle engines from Anzani; likewise, Cotton, Tandon, and Greeves motorcycles utilized their power units.

Following World War II, British Anzani expanded into pedestrian-controlled ploughing engines and lightweight tractors known as the 'Iron Horse,' later adding four-wheeled variants equipped with operator seats. Operating under the British Anzani Group name, the company ceased operations through liquidation in 1980.

The 'British Anzani' brand was re-registered in 2003; subsequently, Anzani Ltd was founded in 2006 to supply classic spare parts via Dolphin Engines based in Launceston, Cornwall. Plans were also made to re-enter automotive, marine, and transport markets with new designs developed by Bo Zolland.

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