Crespi Automotive
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | Tulio Crespi |
| Headquarters | Balcarce , Argentina |
Area served | Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, Chile |
Key people | Tulio Crespi |
| Products | Road vehicles, Formula racing cars, mini trucks |
Tulio Crespi S.A.—operating under the brand name Crespi Competición—is an Argentine car manufacturer established in 1962 by ex-racing driver Tulio Crespi (born June 22, 1938). Headquartered in Balcarce, Buenos Aires, the company specializes in producing both road vehicles and Formula racing cars.
Crespi has played a significant role in Formula Renault 2.0 by constructing numerous chassis and has also been active in Argentina’s Turismo Carretera series. Among its sports car lineup are the Tulio and Tulieta GT, which were both presented at the 1975 Paris Motor Show, marking the first time an Argentine automaker participated in this event. In recent years, Crespi has diversified into manufacturing mini trucks.
History
Tulio Crespi’s career began with building race cars for the "Fórmula Mini Junior" category, later advancing to crafting vehicles for Formula 4 during the mid-1960s.
In 1967, following a crash that destroyed Nasif Estéfano’s Torino, Crespi redesigned and rebuilt the vehicle to comply with Turismo Carretera regulations, naming it "Petiso." Its competitive success prompted limited-scale production.
During a European visit, Crespi drew inspiration from a Maserati Ghibli to create his first sedan model called the "Tulia," completed in 1969 and displayed at the Rural Exhibition. The Tulia was capable of reaching speeds up to 230 km/h, with approximately 30 units manufactured over three years.
The most famous model from Crespi is the Tulieta GT, introduced in 1972. It was equipped with a 1397cc Renault engine—the same used in the 1976 R5 Alpine/Gordini—delivering 93 horsepower. Some versions featured a C6J Turbo engine. Production ceased in 1977 after 45 units were built.
Crespi’s work attracted attention from international automotive publications across Germany, France, and Japan. This recognition led to an invitation to the 1975 Paris Motor Show following Lotus’s withdrawal. The Argentine Air Force transported two Crespi vehicles—a Tulia and a Tulieta—to represent Argentina officially for the first time at this global event.
By the mid-1970s, Crespi’s Chacarita workshop could no longer meet growing demand. With support from Juan Manuel Fangio, Crespi purchased land near Balcarce to establish an industrial facility, which opened in the early 1980s and facilitated expansion.
In 1985, Crespi launched the Spiaggia, a compact convertible based on the Renault 4 chassis featuring a reinforced plastic body and seating for four. The latest model prior to recent developments was the Campomóvil, a mini truck introduced in 2012 with a fiberglass-reinforced resin body powered by a Briggs & Stratton engine. In 2022, an electric variant of the Campomóvil was released.
Business
Crespi Competición exports prototype vehicles to countries including Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, and Chile. The company also supplies racing cars for competitions such as Turismo Carretera, TC 2000, and Turismo Nacional. Notable drivers who have piloted Crespi vehicles include Juan Manuel Fangio II, Oscar Aventín, Guillermo Ortelli, Omar Martínez, Fabián Acuña, Juan María Traverso, Daniel Cingolani, Miguel Etchegaray, Juan Manuel Silva, and Tito Bessone.