Piero Drogo

Piero Drogo (born in Vignale Monferrato, Alessandria, 8 August 1926 – died in Bologna, 28 April 1973) was a racing driver and coachbuilder from Italy. He participated in one Formula One Grand Prix, debuting at the 1960 Italian Grand Prix. He moved on to form a carrozzeria in Modena to service the thriving sports car industry there. His Carrozzeria Sports Cars gained some fame later in the decade. He died in a car accident aged 46.

Early life Piero Drogo was born in Vignale Monferrato on 8 August 1926 to father Luigi Drogo and mother Rosina Monzeglio. His parents were farmers. Before or immediately after World War II he moved to Venezuela, along with members of his family. While in Venezuela, he began his career as a sports car racing driver. His first recorded result was at the 1956 Premio Nacional Ciudad de Maracay in Venezuela, where he placed first overall driving a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL.

In 1958, Drogo returned to Italy and began living in Modena, where he would remain for the rest of his life. In the late 1950s, he worked as a racing mechanic for Stanguellini to support his racing career.

Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati A6G Grand Prix of Pergusa

Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati A6G Circuito di Caserta

Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati A6G Grand Prix of Messina

Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati A6G

Complete Formula One results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WDC Points 1960 Scuderia Colonia Cooper T43 Climax Straight-4 ARG MON 500 NED BEL FRA GBR POR ITA USA NC 0

Carrozzeria Sports Cars

Drogo at right with Giotto Bizzarrini in the middle on 1 December 1964 with the Iso AC/3. In 1960, Drogo entered into a partnership in the carrozzeria "Marchesini & Cavalieri S.d.f" alongside Lino Marchesini and Celso Cavalieri. This business would become commonly known as Carrozzeria Sports Cars, although it operated under several legal names during its existence. C.S.C. operated from 1960 to late 1971, during which time the company produced low-volume or one-off bodywork for many Italian automakers as well as racing teams and individuals. C.S.C. customers included Scuderia Ferrari, Giotto Bizzarrini, Iso, Scuderia Serenissma, ASA, NART, Ecurie Francorchamps and others. Drogo did not practice the craft of coachbuilding nor was he an automobile designer. which appealed to private and/or public investment to assist C.S.C. and other small Modenese manufacturers facing similar economic troubles. Drogo's efforts to save the business were ultimately unsuccessful and C.S.C. declared bankruptcy on 31 December 1971.

Drogo's widow, Anna Pia Fornaciari, would later marry Lamborghini test driver and development engineer Bob Wallace.