GIOVANNI PARRILLA (LONGOBUCCO OCTOBER 21, 1911 MILAN 1976) brother of Angelo Parrilla, gold medal recipient at V.M., his family moved to Mantua, the mother’s hometown, from where in 1927 Giovanni left for Milan… In 1946 Parrilla (already a Bosch licensee for Milan) became a builder. The first motorcycle was the Sport single-overhead cam. The brand became Parilla (only one “r” for phonetic reasons). The professional and emotional life of the Parrillas is marked by great names in sports, especially motorcycling and car racing. Great builders like Enzo and Dino Ferrari, great drivers like Juan Manuel Fangio, Ascari, the legend Ayrton Senna da Silva, Jarno Trulli most recently winning a karting world championship with the Go-Kart-Parilla. Realizing one’s dreams has never been easy. Giovanni Parrilla together with his sons Angelo and Achille succeeded by building from scratch one of the greatest motor companies that still lives today in the dreams and history of those who made the racing world great. But the production of Moto Parilla was able to meet the needs of all those who have loved and still love motorcycles. The “G. Parrilla” Museum in the enchanting site of the former Franciscan Convent is dedicated to one of the many Longobuccese who made the world history of a Longobucco always at the center of any form and expression of culture. In 1946 the “MOTO PARILLA” company was born, founded by GIOVANNI PARRILLA. The company produces very appreciated series motorcycles and participates in national and international competitions achieving important successes. In 1959 the world’s first rotary valve engine for Go-Kart was born, designed by GIOVANNI PARRILLA in collaboration with engineer Cesare Bossaglia. For the U.S. market, it represented a true revolution, this engine was marketed under the name “THUNDERBOLT” (Italian translation “SAETTA”). The two magnificent models, the 175 cc that in 1957 won the national motorcycle tour and the 125 cc ’Olimpia presented in 1960 as a light touring motorcycle, characterized by the engine mounted under the frame on display in the museum, represent the great work that Longobuccese Giovanni Parrilla carried out with brilliant results in various competitions contributing to the spreading of the Parilla name among motorcycle enthusiasts, transforming a bet among friends into a production that still represents Italy’s motor world internationally.
(source data: www.comunelongobucco.eu)
Information about Giovanni Parrilla Bicycle and Motorcycle Museum
Via Roma, 2
87066 Longobucco (Cosenza)
098372178
comunelongobucco@yahoo.it
https://www.comunelongobucco.eu
Source: MIBACT
