GIOVANNI PARRILLA (LONGOBUCCO 21 OCTOBER 1911 MILAN 1976) brother of Angelo Parrilla, gold medalist at the V.M., his family moved to Mantua, the mother’s hometown, from where in 1927 Giovanni left for Milan… In 1946 Parrilla (already Bosch licensee for Milan) became a builder. The first motorcycle is the Sport single-shaft. The brand became Parilla (only one “r” for phonetic reasons). The professional and emotional life of the Parrilla family is marked by great names in the world of sport, particularly 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 last in time to win a Karting world championship with the Go-Kart-Parilla. It has never been easy to realize one’s dreams. Giovanni Parrilla together with his sons Angelo and Achille, however, succeeded, building from scratch one of the largest motor companies that still lives today in the dreams and history of those who made the racing world great. But the production of the Moto Parilla was able to meet the needs of all those who loved and still love motorcycles. The “G. Parrilla” Museum in the enchanted site of the former Franciscan Convent, dedicated to one of the many Longobuccesi who made the world history of a Longobucco always at the center of any form and cultural expression. In 1946 the company “MOTO PARILLA” was born, founded by GIOVANNI PARRILLA. The company produces highly 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 represents a real revolution; this engine is marketed under the name “THUNDERBOLT” (Italian translation “SAETTA”). The two magnificent examples, the 175 cc. which in 1957 won the national motorcycle tour and the 125 cc. ’Olimpia presented in 1960 as a light touring motorcycle and characterized by the engine mounted under the frame on display in the museum represent the great work that the Longobuccese Giovanni Parrilla carried out with brilliant results in various competitions, contributing so that the name Parilla soon spread among lovers of “two wheels,” turning a bet among friends into a production that still today represents Italian motor culture worldwide.
(data source: www.comunelongobucco.eu)
Information about the Giovanni Parrilla Bicycle and Motorcycle Museum
Via Roma, 2
87066 Longobucco (Cosenza)
098372178
comunelongobucco@yahoo.it
https://www.comunelongobucco.eu
Source: MIBACT
