GIOVANNI PARRILLA (LONGOBUCCO 21 OCTOBER 1911 MILAN 1976) brother of Angelo Parrilla, gold medal at V.M., his family moved to Mantua, the birthplace of his mother, from where in 1927 Giovanni left for Milan… In 1946 Parrilla (already Bosch licensee for Milan) became a manufacturer. The first motorcycle is the Sport single-overhead camshaft. 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 and in particular motorcycling and car racing. Great manufacturers like Enzo and Dino Ferrari, great drivers like Juan Manuel Fangio, Ascari, the legend Ayrton Senna da Silva, Iarno Trully 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 greatest motorcycle companies that still today lives in the dreams and history of those who made the racing world great. But Moto Parilla production was able to meet the needs of all those who have 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 world history of a Longobucco always at the center of any form and cultural expression. In 1946 the “MOTO PARILLA” Company was born founded by GIOVANNI PARRILLA. The company produces highly appreciated series motorcycles and participates in national and international competitions obtaining important successes. In 1959 the first rotary valve engine in the world 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 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 and characterized by the engine mounted under the frame on display in the museum represent the great work that the Longobucco native 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 motorcycling in the world.
(data source: www.comunelongobucco.eu)
Information about the Giovanni Parrilla Cycle and Motorcycle Museum
Via Roma, 2
87066 Longobucco (Cosenza)
098372178
comunelongobucco@yahoo.it
https://www.comunelongobucco.eu
Source: MIBACT
