Ruote Borrani started its production as a licensee of the British Rudge Whitworth company, established in Coventry (UK), 1894, for the production of bicycles and machine tools, and later for the Rudge motorbikes (1911) and wire wheels fixed by one central lock nut, tailored to racing cars.
On April 22, 1922 the Società Italiana Ruote Smontabili Rudge Whitworth was established in Milan The owner was Mr. Carlo Borrani. Production started under a licence by Rudge Whitworth, which had a registered patent and a quasi-monopoly for mounting a wheel on a hub by a unique splined drum, fixed by one central lock nut. Advantages were (and still are) a sound mix of lightness, elasticity with a lot of strength, improved ventilation of the brake drums (which, by then, began to be mounted on each wheel).
Later in the Thirties, the Company modified its name into Carlo Borrani SpA. By 1955, the industrial site in downtown Milan happened to become inadequate for growing production volumes, offices and manufacturing operations moved to a new location in Rho, and the company name changed into CMR– Costruzioni Meccaniche Rho SpA. Borrani wheels were standard equipment for Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, and Maserati racers winning 8 F1 Driver World Championships and 2 F1 Manufacturer World Championship (Vanwall and Ferrari) between 1950 and 1961.
Borrani wheels contributed also to countless Ferrari and Maserati victories in Sport and Prototype races, from Le Mans to Nürburgring, from Sebring to Monza. The early Ford GT40s, 1964, were equipped with Borrani wheels. The Company also became famous in the motorcycle industry as supplier of manufacturers like Benelli, Gilera, Guzzi, and MV Agusta. RuoteMilano holds the licence for the manufacturing of Borrani wire wheels since February 2004. It is located in Rozzano, in the southern area of Milan, within new premises offering the proper facility for a masterfully crafted production by highly skilled workers, who guarantee quality and compliance with originality and tradition.
The range of Ruote Borrani wheels includes over-300 items, suitable for vehicles from the Fiat 500 to Ferrari 250 TR, Ferrari Daytona, Ferrari BB, featuring special steel (C40) spokes and aluminium rims. The traditional production processes are carried on with original machinery and equipment, coupled with state-of-the-art materials and quality controls. |
