FIRST RINA CERTIFICATE OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH BY AUTOMOTIVE MASTERPIECES OFFICIALLY DELIVERED

On July 2, 2024, at the RINA headquarters in Genoa, the first certificate issued by RINA for the historical research conducted by AUTOMOTIVE MASTERPIECES was physically delivered. The certificate was presented during a small ceremony, which provided an opportunity for a meeting between Nicola Battuello, Executive Vice President of Certification at RINA, and the AUTOMOTIVE MASTERPIECES management team, consisting of Sandro Binelli, Founder, Historian, General Coordinator, Paolo Binelli, Digital Agenda Manager, and Marco Gandino, Sole Director, Business Development Manager. The meeting also provided an opportunity for a brainstorming session on future joint projects and the potential benefits of the RINA - AUTOMOTIVE MASTERPIECES collaboration.

This certificate pertains to the research on the 1952 Fiat 8V ZAGATO, Chassis no. 000002. This very car is the oldest surviving and one of only six pre-production specimens, is the prototype for the thirty cars made by Zagato and is the most raced Fiat 8V. The research brought to light new findings and allowed for validations: a remarkable number of previously unpublished photos were discovered, as well as videos from the period. Much information, obtained from the analysis of contemporary press, led to corrections of the history handed down. Finally, participations in events that were not previously known were discovered; at least 8, totaling 74 races competed in.

The certification follows the agreement signed in Genoa, on May 21, 2024, between the two Genoese companies: RINA, a multinational certification firm active in over seventy countries, and AUTOMOTIVE MASTERPIECES, specialized in historical and documentary research for cars of significant historical value. Thanks to this agreement, RINA certifies the methodology of historical research conducted by AUTOMOTIVE MASTERPIECES. The expertise and recognized authority of RINA provide official recognition, as a formal document, to the research work on the historicity and provenance that AUTOMOTIVE MASTERPIECES has been carrying out for years and has enhanced over time with advanced techniques including recent AI innovations applied to photographic and documentary archives, aimed at valuing the global automotive heritage.

Sandro Binelli, Founder and General Coordinator of AUTOMOTIVE MASTERPIECES Srl, stated: “At AUTOMOTIVE MASTERPIECES research institute, we have always worked with scientific rigor, following parameters consolidated and proven by our experience. We have consistently honored our heritage while embracing innovations that allow us to achieve previously unimaginable results; indeed, we were among the first to utilize the AI technology that is much discussed today. We believe in collaboration and sharing, as evidenced by our relationships with historical archives. Our collaboration with RINA opens new possibilities for us due to their experience in the certification sector and beyond. Thanks to RINA, we are the first to offer genuine certification of automobile history, enhancing the value of the automotive heritage and certifying its worth. This service is just the beginning within a broader framework of projects aimed at collectors and investors, to protect and enhance vintage cars as cultural assets and art objects.”

Maurizio Turtura, Head of Automotive Product Management at RINA, stated: “The collaborative relationship with AUTOMOTIVE MASTERPIECES, through the work of the team led by Sandro Binelli, is opening new frontiers in our areas of expertise. As RINA, we aim to offer the automotive market services that protect and enhance this sector, and a company like AUTOMOTIVE MASTERPIECES has proven to have the know-how and methodology to conduct accurate and verifiable historical research with the parameters we require. We will soon launch the RINA Car Valuation and RINA Car Passport services, absolute novelties for the world of vintage and collector cars that involve an independent certification body to issue certifications based on specific regulations, standards, or norms.”