![]() In 1959, Carlo Riva was looking to establish himself in Monaco. Nicknamed "La Plancia", meaning the footbridge, it is listed and protected by the Italian Heritage Office. A taste for bold infrastructure The Sernico construction site ©Rivaĭesigned by Carlo Riva himself, the Sernico construction site is an architectural masterpiece. Despite numerous electrical problems and fuel leaks, making it a real floating bomb, the Zoom won this endurance race after 14 days of sailing. Total power was increased to 700 hp, and the overall structure was reinforced. The cockpit has been moved back to accommodate a larger fuel tank, to increase the range required for ocean cruising. This 2650-mile race, contested over 14 legs, was won by a modified Aquarama, christened Zoom. Riva also made a name for itself in ocean racing, winning the London-Monaco race in 1970. A few appearances in motorboat racesĭuring the inter-war period, the Riva shipyard distinguished itself by producing small, fast boats that won several in-shores races. Produced in 784 examples between 19, it is now highly prized on the second-hand market, sometimes selling for close to 1 million euros. ![]() Jean-Paul Belmondo on a Riva ©Rivaįrom Brigitte Bardot to Jean-Paul Belmondo, James Bond to Sophia Lorren, the Aquarama has seduced many actors and appeared in numerous films. With a length of 8m and powered by a twin engine ranging from 350 to 700 hp, she is capable of exceeding 40 knots. Launched in 1962, the Riva Aquarama is the shipyard's most symbolic model. Riva Aquarama: the legend L'Aquarama ©Riva The cavernous sound of this noble motorization, combined with the Cadillac windscreen and white or turquoise leather bench seats, gave the shipyard a good reputation among the Mediterranean elite. Like his American rivals, Carlo Riva powered his models with large displacement engines, preferably V8s. The Riva Ariston ©RivaĪll these models are built in mahogany, and covered with some twenty coats of varnish. Carlo successively launched the Corsaro, Ariston, Tritone, Sebino and Florida. Luxury, speed and aesthetics are the watchwords of the shipyard. True to his expertise in wood construction, Carlo Riva joined forces with architect Giorgio Barilani in 1956. Mahogany and big bore The Corsaro, 1st mass-produced boat ©Riva Taking advantage of Italy's post-war boom, and inspired by the success of his compatriots Enzo Ferrari and Ettore Bugatti, Carlo Riva embarked on series production. Interested in Chris Craft and Hacker Craft, he returned to the yard with the firm intention of launching his own models. He closely observed American runabouts in the Great Lakes region. In the early '50s, the young manager made a trip to the United States. Carlo Riva, the visionary Carlo Riva and Gino Gervasoni © RivaĪfter the end of the war, Carlo Riva took over the management of the family shipyard. The Second World War brought pleasure boat production to a halt. The small Italian shipyard won records and victories in local and international competitions. Pietro Riva in his early years ©RivaĪfter the First World War, the shipyard abandoned the world of fishing to specialize in motorboat racing boats. Managed by Pietro Riva, then a young carpenter, the yard prospered and soon began building passenger boats and freighters on the lake. Founded in 1842 on the shores of Lake Iseo in Lombardy, the Riva shipyard originally built small fishing boats.
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