Ricardo Burzi (c. 1900 – ?) was an Argentinian automotive designer, best known for his work with the Austin Motor Company in Birmingham, England.

Burzi was born around 1900,[1] in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, to a French mother.[2] By 1929 he was working in Italy for Lancia, but was forced to leave after drawing cartoons belittling Benito Mussolini that were published in several newspapers.[3] Lancia initially moved Burzi to their coachbuilding firm in Paris, but he was recruited by Lord Austin in 1929 to work at Longbridge in Birmingham after Austin received a recommendation from Vincenzo Lancia, whom he met while travelling on the Queen Mary to the United States.[4]

Burzi arrived at Longbridge speaking no English but was soon known universally as "Dick".[4] His first designs for the Austin 16 were considered too advanced for conservative British tastes by Lord Austin, but in 1938 Burzi was appointed head of styling by the incoming works manager at Longbridge, Leonard Lord.[4] Burzi's Italian background saw him interned on the Isle of Man when Italy entered the Second World War,[3] but he was released in 1943 and started work on designing the Austin A40.[5]

Notable cars designed by Burzi in the post-war era included the Austin A30, the Austin A40, the Austin A70, the Austin A90 and the Austin A125[6]

References

  1. ^ "Ricardo "Dick" Burzi". Classics. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  2. ^ Wood, Jonathan (2005), Alec Issigonis: The Man Who Made the Mini, Breedon Books, p. 183, ISBN 1859834493
  3. ^ a b Bardsley, Gillian (2005), Issigonis: the official biography, Icon, p. 183, ISBN 1840467789
  4. ^ a b c Sharratt, Barney, Style & Design, Austin A30-A35 Owners' Club, archived from the original on 4 August 2012, retrieved 3 November 2012
  5. ^ Farmer, Gavin (2004), "Cars of the World: Counties Austins", Automobile Quarterly, 44 (3), Princeton Institute for Historic Research: 68
  6. ^ Geoghegan, Simon (2010), Dick Burzi, Simon Cars, retrieved 3 November 2012


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