THE HISTORY OF RIVA AQUARAMA 55CM MODEL

“Rolls-Royce of the sea”, “Stradivarius of boating” are some of the expressions used to describe the Riva Aquarama. This powerful twin-engine has so much charm and elegance that it is compared to Rolls-Royce and Ferrari. The Riva Aquarama will be born during the summer of 1962 and will undoubtedly be the most famous of all RIVA models. After a secret gestation, the Tritone assembly line was interrupted and hull no. 214 was removed then transferred to the area reserved for prototypes. Carlo Riva and Georgio Barilani, its designer, begin the transformation of the Tritone. A passage is dug in the deck between the rear deck and the transom to facilitate access to the water and allow the owner to move away from the beaches to approach more peaceful coves. In August 1962 the Aquarama was transported to Monaco to undergo its first baptism at sea. The test pilot was named Giovanni Agnelli, the all-powerful owner of FIAT. The tests are considered satisfactory. The first Aquarama is called LIPICAR I, an anagram of the first names of Carlo Riva's three daughters: Lia, Pia and Carla. The name Aquarama evokes both the panorama which is inscribed in the chrome contours of its windshield and the new vogue for cinema on giant screens (Cinerama). The Riva Aquarama will be produced from 1962 to 1971 in 288 examples and powered by Chris Craft and Riva V8 engines of 185 and 220 hp. Its speed will reach 75 km/h or 40 knots. The Riva Aquarama will undergo an evolution called Super Aquarama, built between 1963 and 1971 in 203 examples with more powerful engines from 290 to 320 horsepower.

Other Riva Aquarama models also offered: