Today we discuss a car company that could have been the 1960s F1 rival to Ferrari, a car company that should have stolen the grand touring seat from the prancing pony, a car company that helped pioneer mid-engine placement in grand touring cars, and car company that couldn’t quite get it together. Today we discuss Automobili Turismo e Sport aka ATS.

To understand ATS, you have to start in Maranello in 1961 with the famous “Palace Revolt.”

Alright it is the ’60s, Ferrari is successful but chaotic. Enzo Ferrari is running the place like a personal kingdom and he and his are fighting like there is no tomorrow.

Ferrari staff tensions are boiling over when several senior staff clash with Enzo and, most importantly, with his wife Laura, who was increasingly involved in business matters. The result was a mass walkout (and a few firings ...