Wikipedia

Marcello Gandini

Marcello Gandini (26 August 1938 – 13 March 2024) was an Italian car designer widely known for his work with the Italian car design house Bertone, where his work included designing the Alfa Romeo Carabo and Montreal, Lancia Stratos Zero, Maserati Khamsin, Ferrari GT4, Fiat X1/9, and several Lamborghinis, including the Bravo, Miura, Marzal, Espada, Urraco, and Countach.[1] Gandini himself said his design interests prioritised vehicle architecture, construction, assembly, and mechanisms over styling.[1]

Marcello Gandini
Gandini in 1976
Born(1938-08-26)26 August 1938
Turin, Italy
Died13 March 2024(2024-03-13) (aged 85)
Rivoli, Italy
NationalityItalian
OccupationAutomobile designer
Known for

Car Design News awarded Gandini the magazine's first Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, and said his stature within the industry could not be overstated.[2] Flavio Manzoni, chief design officer at Ferrari, said Gandini was "probably the greatest car designer ever".[2]

Early life and education

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Gandini was born in Turin on 26 August 1938 into a "family steeped in classical music".[3][4] His father was a former orchestral conductor and composer and wanted his son to become a pianist. Gandini, however, developed an early and intense interest in cars and mechanical engineering.[3] He was sent to a classical lyceum and studied the piano, but continued to have "a passion for engines, mechanics and technology" and left school at 18, which resulted in his being rejected by his parents.[3]

Career

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In 1964, Gandini approached Nuccio Bertone, head of the Gruppo Bertone company, who was impressed by his zeal and wanted to apprentice him to Giorgetto Giugiaro, his chief designer.[3] The following year Giorgetto left to start his own studio, and at the age of 27, Gandini was hired to take his place.[3] He designed the Lamborghini Miura, from first sketch to finished prototype, in three months, and remained with the company for fourteen years.

 
A lineup of Bertone designs from the 1960s and 1970s, most of which Gandini designed

Gandini created the 'Stile Bertone' styling house in Caprie. Turin, working as its general manager as well as designing concept cars, and managing the construction of prototype automobiles for the many car makers who hired Bertone, often specifically Gandini.[1] Gandini is most known for his designs for many Lamborghini sports cars, beginning with the groundbreaking rear mid-engined Lamborghini Miura in the mid-1960s with a transversely mounted V12. He went on to design the Espada, Urraco, Countach, and the original design proposal for the Diablo, as well as a number of Lamborghini concept cars.[5]

 
Gandini standing behind the Autobianchi A112 Runabout concept

Gandini also designed practical mass-production cars, including sub-compacts, such as the Innocenti Mini and the first generation Volkswagen Polo,[6] as well as midsize family cars, such as the first-generation BMW 5 Series and Citroën BX.[1] The Lancia Stratos rally sportscar, featuring a seamless semi-elliptic windshield and door glass combination, is also a Gandini design.[1]

Gandini left Bertone in July 1979 to found his own design house, Clama,[3] pursuing freelance automotive, industrial, and interior design. Gandini worked exclusively for Renault for the first five years, resulting in the second generation Renault 5 (the 'Supercinq') and the Renault Magnum truck.[7] He later worked with Maserati, Nissan, Toyota, and Subaru, and returned to Lamborghini to work on the Diablo in the 1990s.[3]

Gandini also designed in other areas, including home architecture, the design of a nightclub interior, and the body styling of the Heli-Sport CH-7 helicopter.[1]

In January 2024, Gandini was recognised by the Polytechnic University of Turin with an honorary degree in mechanical engineering.[8][9]

Gandini died on 13 March 2024, at the age of 85.[10]

Designs

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Car designs that Gandini was involved in include:

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Marcello Gandini – Automotive Designer". Automobile Magazine, Robert Cumberford, October 2009.
  2. ^ a b Guy Bird (14 March 2024). "In memoriam: Marcello Gandini (1938–2024)". Car Design News.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Marcello Gandini obituary: inventor of the 'supercar'". The Times. 20 March 2024.
  4. ^ ""Visionary" car designer Marcello Gandini dies aged 85". Dezeen. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  5. ^ Banks, Nargess (14 June 2021). "Livro revela os carros preferidos dos colecionadores: Ferraris, Bugattis e Lamborghinis raros e exóticos estão na lista". Forbes Brasil. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  6. ^ Initially launched as the Audi 50, but then repositioned as Volkswagen's entry-level car, even below the Giugiaro styled, subcompact first generation VW Golf.
  7. ^ "In memory of Marcello Gandini". Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  8. ^ "In memoriam: Marcello Gandini (1938–2024)". Car Design News. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Marcello Gandini". Associazione per il Disegno Industriale (ADI). Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Addio a Marcello Gandini, disegnò le Lamborghini più belle". La Repubblica. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  11. ^ a b c "The Stars & Cars of Bertone". Road & Track: 78. November 2014.
  12. ^ a b Finalised by Claus Luthe
  13. ^ "Archive: Classicmotor.se BMW Spicup". 5 October 2011.
  14. ^ "Fiat al Fredo". driventowrite.com. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  15. ^ The Lancia Sibilo Was Nuts Even By 1970s Concept Car Standards – Jalopnik
  16. ^ "Perodua Kancil by Marcello Gandini". carrozzieri-italiani.com. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Let's give Marc Deschamps what Marcello Gandini doesn't have". lignesauto.fr. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Stratos S81". blutecsrl.it. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Tata Racemo: A closer look". Autocarindia.com. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
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