Marcello Gandini | |
|---|---|
 Gandini in 1976 | |
| Born | (1938-08-26)26 August 1938 |
| Died | 13 March 2024(2024-03-13) (aged 85) Rivoli, Italy |
| Occupation | Automobile designer |
| Known for | |
Marcello Gandini (26 August 1938 – 13 March 2024) was an Italiancar designer widely known for his work with the Italian car design houseBertone, where his work included designing theAlfa Romeo Carabo andMontreal,Lancia Stratos Zero,Maserati Khamsin,Ferrari GT4,Fiat X1/9, and multipleLamborghinis, including theMiura,[1]Countach,Espada, andUrraco production cars, as well as theMarzal andBravo concept cars.[2] Gandini himself said his design interests prioritised vehicle architecture, construction, assembly, and mechanisms over styling.[2]
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.[3]Flavio Manzoni, chief design officer at Ferrari, said Gandini was "probably the greatest car designer ever".[3]
Gandini was born inTurin on 26 August 1938 into a "family steeped in classical music".[4][5] 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.[4] He was sent to a classicallyceum 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.[4]
In 1964, Gandini approachedNuccio Bertone, head of theGruppo Bertone company, who was impressed by his zeal and wanted to apprentice him toGiorgetto Giugiaro, his chief designer.[4] The following year Giorgetto left to start his own studio, and at the age of 27, Gandini was hired to take his place.[4] He designed theLamborghini Miura, from first sketch to finished prototype, in three months, and remained with the company for fourteen years.
Gandini created the'Stile Bertone' styling house inCaprie. Turin, working as its general manager as well as designingconcept cars, and managing the construction ofprototype automobiles for the many car makers who hired Bertone, often specifically Gandini.[2]Gandini is most known for his designs for manyLamborghinisports cars, beginning with the groundbreakingrear mid-engined Lamborghini Miura in the mid-1960s with a transversely mountedV12. He went on to design theEspada,Urraco,Countach, and the original design proposal for theDiablo, as well as a number of Lamborghini concept cars.[6]
Gandini also designed practical mass-production cars, includingsub-compacts, such as theInnocenti Mini and the first generationVolkswagen Polo,[7] as well as midsize family cars, such as the first-generationBMW 5 Series andCitroën BX.[2] TheLancia Stratosrally sportscar, featuring a seamless semi-elliptic windshield and door glass combination, is also a Gandini design.[2]
Gandini left Bertone in July 1979 to found his own design house, Clama,[4] pursuing freelance automotive, industrial, and interior design. Gandini worked exclusively for Renault for the first five years, resulting in the second generationRenault 5 (the 'Supercinq') and theRenault Magnum truck.[8] He later worked withMaserati,Nissan,Toyota, andSubaru, and returned to Lamborghini to work on the Diablo in the 1990s.[4]
Gandini also designed in other areas, including home architecture, the design of a nightclub interior, and the body styling of theHeli-Sport CH-7 helicopter.[2]
In January 2024, Gandini was recognised by thePolytechnic University of Turin with an honorary degree in mechanical engineering.[9][10]
Gandini died on 13 March 2024, at the age of 85.[11]
Car designs that Gandini was involved in include:
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