Marcello Gandini

Marcello Gandini
Marcello Gandini
	Gandini in 1976
Born	26 August 1938; Turin, Italy
Died	13 March 2024 (aged 85); Rivoli, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Occupation	Automobile designer
Known for	Lamborghini Miura; Lamborghini Countach; Lancia Stratos;

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]

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

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

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.

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 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]