Photography by David Gooley
L’Arte dell’Automobile
February 4, 2003
Giugiaro’s design-by-origami at Ital Design appeared nearly unmolested in dealer showrooms under the guise of the Lotus Esprit, the DeLorean DMC and the Maserati Merak and Bora. Pininfarina’s 512 and 308 for Ferrari, meanwhile, incorporated the new approach without entirely losing the company’s traditional curves. Of all the cars introduced in the ’70s, the Ferraris are among those whose designs have best stood the test of time. Ghia added Tom Tjaarda’s DeTomaso Pantera to the new look, and Bertone’s Gandini topped his groundbreaking Miura with the eye-popping Countach (perhapsthe most photographed car of all time). With nary a curve in sight, the Countach struck an elegant profile before the ungodly defacement later in its evolution by every sort of scoop, skirt and wing imaginable. And despite owners who were optimistic it could hit 200 mph, it would take the Countach’s successor in the 1990s to pass that mark consistently.
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Marcello Gandini’s sublime Lamborghini Countach LP400, unadorned with the aerodynamic additions that took their aesthetic toll on subsequent versions. This is the first production example recently acquired by the factory for its museum collection. (Click image to enlarge)
By the early 1970s, hardly a quarter-century since the Cisitalia, the Italian car industry had experienced substantial change. No longer did manufacturers offer chassis for custom bodies, nor did a number of carrozzerias provide coachwork for the same model. Most of the coachbuilders were still in business, although Ghia (now defunct) was absorbed by Ford and the illustrious name subsequently reduced to a trim level on Mustang IIs and Granadas. What guaranteed the survival of Pininfarina, Bertone and Ital Design was that each evolved seamlessly to the new paradigm, continuing to offer their expertise to manufacturers who appreciated it. If that meant leaving behind the private client forever, so be it. Gone are the days of one-off Ferraris, but unlike their forebears in the 1930s, these coachbuilders are still in business today.
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