Here’s the deal, the following pictures are photos of three groups of five cars. These cars could be closely related or completely different from each other. You, before proceeding, please just try to guess what are the connection in these groups of cars.
Alright, have you guessed it?
The answer is: yes indeed, cars in those groups are designed by same people. Three most celebrated car designers of all time. Check the list of your favourite cars, those made from the ‘60s up to early 2000s, especially those we consider supercars are very likely to be designed by these three people: Leonardo Fioravanti, Marcello Gandini, and Giorgetto Giugiaro.
All three were born in 1938, months apart from each other. Fioravanti in January and Gandini and Giugiaro both in August. They were all born in northern Italy, in the centre of Italian industries. Fioravanti in Milan, where Alfa headquarter is, Gandini in Turin, where Fiat build their stronghold, and Giugiaro in Garessio, a commune still in Piedmont, near Turin.
The three are known for their long association with major Italian styling houses before they went independent and create their own companies. Fioravanti was in Pininfarina for a long time, hence his close ties with the best Ferraris from the sixties until the eighties. Gandini was in Bertone for fifteen years, in the process designed the most beautiful cars of all time, the Miura and the Stratos, and also the prototypes for the Countach. Giugiaro, perhaps the most productive of the three, was the chief designer of Bertone before Gandini joined, and after a short stint in Ghia, went on to found Italdesign Giugiaro, where he designed most of his works, including some Beretta firearms, most Nikon professional camera since the 80s and some Seiko watches.
Out of the three, my favourite designer, even though my favourite car of all time is the Miura, is Giorgetto Giugiaro. I especially like the Isuzu 117 and how varied his designs are. Can you imagine that the same person actually designed both the Mangusta and the Yugo? That Isuzu 117 was quite the surprise for me who grew up knowing almost all of Isuzu products are commercial vehicles, even though the fact that Gandini designed Renault Magnum was also a shock. But then again, it’s the most beautiful cab-over truck for me, so it made sense.
Anyway, here's the list of some of their other creations:
Fioravanti: Ferrari 308, Ferrari 365 GT4, Ferrari 348
Gandini: Bugatti EB110, Fiat X1/9, Citroën BX, Cizeta-Moroder V16T, Renault 5 Turbo, Lamborghini Espada, Lamborghini Urraco, Maserati Shamal, Maserati Quattroporte II & IV
Giugiaro: Alfa Romeo Alfasud, Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT/GTV, Alfa Romeo Brera, BMW M1, Nazca C2, Daewoo Matiz, Fiat 850 Spider, Fiat Uno, Iso Grifo, Lotus Esprit, Maserati Merak, Seat Ibiza, VW Scirocco, Toyota Aristo, Zastava Koral, Ducati 860 GT
Anyway, here's the list of some of their other creations:
Fioravanti: Ferrari 308, Ferrari 365 GT4, Ferrari 348
Gandini: Bugatti EB110, Fiat X1/9, Citroën BX, Cizeta-Moroder V16T, Renault 5 Turbo, Lamborghini Espada, Lamborghini Urraco, Maserati Shamal, Maserati Quattroporte II & IV
Giugiaro: Alfa Romeo Alfasud, Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT/GTV, Alfa Romeo Brera, BMW M1, Nazca C2, Daewoo Matiz, Fiat 850 Spider, Fiat Uno, Iso Grifo, Lotus Esprit, Maserati Merak, Seat Ibiza, VW Scirocco, Toyota Aristo, Zastava Koral, Ducati 860 GT
Now, what about you guys? Is your favourite car designed by those three? Which car is it?