Pininfarina - what was their best design?

[Tonsko]

I've never really seen any of the more rarified ones 'in the flesh' so to speak.

I always really liked one of the more 'common' designs - the 406.

[skyrover]

[smn159]

Quite a radical departure from contemporary three box saloons

[Puddenchucker]

Concept:



Production:

[Ian_UK1]

Alfa 164



Complete with the evocative 'Disegno di Pininfarina' badges on both front wings. Early models a lot more elegant than later incarnations that had sprouted very un-flattering bodykits.

[V8Wagon]

A great Pininfarina design..




but they only designed the interior.

I do love the exterior too though!

[RobinBanks]

For me it's the Ferrari 288 GTO.

[davepoth]

Ferrari 250 California for me.

[FeelingLucky]

No love for the Lancia Gamma?

[DJRC]

Designed by Pininfarina, bodywork formed by Scaglietti.
v
Blokes in brown overalls in Coventry.

Sometimes its a bloody wonder we are even allowed in the same room as the Italians

[Ian_UK1]

FeelingLucky said:

No love for the Lancia Gamma?

I remember my dad having one of these back in the late 70s or early 80s. Absolutely beautiful car for its time (and still looks pretty damned good today)! It was always in the dealers being repaired - engine issues IIRC (but it's too long ago to be sure exactly what they might have been).

[Strawman]

Ian_UK1 said:

It was always in the dealers being repaired - engine issues IIRC (but it's too long ago to be sure exactly what they might have been).

IIRC they had an unusual arrangement with the power steering pump sharing the cambelt, so full lock on cold engine could snap it, later changed to a conventional two belt arrangement. I like the vestigial fins on the boot deck.




I like the 1955 Maserati A6GCS Berlinetta

[Blayney]

This thread just makes me sad. I like when quite normal cars are designed by the Italian design houses. They always look so much better than what the manufacturer comes up with themselves. Pininfarina for example the 504 coupe, Fiat 130 coupe or the Pug 406 coupe (a childhood favourite) are all exceptionally good looking cars.

Bertone did the Astra coupe that looked so much better than the hatch. They also did the Alfa Romeo GT which is a gorgeous car,

Italdesign did the Brera, the original Punto I think still looks very good for what it is! Alfasud, mk1 Golf mk1 Scirocco!

And of course these guys all did some great "exotica" as well on top of the average everyday cars.

Anyone got a book they can recommend for the major Italian design houses?

[TartanPaint]

Paul O said:

Perfection. Nothing before or since is prettier or better proportioned to my eye.

[h0b0]

Tractor lad said:

jontbone said:

For me, the Ferrari 288 GTO is my favourite Pininfarina design and fave Fezza too. In everyday cars I think the 406 Coupe was a stunning looker, shame about FWD, but despite this, the very cheap 3L V6s available are rather tempting

Definitely the 288; utterly stunning in every way. No stupid massive wheels either.

Just don't mention the mirrors

[GranCab]

Morris Oxford - my grandad had 2 of them - a MkV reg. 83EVO and a MkV1 reg. FRR738D

[GranCab]

Pinin flogged basically the same design to Peugeot ...

[JuniorD]

My Two favourite designers are Marcello Gandini and Leonardo Fioravanti.

At Pininfarina Fioravanti was responsible for the Ferrari Dino; Ferrari Daytona; Ferrari F40; Ferrari P5 and P6; Ferrari Pinin; Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer; Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2; Ferrari 308 GTB; Ferrari 288 GTO

What an awesome resumé.

[dabofoppo]

A bowling place near me uses pininfarina bowling balls.

[RichB]

smn159 said:

Quite a radical departure from contemporary three box saloons

And he flogged the same basic design of the A40 to BMC again when he did the roof for the MGBGT