Car design legend Marcello Gandini dies

[WPA]

Craig said:

I like this angle too

Love the original Countach, just so pure and fuss free

[HocusPocus]

Thank you for creating some of the most beautiful car porn ever! RIP.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/14/marc...

[RSstuff]

Sad news, for his nearest and dearest. But the guy was 85, I'd settle for that.

[v9]

Chubbyross said:

IMHO not only the most beautiful car ever designed but one of the most beautiful objects ever designed.

I know when these are discussed opinion is rather divided, but I can still remember the ‘holy st that is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen’ feeling when I first saw one amongst the early ‘80s Fords and Vauxhalls and Austin stuff that was around back in the day. Looked like it had come from outer space and was just so perfect. Sounded fantastic too. Sad news, but brought so much great design into the world. Well played and RIP.

[robsco]

Why on the earth are PH not featuring this on the front page?

[dontlookdown]

Lots of greats but 90s Maserati QP (the one noone likes) is my favourite of his. Automotive version of a sharp Italian suit. Wonderful detailing.

Hell of a life's work. RIP.

[Sofa]

Puddenchucker said:

Of his designs, I've always liked the Lamborghini Bravo:

How have I never seen that before?! That's fantastic...

I really liked the Garmisch concept he did for BMW for the 1970 motorshow, that was apparently lost to time but rebuilt by BMW a few years ago. Something so fantastically 70s about it, and almost a bit JG Ballard.



The Miura and Countach are probably his 2 best works though- I will forever be sad that even with all the money in the world I'd never be able to fully enjoy a Miura... because I won't bloody fit.

[Julian Thompson]

I’ll just drop this one in..

[MB140]

Chubbyross said:

IMHO not only the most beautiful car ever designed but one of the most beautiful objects ever designed.

Can’t argue with that., they are absolutely stunning.

[Matty3]

The Countach - wow

Recall arriving at Brands Hatch to race our FF1600 and a chap driving in FF2000 arrived in his LP400 in dark brown - I have never been so blown away by a car before or since

[v9]

MB140 said:

Can’t argue with that., they are absolutely stunning.

Some quick mental arithmetic says he must have designed that when he was in his early 20s. Makes it even more astonishing. Imagine penning that a few years out of school.

[parabolica]

MB140 said:

Chubbyross said:

IMHO not only the most beautiful car ever designed but one of the most beautiful objects ever designed.

Can’t argue with that., they are absolutely stunning.

I honestly had no idea there was a roadster version! Don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone review or drive one.

[friederich]

I can only think of this from Mel Nichols:

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/magazine...

No mention of Gandini, but seared in my mind - how pure did the 3 cars look in the same bronze colour. Unfortunately the Car Magazine link doesn't reproduce the full article with photos. I expect that I still have the magazine in a box somewhere. I've had many purges, but this is one I wouldn't have thrown away. Awesome story from Mel Nichols, but what inspiration from Gandini.

[dbdb]

My favourite is the Maserati Khamsin.

[Mr Dendrite]

Mr Dendrite said:

Fiat X1/9. I owned one, loved it. As a young man it was the closest I could aspire to his great desgins. The styling was perfect, the Italian mechanicals were not

Found some old photos of mine. Not as exotic as some on this thread but still a very pretty, beautifully styled car and absolutely tiny by today’s standards

[aeropilot]

CLK-GTR said:

The Miura. Not just the best of his work, the best of any work. No car before or since has nailed the shape the way that did.

[carinaman]

Mr Dendrite said:

Found some old photos of mine. Not as exotic as some on this thread but still a very pretty, beautifully styled car and absolutely tiny by today’s standards

That's a fantastic colour. Shame about the plastic cladding on the doors, something I noticed and mention as I thought the door skin on the Garmisch concept above looked X1-9 like to me. It's probably the handle and the groove.

[Equus]

parabolica said:

I honestly had no idea there was a roadster version! Don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone review or drive one.

There was only one 'factory' car (several others have been converted) and it was a targa rather than a true roadster - built as a promotional tool for the International Lead Zinc Research Organisation (ILZRO). Google: Miura Zn75.

The Miura chassis was noted for being a bit flimsy, anyway, so cutting the roof off one probably isn't the best idea.

[P5BNij]

friederich said:

I can only think of this from Mel Nichols:

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/magazine...

No mention of Gandini, but seared in my mind - how pure did the 3 cars look in the same bronze colour. Unfortunately the Car Magazine link doesn't reproduce the full article with photos. I expect that I still have the magazine in a box somewhere. I've had many purges, but this is one I wouldn't have thrown away. Awesome story from Mel Nichols, but what inspiration from Gandini.

I posted these in the period classics thread some time ago...

[Venisonpie]

nekrum said:

A true legend… so what’s your favourite of his work and why?..

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/car-de...

@pistonheads - proper feature needed please..

Agree, there's a fantastic article waiting to be written with a rich seam of design output as demonstrated by posters on this thread. It would be a nice balance to the auctions/6 whatever cars from the classifieds/latest over weight & needlessly showy phat mobile.