RIP to a legendary automotive designer.

Marcello Gandini sadly handed away on the age of 85 final week. I can recall maybe that Gandini was the primary automotive designer I might ever title? A childhood studying Automobile Journal – or was it merely that I as soon as managed to learn that tiny badge on the aspect of a Lamborghini Countach? Definitely the Countach sparked my childhood pleasure, once I noticed one drive by the park I used to be taking part in in. I’m additionally certain I keep in mind print adverts of the time, explaining how the Citroen BX was designed by the identical individual and possibly Renault additionally proudly title dropped in an identical method? Gandini was a real famous person designer. Maybe purely as a result of his title was quite a bit simpler to pronounce or spell than Giugiaro. Solely barely much less prolific, you will discover loads of obits (or Wikipedia) itemizing his achievements. His profession famously began, and maybe continued – by clashing with Giugiaro and the 2 by no means labored collectively straight. Probably the most lovely automotive ever designed was claimed by Gandini (Lamborghini Miura) however legend has it that Giugiaro and Gandini unintentionally collaborated on this. IT was began by one, and completed by the opposite? We’ll maybe by no means know the reality of that- nevertheless it actually makes an incredible story for a way Marcello arrived with a bang. His brightest and loudest bangs have been Lamborghinis in fact.

Does anybody keep in mind the response from Marcello Gandini concerning the “new” Countach particular from Lamborghini? It was October twenty second 2021… that Marcello Gandini emailed me! I can let you know now I used to be starstruck however Mr Gandini was not pleased. After all it was merely his publicist that despatched me a press launch, however I felt that my life had come full circle from my single digit childhood days. He was not upset with me, it appeared he simply wished the world to know the way a lot he disliked the implication from Lamborghini, that he endorsed their new Lamborghini Countach. Curiously Prime Gear journal have been current for the precise second the publicity upset Marcello. They managed to trace on the furore to return with Marcello zinging with quotes comparable to

“I’ve all the time refused to reside previously..”

You possibly can learn that 2021 TG interview right here. The letter despatched to me was a response to that second, one which TG determined to chop off on the finish of the article, and neatly explains his courtesy and politeness but additionally exhibits the assumption he had in futurism, or the artwork of the design course of. Innovation ran deep in Marcello, and to be related to this mission incorrectly was one affront – however probably the most scathing “roast” that the maestro gave this mission was considered one of condemning all retro-modernist designs. All restomods maybe? My favorite quote from his letter:

“It’s clear that markets and advertising itself has modified quite a bit since then, however so far as I’m involved, to repeat a mannequin of the previous, represents for my part the negation of the founding ideas of my DNA“

GANDINI, Marcello. Letter to writer twenty second October 2021

On the time I agreed with my hero and nonetheless do. Look again at that 2021 Countach. Will it resonate as timelessly as the unique? No. Is it a cynical advertising train to get $hundreds of thousands from the investor market- for a barely altered (pretty low-cost to supply) Aventador? Sure.

In 2023 I used to be reminded of Gandini when information of a “restomod” Diablo was proven. This automotive is one other $1million collectors piece, however this time primarily based on a Lamborghini he didn’t design. The story there’s of US Chrysler possession of Lamborghini blocking the preliminary design that Gandini had proposed, with one thing of their very own which was clearly primarily based on his designs. It was smoothed out and extra fashionable wanting. Extra on pattern, as American automotive design expertise was extremely tuned to market analysis and buyer suggestions at the moment. We obtained to see Marcello’s model because the Cizeta Moroder V16T.

In my life up to now I used to be fortunate sufficient to personal a Gandini designed automotive, and I chewed the ear of many bored listener at events once I instructed all of them about my automotive “designed by the Lamborghini man”. It was a Renault 5 (Supercinq) Campus from 1988 and I cherished it. The inside was sensible but sci-fi cool, the outside nonetheless wanting contemporary (however carrying battle scars) in 2002 once I owned it. Gandini designed one other Renault, and it was a moderately important automobile which loved a manufacturing run of 23 years. That is most likely my favorite Gandini design (apart from the Stratus Zero idea), with its immaculate industrial design steadiness of kind and performance. The 2 tone color scheme and the shape language with deep undercut and hole separating higher and decrease chassis of the 1990 Renault AE (later Magnum) truck have been masterstrokes. The design visually represented the “floating” cab, which contained a flat ground for the motive force. This was a primary and Marcello Gandini celebrated this extremely futuristic mission in aerodynamics and engineering, with styling that was in contrast to any truck earlier than it.

Let me know within the feedback or get in contact with your personal favorite Gandini designs! I do know the Citroen BX will get quite a lot of love lately… I recall not being an enormous fan in interval and I might all the time refer you to the Volvo Tundra idea of 1979. I’m wondering who designed that….

That letter in full. PR contact particulars redacted.