Car Design News awarded Gandini the magazine's first Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, and said his stature within the industry could not be overstated.[2] Flavio Manzoni, chief design officer at Ferrari, said Gandini was "probably the greatest car designer ever".[2]
Life and career
A lineup of Bertone designs from the 1960s and 1970s, most of which Gandini designedGandini standing behind the Autobianchi A112 Runabout concept
Gandini was born in Turin on 26 August 1938 into a "family steeped in classical music".[3] His father was a former orchestral conductor and composer and wanted his son to become a pianist. Gandini, however, developed an early and intense interest in cars and mechanical engineering.[4] He was sent to a classical lyceum and studied the piano, but continued to have "a passion for engines, mechanics and technology" and left school at 18, which resulted in his being rejected by his parents.[5] In 1964, he approached Nuccio Bertone, head of the Gruppo Bertone company, who was impressed by his zeal and wanted to apprentice him to Giorgetto Giugiaro, his chief designer.[6] The following year Giorgetto left to start his own studio, and at the age of 27, Gandini was hired to take his place.[7] He designed the Lamborghini Miura, from first sketch to finished prototype, in three months, and remained with the company for fourteen years.
Gandini created the 'Stile Bertone' styling house in Caprie. Turin, working as its general manager as well as designing concept cars, and managing the construction of prototype automobiles for the many car makers who hired Bertone, often specifically Gandini.[1]
The Lancia Stratosrally sportscar, featuring a seamless semi-elliptic windshield and door glass combination, is also a Gandini design.[1]
Gandini left Bertone in July 1979 to set up his own design house, Clama,[10] pursuing freelance automotive, industrial, and interior design, and worked exclusively for Renault for the first five years, resulting in the second generation Renault 5 (the 'Supercinq') and the Renault Magnum truck.[11] He later worked with Maserati, Nissan, Toyota and Subaru, as well as returning to Lamborghini to work on the Diablo in the 1990s.[12]
Gandini also worked in other areas, including home architecture, the design of a nightclub interior, and the body styling of the Heli-Sport CH-7 helicopter.[1]
^Initially launched as the Audi 50, but then repositioned as Volkswagen's entry-level car, even below the Giugiaro styled, subcompact first generation VW Golf.
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