Marcello Gandini, designer of the Dino 308GT4 2+2, R.I.P.

Arguably one of the greatest automotive designers of all time. Lamborghini Miura, Alfa Romeo Montreal, Maserati Shamal, Lancia Stratos, Ferrari 308GT4, Citroen BX, etc. - the list of masterpieces is extensive.

 

I've never seen a picture of him with a 308 GT4, but plenty of shots of him with a Countach, Miura, and his many concepts. Anyone have a shot of hime with a 308 GT4? Would be a great piece of memorabilia to have. He was, in my opinion, the greatest designer of all time—he brought the wedge-car mainstream! The automotive community has lost a legend, and the world is a lesser place without him.

 

Oh dear what a great loss to the automotive community.Condolences.

I will be reminded of him (and all his works of automotive / engineering art) every time I set eyes on my GT 4 .

 

And let's not forget the Fiat Dino Coupé, beautiful lines that hid ample room for four large adults. I saw some recent interviews of him on italian TV, still a great mind and great memory all the way to the end. His legacy lives on.

Good article on Jalopnik:
https://jalopnik.com/marcello-gandini-father-of-supercar-obituary-1851333882

 

RIP
Nice interview here with insight on GT4 and Rainbow ( GT4-framed cabriolet) design:

 

X1/9.....you seem to forget the exotic for the masses

 

He did design so many famous cars, many famous, many well known and a few one did not expect, as the first BMW 5 series, but also the Citroën BX, the Audi 50 (not known in the US I guess) and also all those fantastic exotics.

Requiescat in Pace

 

My tribute to him, as well as list/pics of all the cars he had a hand in designing.

https://308gt4.com/gandini/

 

I've seen the model based off Giugiaro's sketches for Bizzarrini that sparked that debate, and I've read the stories on how it started, but I personally don't see the controversy. I don't think the model and the Miura look even remotely similar. And even if Giugiaro's sketches did somehow "inspire" Gandini, it was certainly Gandini who brought the Miura to life. After all, every design is inspired by something. A Top Gear article actually addresses the controversy in much the same way:

"Indeed, the authorship of the Lamborghini Miura is perhaps the automotive world’s greatest whodunnit. Giugiaro started the project, but it was Gandini who brought the Miura to life, in so doing creating the car many cite as the most beautiful ever made."​

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/retro/remembering-great-marcello-gandini-who-has-died-aged-85#

If the Bizzarrini sketches/model and Miura actually looked similar, there would be a story there, but they just don't resemble each other enough to cause such a controversy. I think model looks much more like the Alfa Romeo Type 33 Stradale than the Miura.

 

And the Diablo, the 2nd best looking Lamborghini ever IMO.

 

Oddly, that's a car I didn't really care for when it came out… but it definitely grew on me over time. Now I think it's a pretty stunning car. And just the base Diablo does it for me. Good looking car for sure.

 

Draws all kinds of attention and compliments, fantastic design....by Gandini and Tom Gale at Chrysler.
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This is the closest pic I've ever seen with Gandini near a 308 GT4. Obviously, the car he stands directly in front of is a Lamborghini Urraco, but there is a 308 GT4 in the back as well as the 308GT Rainbow (which was built from a 308 GT4).

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A nice article here .
We can’t dismiss the Urraco / GT 4 strong link .
https://driventowrite.com/2023/07/18/no-bull
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