Sergio Pininfarina

This week we lost one of the twentieth century's most famous car designers.

Sergio Pininfarina.

He passed away on July the 3rd.

 

"The automotive world is mourning the loss of another great person in car making history. The honorary chairman of The Pininfarina Group, Sergio Pininfarina passed away just a couple of days ago at the age of 85. In 1966 Sergio Pininfarina took over as chairman of this famous design company after his predecessor and father, Gian Battista "Pinin" Farina passed on. Until 2006 Sergio was at the helm and then become honorary chairman upon his retirement.The world's most famous cars came to life under Sergio's leadership of the top design firm. These cars included the Alfa Romeo, Chevrolet models, Bentley and Volvo versions. The two vehicles Pininfarina Group is most famous for though is the Ferrari and Maserati. No one turns their back when they see the gorgeously simple, brilliant designs of the 2002 Ferrari Enzo and 1984 Ferrari Testarossa that proudly sport Sergio's design work, amongst others such as the 1996 Peugeot 406 Coupe and the 2003 Maserati Quattroporte."

The Pininfarina Group did design a number of 'one off' Bentleys over many years:

Although Sergio was responsible for the shape of the single 1968 Bentley T coupe:

Which of course led to the Camargue production car.

This black example I have driven many times seems fitting.

Sir David Plastow fondly recalls the relationship he and the Rolls-Royce engineers had with Sergio Pininfarina and his production team.

But there is another production Crewe product Sergio was involved with.

The 1995 to 2003 Bentley Azure.

The Continental R coupé was re engineered by Pininfarina as a convertible. Owing to the limited space and workforce at Bentley's Crewe factory, the Azure's thick, powered convertible top was designed and manufactured by the Italian company which significantly added to the vehicle's cost.

 

On a final note, the Pininfarina Group also designed the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours one off Rolls-Royce Hyperion.

Sergio Pininfarina.

One of the best.

(Posted by David Irvine)