Photos and Story by Alessandro Gerelli
Automotive history in the Turin area has developed in two directions: the first is production and the second is the creativity, craftsmanship and technology in body design which has resulted in a wide variety of important prototypes and concept cars that very often have anticipated the series production.
Turin has been celebrating as the World Design Capital 2008 throughout the year, and one of the highlights has been the Dream Car Exhibition at the Giovanni Agnelli’s Pavilion in Turin. It opened on November 23rd and will close on 28 December. It is well worth attending.
Dedicated to the memory of the late Andrea Pininfarina, the exhibition deals with the concept of “car of the future†and displays a lot of prototypes that have often been a real “dream†for all the car enthusiasts. Electric cars and small city cars are presented to show that not only is speed important, but also the reduction of emissions which has been a top priority for car designers for many years. Below, the show cars are in chronological order, then the small city or electric cars are shown, also by year.
1945: Fiat 1500 C by Bertone based on a design of Mario Revelli di Beaumont, with an elegant front grille.
1947: Fiat 1100 S designed by the Fiat Carrozzerie Speciali department.
1954: M-1000 aerodynamic prototype by Alberto Morelli, based on a Volkswagen chassis with a Fiat engine of 1000cc.
1954: Fiat 8V Demon Rouge (red devil) designed by Michelotti and built by Vignale, with a very distinctive rear window.
1954: Fiat 8V with fiberglass reinforced plastic body (weighing only 48 kilos) designed by the Fiat Carrozzerie Speciali department.
1954:Fiat Turbina based on the Fiat 8V chassis developed by Fabio Luigi Rapi. But after few positive tests the project was abandoned.
1955: Ghia “Gilda” Streamline X Coupe designed by Savonuzzi was ready to accept a turbine engine.
1966: Manta by Bizzarrini Italdesign based on a Bizzarrini chassis with a three-seater coupe body by Giugiaro.
1967: Lamborghini Marzal by Bertone, designed by Marcello Gandini was very transparent and geometric.
1968: Carabo Alfa Romeo on a Tipo 33 chassis by Bertone.
1971: Alfa Romeo P/33 Cuneo by Pininfarina. This is the second version of this prototype: the first had a rear wing.
1972: Maserati Boomerang by Giugiaro (Italdesign).
1989: Ferrari Mythos by Pininfarina. Three different models were built.
1994: Zero Emission Record by Bertone, an electric car with an integral body and special Michelin tires.
1998: Ferrari F100 by Leonardo Fioravanti, built to celebrate the 100 years of Enzo Ferrari.
2005: Maserati Birdcage 75th by Pininfarina to celebrate the 75 years of the company.
2006: Swarowsky Crystal Aerospace conceptual model.
1993: Fiat Downtown, a three-seater with electric engine.
2000: Slim by Bertone: a two-seater in tandem, wihich might use also electric engine.
2004: Nido by Pininfarina based on safety principles with shock absorbers and a rigid shell.
I’d be interested to see more on electric vehicles from our geniuses in Italy. After driving 2 of them, I’m looking forward to see what the Italians will do around that technology.
Nick
Hi Pete
Great stuff again! I just love those Fiat 1100s coupes (and 8Vs for that matter).
All the best
Adrian
What an incredible collection and I agree with Adrian – the 1954 Fiat 8V pictured is stunning!
NJH
I have a number of photos a friend shot for me at the Dream event, and the cars displayed were incredible. I’ve driven a Fiat 8V (It may have been the one on display) around northern Italy a little bit and it drew as much attention as any exotic car. At the show, I liked the fact that the Lamborghini Marzal had been restored since it had fallen into a rusty relic behind the factory last I knew.