Carlo Mollino is not a name that most of us would know let alone associate with the development of high speed automobiles. Following the traumatic death of his father in 1953, the Italian took a break from his successful career as an architect and designer, instead using his talents to develop innovative automotive concepts, the most well known example competing at Le Mans.
Mollino poses in the cockpit of the "Bisiluro" Nardi.
|
Mollino was born in Turin in 1905, following in his engineer/architect father’s footsteps he graduated in architecture in 1931. His professional activities were always diverse including the design of furniture and urban planning as well as architecture. The variety of his work was reflected in his wide-ranging personal interests, somehow combining Alpine skiing, erotic photography, the occult and literature with aerobatic stunt flying and motor sport! Having only around 10 building projects actually realised throughout his career, Mollino has become most well known for his furniture, a one-off trestle table holding the auction record for 20th century wooden tables at £2m.
One of the many pieces of furniture designed by Mollino and on display in Turin.
|
His creation of high speed vehicles seems to have been a release for his daredevil ambitions, apparently building the ‘Bisiluro’ just so that he could drive at Le Mans. His passion was also that of Enrico Nardi, who was “deeply fascinated with Le Mans“. Together with engineer Varga, a pharmacist named Damonte, and Mollino, they built the strange “Bisiluro”, or twin torpedo. The 735 cc Giannini engine propelled the car at an average lap time of 148 kph. According to Nardi, the air displacement of a Jaguar which was overtaking the Bisiluro caused Damonte to leave the track.
The Bisiluro at a pit stop during the 1955 Le Mans 24 Hour. Damonte was teamed with
Crovetto for the race; apparently Mollino did not desire to actually drive.
|
Coachbuilder Stola (RGZ Group) of Turin, well known for its construction of show cars and prototypes, has realised one of two stillborn land speed record challengers conceived by Mollino in the 1950’s. The project was inspired by John Cobb's Railton-Mobil streamliner, which in 1947 which set the land speed record at 394.20 mph. The full-scale model’s aerodynamic profile looks every bit the high-speed record holder, leaving one thinking what it might have been.
The lines of the streamliner are very aerodynamic, but there is no mention of a powerplant.
|
Always thinking ahead to new projects, Carlo Mollino died of a heart attack in his father's architectural office in 1973 while working on designs for an office building for the Turin tram company and an administration centre for Fiat. Bringing together creativity and ingenuity in one eclectic personality, he created a significant and varied body of work including some highly original vehicle concepts that represent just a small part of his legacy.
The exhibition runs from 20th September 2006 until 7th January 2007 at the ‘GAM’ and ‘Castello di Rivoli’, Turin, Italy.
www.gamtorino.it
