Founded by Battista "Pinin" Farina in 1930, Carrozzeria Pininfarina, simply known as Pininfarina, has created some of the industry's greatest classic cars.
The majestic age of the custom-built car, where the chassis and mechanicals were bought from a manufacturer and then fitted with a different body fashioned by a separate team of master craftspeople, gave rise to many of the famous Italian carrozzeria, or coachbuilders – specifically, Bertone, Ghia, and of course Pininfarina.
As the company proudly celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2020, many followers seized the opportunity to take a look back at the greatest cars built by Pininfarina. Of course, the Turin-based studio’s, most famous customer being Ferrari.
From 1951 the company penned no fewer than 64 models wearing Modena’s prancing horse, with only two road-going Ferraris not styled by Pininfarina. Sadly this came to an end with the F12berlinetta and the launch of the Ferrari 812 Superfast, which was an all-Ferrari affair.
So while the Italian studio is fabled for its iconic styling, which has over the years fuelled several automotive design trends, Ferrari’s finest represents some of the greatest cars ever conceived by Pininfarina.
Looking Back At The Greatest Ferraris Designed By Pininfarina
Probably one of the best Ferraris designed by Pininfarina was the very first collaborative project - the 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter. With production only kicking off in 1952, the Inter was the first car to leave Modena’s assembly line sporting the Pininfarina moniker on its flanks.
Often referred to as the first ‘production’ Ferrari, the 212 was nevertheless pure Pininfarina, showcasing the company’s skill at fashioning a clean yet svelte body, free of the style-lines that were to dominate some of the later designs. An interesting adornment, that first appeared on the Inter and would be repeated on several future models, was the ‘egg-crate grille.’
Although Ferrari continued with the front-engined layout found on the 212 for longer than many of its competitors, by the early 1970s the company had begun to show an interest in mid-engine road cars.
Following in the tire-tracks of such notables as the V6-powered Dino GT, the unique 250 LM Stradale, and the three-seat 365 P, Ferrari briefed Pininfarina on its vision of the next mid-engined Ferrari, the 308GTB.
Under the leadership of Leonardo Fioravanti the 308GTB with its mid-mounted dry-sump V8 laid the foundation for many of Maranello’s future mid-engined sports cars. With several of the iconic 308’s styling cues – such as the low, prominent nose, sculpted air intakes in the rear fenders, and circular rear lights – continuing to this day.
Although form has always been central to Pininfarina’s design philosophy, in modern hypercars, form is increasingly being dictated by function. Particularly the technologies required to propel cars like the Ferrari Enzo to race car speeds.
First unveiled at the 2002 Paris Motor Show, the Enzo finally broke away from sensible aesthetics and styling. With this Pininfarina design, classical styling clearly played second fiddle to performance, packaging, and aerodynamic functionality.
Gone were the rounded lines of the 308. Replaced by the Formula 1-inspired raised nose, flanked by a pair of radiator intakes. Angular, rather than sweeping lines announced Ferrari’s future design direction. One that all manufacturers will ultimately have to follow.
While Pininfarina’s storied partnership with Ferrari may have come to an end the company, now owned by Mahindra, will continue to support the automotive industry with design services, as it has always done.
A Look Back At The Greatest Cars By Pininfarina That Set New Design Trends
Speaking at a private event at the Wagner Hotel in New York in 2018, Pininfarina’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Perschke, cited the Cisitalia 202 from 1947 as one of the modern company’s biggest inspirations. Maybe not as well-known as the many Ferraris the company designed, the Cisitalia 202 was a car that perfectly embodied the concept of timeless beauty, which is something that the studio continues to strive for.
The timeless nature of the Italian company’s design is well illustrated by the 1965 MGB GT. Commissioned by BMC to design a coupe version of the successful MGB roadster, Pininfarina created a truly stylish grand tourer by extending the roofline all the way to the rear deck and incorporating a hatchback rear window.
Meanwhile, in Italy, Alfa Romeo needed to come up with a unique design for the Tipo 4 platform shared with the Fiat Croma, Lancia Thema, and Saab 9000. Designed by Enrico Fumia at Pininfarina, the Alfa Romeo 164 first appeared at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The distinctive wedge shape with prominent style-lines made the 164 stand out from the other cars that shared the platform. This Pininfarina design would ultimately play a pivotal role in the styling of the entire Alfa Romeo range, starting with the 33 facelift and continuing onto the revived Spider and GTV models.
The best part about looking back at the greatest cars by Pininfarina, is that the company continues to be at the forefront of innovation with a new range of Pinininfarina all-electric vehicles, starting with the 1,900 Hp Battista.