Automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro has long been associated with some of the most famous production cars of all time, and yet most of this genius's creative work is often overlooked, including trucks, trains, motorcycles, motorcycles, and consumer goods.
With a design career spanning 60 years employed by the biggest names in automotive design and production, Giugiaro has some impressive projects on his résumé, including a few high-profile models that are not your normal run of sports or supercars. Taking a look at more mainstream designs, Lexus, Toyota, Fiat, and even Ford have received the Italian maestro's creative input at one time or another.
10 Volkswagen W12 Nardo
Every gearhead knows Volkswagen is one of the biggest carmakers in the world, with a reputation for building safe, reliable, and if we are brutally honest, pretty boring cars. However, in the late '90s, VW had bigger plans in mind.
In an attempt to boost their image, Volkswagen executives commissioned Italdesign to come up with a mid-engined supercar powered by a V12 engine encompassing the brand's Syncro all-wheel-drive technology. In all, three variants were produced, the W12 Nardo using the larger 6-liter W12 engine rated at 591 HP with a claimed top speed of 218 MPH.
9 Techrules Ren RS
We shouldn't complain, but it feels like with each new week there is another new supercar maker with little in the way of innovation to set it apart from the established brands. China-based Techrules however does bring something new to the table, their Ren RS supercar comes with a few interesting powertrains, including a turbine option.
Making its first appearance in 2018, the GFG-designed Ren RS isn't your typical supercar concept never to be seen again, Techrules are planning to hand-build 10 examples per year. With the range-topping Ren RS boasting no less than six electric motors and a turbine powertrain capable of delivering 1287 HP and an incredible 5737 lb-ft of torque.
8 Alfa Romeo Caimano
Regardless of how much creative time goes into a design some cars never make it past the initial prototype, even Giorgetto Giugiaro is capable of pushing the boundaries of future vision a little too far. Way ahead of its time, the Alfa Romeo Caimano is the perfect example of futuristic sic-fi-inspired styling that no one wanted, at least not in 1971.
A low-slung two-seater concept with some truly bizarre solutions to simple everyday tasks. Take the roof, for example, a single-piece glass canopy that incorporated the doors requiring separate cut-outs lower down for ventilation. Despite its sports car appearance, the bigger issue being the lack of performance, based on the 1.3-liter Alfasud engine with a paltry 86 HP.
7 AMC AMX/3
Pontiac's much-criticized Fiero is widely accepted to be the first mid-engined production car, but the history books tell another story. In 1968 AMC looking to compete on level terms with De Tomaso's Pantera looked to European designers for their AMX/3, initially hoping to source design and engineering to BMW before Italdesign delivered the AMX/3 prototype.
Even with the final design signed off, it was still unclear who would actually build the AMX/3, a deal later being struck to have Italdesign fabricate the first chassis' with BMW carrying out quality control. Underneath its European-influenced styling, a modern semi-monocoque chassis held the AMX/3 together, with power coming from a 6.4-liter American V8 generating 295 HP. Shortly after the first batch of 12 cars were built, AMC abandoned the project after investing $2 million.
6 Aston Martin DB4GT Bertone Jet
Take any modern car, and the chances are its design is the result of years of design and refinement. The story behind the DB4 GT Bertone Jet is a little shorter, the entire process taking weeks, not years.
With such a short gestation period, dozens of Bertone employees would have had a hand in its creation. In fact, Giugiaro is credited with the entire design. Under the unique bodywork is one of the last DB4GT chassis built, the same 3.7-liter straight six still pumps out 300 HP, but looks rather than performance make this one special.
5 BMW M1
Forget the cooks, too many car companies spoil the car is more fitting for the BMW M1. Designed by Giugiaro, with plans for Lamborghini to build the M1 before pulling out due to financial reasons, before once again taking up with another newly formed manufacturer less than 10 miles from BMW's factory.
Failing spectacularly through no fault of the design or even BMW's engineering expertise, but rather due to the German carmaker's fanatical approach to detail, the M1 over-running on development forced BMW to adapt to the lower Group 4 Series. As a result, racing glory never came, most production cars going to private owners rather than taking to the track.
4 DeLorean DMC-12
Every gearhead's favorite movie car, the DeLorean DMC-12 was way ahead of its time on paper, but in reality, it was far from perfect. The Giugiaro design in our opinion is a winner, what's not to like about the sports coupe body finished in brushed stainless steel, even if car park dings are going to be tricky to hide.
With close links to Colin Chapman and his extensive experience with the Lotus Esprit, another Giugiaro design it's not difficult to see the similarities, a steel backbone chassis and rear mid-mounted engine featuring in both. Where the two differ is engineering, the DMC-12 clearly compromised with poor build and that now-famous underpowered 2.85-liter PRV engine.
3 Maserati Bora
Of all the clients Giugiaro worked with Maserati stands out as one of the most frequent, having produced 14 separate vehicles over a period of 40 years, some more instantly recognizable than others.
This wedge-shaped Ferrari-esque two-seater appeared in Maserati's line-up twice, as both the Bora and again later as the "cheaper" Merak of 1972. The Bora is often regarded as the last proper V8 powered Maserati, but a lack of funding and development meant by the end of production in 1978 it was technically inferior to its rivals. Despite being outdated, the Bora was a decent performer with a 320 HP V8 and a top speed of 174 MPH.
2 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB Bertone
Arguably the most famous Italian car brand and model combination in history, Ferrari's 250 most commonly associated with the iconic GTO racer. In reality, the 250 monikers appeared on dozens of different body designs, from spiders to sports cars and pretty much everything in between.
Surprisingly, just two Ferraris can claim to have a connection to Giugiaro, both under the Bertone banner and both wearing that famous 250 tags. Stunning from every angle, this 250 GT SWB Speciale with a 240 HP Ferrari 3-liter V12 under the hood is a one-off creation and sold as recently as 2015 fetching $16.5 million.
1 Iso Rivolta IR 300
One of the earliest Giugiaro designs to make it into full production, Iso Rivolta's IR 300 envisaged as the ideal luxury performance GT car followed a trend of Italian-styled cars with American muscle. Under the hood of this often-overlooked coupe, a Chevrolet sourced 5.4-liter small-block unit, producing up to 340 HP.
Ambitious premium branding came at a cost that ultimately didn't translate into sales, the use of expensive press-tool dies outweighing any investment returns meant just 797 cars found buyers.