Marcello Gandini is one of the most influential designers in the history of the automotive industry. He was born in 1938 and in the early '60s, he was hired by legendary designer Bertone to create stunning cars.

Gandini is credited for the success of multiple manufactures ranging from Lamborghini to BMW. Without his ideas, Lamborghini might still make dull high-end sedans or even worse not even exist. He is also the reason why BMW became the legendary brand it is today.

Very few men have influenced so many brands and truly made beautiful cars that have become icons throughout the years.

These are the most beautiful designs ever made by the legendary Gandini.

10 BMW E3 2800

BMW E3 2800
Via: Low Classic Garage

The design team was not directly supervised by Gandini as he only did a part of the design. However, this car deserves to be on this list as it can be defined as the start of the golden era at BMW. The 2800 was unveiled in 1968 and it changed the future of the German automaker.

BMW E3 2800
Via: FCP Euro's blogs

This one of the most iconic vehicles that BMW has ever made. The vehicle started the tradition of performance sedans – spacious and elegant cars supported by powerful engines. The most fun version is the one that was powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that produced 192 horsepower and could push the car to a top speed of 125 mph.

9 Lancia Stratos HF Zero

Lancia Stratos HF Zero
Via: Car and Driver

This car does not seem that it was designed in the 1970s but it looks like it comes from a distant future. Gandini created this beauty before drawing one of the greatest rally cars in the history of the competition.

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Lancia Stratos HF Zero
Via: Carbodydesign.com

This car was unique in every aspect as it had no doors and in order to access the seats, the driver would have to lift up the front windscreen. The car was powered by the engine of a Lancia Fulvia, a 1.6-liter V4 that produced 115 horsepower. The car captured the attention of everyone at the 1970 Turin Motor Show.

8 BMW Series 5 E12

BMW 5 Series E12
Via: Classic.com

Gandini can be certainly held responsible for the success of BMW as the series 5 has been for almost 50 years recognized as the epitome of beauty in the sedan segment. The E12 was in production from 1971 until 1982.

BMW 5 Series E12
Via: Blogger

One of the most fun options was the one powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that produced 197 horsepower and could push this beauty to a top speed of 130 mph. Gandini was responsible for its iconic look which basically made the German company dominate the '70s and '80s market scene.

7 Alfa Romeo Navajo

Alfa Romeo Navajo
Via Stellantis

This is one of those concept cars that we would have loved to see on the streets. The car was based on the frame of the Alfa Romeo 33 and it was powered by a 2.0-liter V8 that produced 230 horsepower. The car was designed in 1976 by Gandini as he wanted to create the most extreme sports car ever.

Alfa Romeo Navajo
Via: Clubalfa.it

He definitely succeeded in his quest. The entire body is made of fiberglass in order to make it extra-light. One of the most striking design aspects of this car is the huge spoiler in the back which makes the car glued to the ground even at higher speeds.

6 Renault 5 Turbo

Renault 5 Turbo
Via: Motorionline.com

It is safe to say that the French automaker has never made another car that was as fun to drive as the 5 Turbo. The car designed by Gandini was the ultimate hot-hatch as it was a beast with superb handling.

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Renault 5 Turbo
Via: Classic Driver

The car was powered by a mid-mounted turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four cylinder engine that produced 158 horsepower and could reach the top speed of 125 mph. Gandini designed this beauty in 1980 and still to this day it looks amazing. The car barely weighed 970 kg and combined with that lively engine, the driving experience was truly fantastic.

5 Cizeta V16T

Cizeta V16T
Via: gpone.com

As you can tell from the name, this car designed by Marcello Gandini has a monstrous engine. In fact, the car is powered by a 6.0-liter V16, which is basically two V8s sharing a single block, that produces 560 horsepower.

Cizeta V16T
Via Hagerty

The car can go from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 204 mph. Gandini became famous thanks to his Lamborghini designs, and the Cizeta had clearly some Lamborghini vibes to it. The car was in production from 1991 until 1995 and only 20 units were ever made.

4 Lamborghini Diablo

Lamborghini Diablo
Via: Motor1

This car was created by Lamborghini as a successor to the aging Countach. Marcello Gandini designed this car in 1987 and the Diablo was in production from 1990 until 2001. This is a special car for the manufacturer as it was the first Lamborghini ever to reach 200 mph.

Lamborghini Diablo
Via: Dupont

The aggressive design was powered by a devilish 5.7-liter V12 that produced 510 horsepower and could shuttle the car to 62 mph in just 3.4 seconds. The car takes the name from a ferocious bull named Diablo from the 19th century.

3 Lamborghini Miura

Lamborghini Miura
Via: Top Gear

The Miura was for a few years in the '70s the fastest car in the world. This beautiful vehicle was designed by Gandini for Gruppo Bertone and it was the model that kicked-off the legendary dynasty of the Italian automaker.

Lamborghini Miura
Via: Hypebeast

The fantastic design was supported by a revolutionary (at the time) mid-engine 3.9-liter V12 that produced 380 horsepower and could push the Miura to a top speed of 170 mph.  The car debuted in 1966 at the Geneva Motor Show and it was in production until 1973 when the great Countach took over.

2 De Tomaso Pantera

De Tomaso Pantera
Via: Reddit

The Pantera is one of the coolest supercars ever made in the '70s. Gandini truly outdid himself when designing the De Tomaso as the car is sleek but with a distinctive and aggressive look. The truly stunning car was powered by a buff 5.8-liter V8 that produced 326 horsepower and could push the car to a top speed of 160 mph.

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De Tomaso Pantera
Via: Superpista

The car was in production for a very long time from 71 until 92 and the company produced over 7,000 units. Unfortunately, the fantastic De Tomaso ceased to exist when its then-owner died.

1 Bugatti EB110

Bugatti EB110
Via: Autoartmodels.de

Although the final design was not of Gandini, everything started with his pencil. The EB110 is arguably one of the most iconic sports cars ever made. The vehicle was powered by a gigantic 60-valve 3.5-liter V12 that had four turbochargers which produced 553 horsepower and could push the car to a top speed of 220.6 mph.

Bugatti EB110
Via: motorionline

The EB110 is credited to have brought back to life one of the most incredible manufacturers in the history of the automotive industry as this was the first car that they had built in almost half a century.

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