Sergio Pininfarina, which led to a family known for its elegant designs Ferraris and other cars, has died. He was 85 years.
Pininfarina died Monday night at his home in Turin, the company announced Tuesday. No cause was given.
The company was founded in 1930, the cars designed by Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Cadillac, Rolls-Royce and Volvo, but is more closely associated with Ferrari, designing nearly all models in 1950.
The design of the house was founded by his father, Battista "Pinin" Farina, who later changed his surname to Pininfarina.
Sergio Pininfarina was born September 8, 1926, in Turin and joined the family business after earning a degree in mechanical engineering at Turin Polytechnic in 1950. It became general manager in 1960, CEO in 1961 and president in 1966, when his father died.
Pininfarina has transformed the business from a boutique producer of hand crafted designs in high volume production that have maintained the beauty of Italian design of automobiles.
In early 1950 the company was less than 1,000 cars a year. Sorted by Pininfarina, the production increased to over 50,000 a year.
Among the cars were popular, the company designed the Fiat 124 Sport Spider and Alfa Romeo Spider. E 'was also responsible for Ferrari floor, high-performance sports cars, including 250 and 500 and the Dino, Daytona, and the 356 Modena.
Each car has withstood the scrutiny of Pininfarina.
"No design, unique design, unique style that leaves the factory without my approval," he told The Christian Science Monitor in 1981.
And it raises the design of major importance in car manufacturing.
"Frankly, I think that trying to minimize the importance of the aesthetic appearance of a car just because they do not design cars can be beautiful," he said in a speech in 1977.
In an interview with The Times the following year, he said, "You're talking to a man who is enamored of cars ....
"Ferrari 12-cylinder is, well, like a cathedral. You go in and pray. Instead of Brahms, feel the Vroom, Vroom!"
Pininfarina has resigned to become honorary president of the company in 2006 and was also named an Italian senator for life.
00:58 | 0
comments
