I am particularly proud of the Fiat Panda - in conversation with Giorgetto Giugiaro

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I am particularly proud of the Fiat Panda - in conversation with Giorgetto Giugiaro

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Created on December 1, 2012

Text:

Peter Ruch (Radical-Mag)

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Volkswagen / Autostadt

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Archiv Radical Mag / Peter Ruch

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Volkswagen

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Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv

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Fiat Panda (1983) - this is what an almost new Fiat Panda with a roll-up roof looked like

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Giorgetto Giugiaro together with Agnelli

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Gordon Gran Turismo (1960) - the prototype at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show - photo only partially intact

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Maserati Ghibli 4.7 (1970) - Elegant silhouette of the Ghibli Coupé

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de Tomaso Mangusta (1970) - Simple and purposeful design

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de Tomaso Mangusta (1970) - There is a perfectly usable trunk in the front of the car

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Maserati Boomerang at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show - the Giugiaro creation had already been shown in Turin; the engine from the Bora was installed for Geneva

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Lotus Esprit S2 (1980) - the S2 looks even more elongated than the S1 due to the black sills

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Karmann Cheetah (1970) - wedge-shaped prototype by Giugiaro

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Karmann Cheetah (1970) - in good hands in the Autostadt

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Karmann Cheetah (1970) - impressive exhausts

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Karmann Cheetah (1970) - with a rear end that takes some getting used to

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud (1976) - pretty functional design

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VW Golf (1972) - early studies for the later million-seller

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VW Golf (1972) - early studies for the trendsetter

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VW Golf (1973) - in this drawing you can almost see the series Golf

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VW Passat (1975) - particularly popular as a station wagon

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VW Golf (1974) - the million-seller and thus probably Giugiaro's most popular design

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VW Golf (1978) - the start of a million-dollar success - created on the drawing board of Giorgetto Giugiaro

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VW Scirocco (1974) - came before the Golf and before the Alfasud Sprint, which it looked quite similar to

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VW Passat (1975) - the perfect family car

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VW Passat (1973) - the first volume result in the Volkswagen-Giugiaro collaboration

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Fiat Panda 45 (1981) - the unconventional cockpit of the Panda

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Fiat Panda 45 (1981) - spacious interior with recliner-like seats

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Italdesign Aztec (1988) - Aspid, Asgard and Aztec together - all by Giugiaro

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Italdesign Aztec (1988) - clean separation between driver and passenger

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Italdesign Aztec (1988) - a sketch by Giugiaro

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Italdesign Aztec (1988) - there is also something for the passenger to do

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Italdesign Aztec (1988) - futuristic end of the eighties

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Italdesign Aztec (1988) - imposing rear view

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Italdesign Aspid (1988) - the closed version of the Aztec

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Italdesign Aztec (1988) - an exhibition piece in the truest sense of the word

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Italdesign Asgard (1988) - perhaps the Touran should have looked like this

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Italdesign Aspid (1988) - mid-engined sports car by Giugiaro

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images seen in high resolution

Gordon Gran Turismo (1960) - der Prototyp auf dem Genfer Automobilsalon 1960 - Foto nur in Teilen unversehrt

Maserati Ghibli 4.7 (1970) - Elegante Silhouette des Ghibli Coupé

de Tomaso Mangusta (1970) - Schlichte und zweckorientierte Formgebung

de Tomaso Mangusta (1970) - Im Vorderwagen befindet sich ein durchaus nutzbarer Kofferraum

Maserati Boomerang am Genfer Automobilsalon 1972 - die Giugiaro-Schöpfung wurde bereits in Turin gezeigt, für Genf wurde der Motor vom Bora eingebaut

Summary

Giorgetto Giugiaro is one of the most famous car designers of all time and has gone down in automotive history as the creator of the Gordon Keeble GT, Maserati Ghibli and VW Golf, to name just a few examples. His professional colleagues voted him "Car Designer of the Century" in 1999. It may come as a surprise to some that Giugiaro himself names the Fiat Panda as the car that makes him most proud. Peter Ruch was able to interview the creative Giugiaro in 2012 and the result is summarized in our article and illustrated with early designs for the VW Golf and various other Giugiaro designs.

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Giorgetto Giugiaro's grandfather painted church murals. His father was also active in religious-decorative art, so it was only natural that the young Giugiaro also turned to art. However, he soon began to sketch cars, and in 1955 the then technical director of Fiat, Dante Giacosa, saw some of the drawings by the 17-year-old Piedmontese - and hired him immediately. As early as 1959, Giugiaro became head of the "Bertone Styling Center", one of the best addresses for car design in Turin. In 1965, he moved to Ghia, where he was responsible for the legendary Maserati Ghibli and De Tomaso Mangusta, among others.

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Images of this article

Gordon Gran Turismo (1960) - der Prototyp auf dem Genfer Automobilsalon 1960 - Foto nur in Teilen unversehrt

Maserati Ghibli 4.7 (1970) - Elegante Silhouette des Ghibli Coupé

de Tomaso Mangusta (1970) - Schlichte und zweckorientierte Formgebung

de Tomaso Mangusta (1970) - Im Vorderwagen befindet sich ein durchaus nutzbarer Kofferraum

Maserati Boomerang am Genfer Automobilsalon 1972 - die Giugiaro-Schöpfung wurde bereits in Turin gezeigt, für Genf wurde der Motor vom Bora eingebaut

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