Disappearance of Marcello Gandini, father of the Lamborghini Miura and the Lancia Stratos

Italian designer Marcello Gandini died this Wednesday March 13 at the age of 85. His name may not mean anything to you, but the stylist is at the origin of two legendary cars for any self-respecting enthusiast of fine mechanics: the Lamborghini. Miura and the Countach.

Then employed by the Bertone house as chief designer at just 27 years old, Marcello Gandini surprised all the visitors to the Lamborghini stand at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show by presenting the Miura. This sports car, equipped with a 12-liter V3.9 in the transverse and central rear position, is barely 1,05 meters high, making a lasting impression and opening up the supercar segment.

Fans rally He also owes the original design of the Lancia Stratos. “The Lancia Stratos Zero was born from the need to do something for the 1970 Turin Motor Show, he explained in a video from an Italian YouTuber in 2018. This kind of sculpture is born without any purpose. However, it had the merit of provoking, of convincing the management of Lancia to do something with it for the Rally, which Lancia then attended with a limited choice, the Fulvia. »

In addition, Marcello Gandini specifies that the designation “Stratos” comes from the name of a prefabricated wooden model aircraft that he purchased at the same time. In rallying, the Stratos allowed Lancia to win three consecutive Manufacturers' titles between 1974 and 1976, and as many European crowns, including two with Bernard Darniche.

The list of Marcello Gandini's creations continues into the 21st century, with the Lamborghini Countach and its elytron doors or the Renault 5 second generation and the Maserati Quattroporte.