From ‘truck of the year’ to iconic supercars, Marcello Gandini did it all

Marcello Gandini needs little introduction. The father of the supercar, Gandini’s influence on automotive design dating back to the 1960s cannot be underestimated.

While Gandini remains best-known for his succession of Lamborghinis, his imprimatur can be seen on a vast portfolio of vehicles – from humble Volkswagens to French hot hatches, iconic sedans and even a truck.

Gandini passed away this week at the age of 85. He leaves behind a legacy that can still be seen today in almost every supercar from almost every manufacturer.

Gandini joined Bertone as a 27-year-old in 1965 where he replaced the departing Giorgetto Giugiaro. They were big shoes to fill, but he, despite his relatively youthful years, filled them with ease.

Just a year later, Gandini had penned what has gone on to become, one of the, if not the most beautiful car ever made, the Lamborghini Miura.

With its seductive curves and low-slung stance, the Miura is now regarded as the first supercar. Many followed.

Gandini didn’t look back from those early heady days of success, putting his signature touches on everything from supercars to humble city hatchbacks, almost all of them for his employer, Bertone.

Bertone marked the passing of Gandini with a statement on social media: “Gandini was not just a designer. He was a visionary, whose skill and creativity redefined the aesthetic standards of sports and luxury cars, influencing generations of designers and enthusiasts.

‘His creations, true works of art on four wheels, have left an indelible mark in history and will continue to inspire and fascinate. His unique vision and incomparable talent will forever remain milestones in the industry.”

To celebrate Gandini’s incredible legacy, we take a look at some of our favourite – and some of the most influential – cars (and one truck) to spring from the pencil of the legendary Italian designer.

To many, it’s the most beautiful car ever made but to everyone, it’s the original supercar, the car that set new standards in automotive design. The Miura and Gandini’s seductive curves set the tone for all supercars that followed, its influence still felt today.

Borrowing more from the Miura than first glances might suggest, the Montreal featured a 2.6-litre V8 under the bonnet with a five-speed manual gearbox sending drive to the rear wheels. Fun fact, Gandini’s original concept did not have name when it was unveiled to the public at Expo 67 in Montreal, Canada. Undeterred by its no-name status, the public began calling it ‘The Montreal’. The name stuck.

Co-designed with BMW legend Paul Bracq, the E12 5 Series started life as a two-door concept revealed at the 1970 Geneva motor show, the Garmisch, also designed by Gandini. The E12 5 Series set the tone for BMW’s design language for decades to come.

Fiat’s mid-engined, rear-wheel drive sports car brought supercar design to the masses. And it was Gandini who provide the inspiration, his signature touches found everywhere. Noted for its finely balanced chassis and excellent handling, the X1/9 was taken in-house by Bertone in 1982 which continued to improve and manufacture the exciting little wedge until 1989.

Born of Gandini’s iconic 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero concept, the production car received the green light from Lancia when Gandini himself drove the impossibly low Zero concept (it measured in at just 846mm tall) underneath Lancia’s security gates to rapturous applause from Lancia’s staff. By 1974, the Lancia Stratos had started its reign of terror on the World Rally Championship, winning three in a row from 1974-76 as well as the 1974 Targa Florio.

Where the Miura was all curves and seduction, the Countach bludgeoned with its angular planes and seemingly impossible wedge. Its showpiece was Gandini’s design for scissor doors , a signature that remains part of the Lamborghini design language today. The Countach’s angular planes have inspired every Lamborghini since.

From supercars to city hatchbacks, Gandini’s humble but shapely design for the Audi 50 also found a home at Volkswagen, forming the basis of the first-generation Polo. Compact and practical, the Audi 50 remained in production for just four years while the Polo lives on to this day.

One of the earliest hot hatches is also one of the most iconic. Cramming a turbocharged 1.4-litre into the space where rear seats would normally be found presented its challenges. Enter Bertone and Gandini who penned a bulging yet functional body to ensure the right amount of cooling was sent to the right places. The result was a snarling, angry hatchback that looked like nothing else before it.

Gandini’s Citroen BX actually went through several carmakers before finally landing with the French manufacturer. Originally designed in 1977 for British carmaker Reliant, Gandini’s handiwork then made its way to Volvo as the Tundra concept. Volvo said ‘nej’, opening the door for Citroen to take chance on the unusually-styled five-door liftback. Some 2,315,739 sales later, the Citroen BX is Gandini’s most successful car commercially.

Gandini’s design for the second-gen Renault 5 (he had no hand in the original ‘5’) focussed on improved aerodynamics and interior comfort, thanks to a growth spurt, both in length and width. It remained in production until 1990 when it was replaced by the Clio.

The Renault Magnum was notable for being the first modern truck with a completely flat floor in the cab as well as the first truck to feature a mechanically separate cabin and engine compartment. Designed by none other than Gandini, it was crowned International Truck of the Year in 1991.

What are your favourite Marcello Gandini cars (or trucks). Let us know in the comments below.