Italian auto designers can be separated into two categories: Giorgetto Giugiaro and everybody else. Named the greatest and most influential designer of the 20th century, Giugiaro's work has inspired scores of car designers since. From Ferrari to GM, Giugiaro has worked on scores of supercars and even a few offbeat vehicles like the Golf. To this day, he still provides designs unlike anyone else.
Sadly, some of Giugiaro's best works were on concept cars that never got into the production stage. It may be that some of his craft is so astounding that trying to mass-produce it is futile. But what has hit the streets is incredible, cars that catch the eye and have become legends in some cases.Â
Picking the best Giugiaro design is like deciding the best Rembrandt painting but here are ten of the most gorgeous Giugiaro designs as a reminder of why he's so revered.
10 Isuzu 117
Historic as one of the first Japanese cars designed by an Italian, the Isuzu 117 was a nice challenge for Giugiaro. He had to mix a European style for an Asian market and a car notable for its small size.
It looks like a car perfect for a grand tourer yet also suitable for driving in Tokyo, and that terrific appearance made it a hit. Even with slight alterations over the years, Giugiaro's design still makes the Isuzu a groundbreaker.
9 Maserati Merak (1972)
Giugiaro's gift is how he can take so-so cars and make them look like must-have automobiles. The Maserati Merak is a good example. With the Bora failing, Maserati turned to Giugiaro to try and spice the car up.
He did, making the front end sharper, not quite wedge-shaped but still a leaner and meaner look. He also added the unique intake and buttresses that gave it a distinctive shape. While not a huge hit, the design did make the Merak a notable sight in its six-year run.
8 Fiat Dino Coupe
The epitome of a perfect Italian Grand Tourer, the Fiat Dino Coupe has influenced scores of cars since. It's large to fit the GTs of its time yet somehow feels compact and comfortable thanks to Giugiaro's work.
It goes for subtlety over power, the vents and intakes melding with the overall design well. That it became such a classic says it all as this car elevated Giugiaro to stardom and stands the test of time as a masterpiece.
7 Iso Grifo
One of the rarest of Giugiaro's designs, the Iso Grifo has fallen through the cracks of even classic car buffs. Which is a shame as it's one of his best efforts. The blade edge covers most of the car and draws attention to its sharp look.
The rear window is well done to balance the Kamm back tail and look more like a racing machine. Seen from the front, it's the closest to a muscle car Italy has produced, yet an exotic air to it. Iso went bankrupt in 1973, but at least they had this beauty.
6 Fiat 850 Spider
A classic of its time, the Fiat 850 Spider didn't resemble the arachnid but looked gorgeous. While the Spider was sadly underpowered, it made up for it in its looks. Having the motor in the rear necessitated a different design, with the front looking nice and cute with graceful lines, and the rear "lids" fit the design rather than making it look uncomfortable.
Sadly, the headlights were altered during production to throw some of the feel off, yet the Spider showed Giugiaro's ability to make such a so-so car look gorgeous.
5 Italdesign Aztec (1988)
Some mistakenly believe this was only a concept car, but the truth is the Italdesign Aztec did see limited production. The design is bold and futuristic, with the angualr-shaped front showcasing the jet fighter-like "cockpit" for the driver and passenger.
The rear tires' unique shielding is as notable as the rear spoiler and the funky touches on the doors. Throw in extra lights, a hydraulic jack, and more, and this was ahead of its time. Less than a couple of dozen were made but still mark a fantastic sight.
4 Maserati Ghibli (1966)
Mention Giugiaro, and this is usually the car that comes to mind. The 1966 Maserati Ghibli is beloved by classic car buffs for an excellent performance. But it's the looks that matter as Giugiaro managed to make an already great car look gorgeous.
The sloped front has just a small bump indicating the powerful engine and aids in the aerodynamics. It looks aggressive yet somehow gentle, a car perfect for an afternoon motoring, and little wonder it made Giugiaro a star.
3 De Tomaso Mangusta
Standing out from the pack upon its debut in 1966, the De Tomaso Mangusta is a fantastic machine that's best known for the gullwing-like doors opening to showcase the rear-set engine and luggage compartment.
When shut, the doors help the Mangusta's exotic look, sleek and yet powerful with that sharply-designed wide hood. It makes for a car that has scores of power to it and unlike other automobiles out there.
2 Lotus Esprit
When James Bond uses a car, it automatically has some style. The Lotus Esprit became famous in the film The Spy Who Loved Me when Bond uses one for a chase. The polygonal "folded paper" design makes it stand out and lends itself to Bond transforming it into a submarine.
It pops up again in For Your Eyes Only, a regular car, yet that angular design gives in an exotic air fitting for 007. The Esprit ranks as the most cinematic of Giugiaro's creations.
1 DeLorean DMC
"If you're going to build a time machine out of a car, why not pick one with some style to it?" Doc Brown's line in Back to the Future sums it all up. Yes, the DeLorean DMC is known as one of the auto world's more infamous flops but it still looks gorgeous.
The sleek curves, gullwing doors, and rugged exotic look truly looked like a car of the future in the 1980s. Without Giugiaro's design, the DeLorean would have been long forgotten today.
Sources: hagerty.com, autowise.com, motor1.com, caranddriver.com