The Best Cars Designed By Pininfarina – Part I

Pininfarina is a renowned name in the world of automobiles and the design house has created some of the most beautiful cars ever. 

Automobiles, as we know them now, are very different from many decades ago. Today we often generalize public sector cars, wherein we have mass-market manufacturers making cars all over the globe. However, this was not the case half a century ago, and every vehicle sold was bespoke. People who wanted to buy a car usually bought the chassis and mechanics from the manufacturer. Different manufacturers sold the body and the interior of the vehicle, later, all of this was put together, and a completely bespoke vehicle was created. 

The art of making vehicles led to excellent craftsmanship, called coach building. Today we rarely see coach-built vehicles apart from the exclusive and super expensive Rolls Royce models and some others of the kind. Through the years, there have been many coach-building companies. Still, one name, in particular, stands above them for its forward-thinking elegance and design, and it happens to be none other than the Italian design house Pininfarina. In 2020, the company celebrated its 90th anniversary, showing the company’s heritage in the world of automobiles. 

These are some of the most beautiful vehicles designed by Pininfarina. 

Cisitalia 202

Italian companies were banned from the Paris Motor Show because it was a post-war period. Battista Pininfarina decided to showcase his amazingly designed vehicles in this show, and the vehicle they chose to display was the Cisitalia 202. This vehicle was a design revolution as it was something that was never seen before. The vehicle did not use separate compartments for the engine, passenger, and luggage; instead, the entire vehicle looked more like a sculpture with smooth flowing lines from the front to the back. From the front fenders to the rear boot lid, the entire vehicle seemed as if it was crafted out of a single sheet of metal. 

Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider 

Pininfarina as a design house was only able to exist thanks to the financial backing of the automotive company Lancia. Because of the support, Pininfarina also designed a few vehicles for Lancia that were drop-dead gorgeous, and one of them happens to be the B24 spider. The Lancia Aurelia has been in existence since 1950. Still, it was the magic of Pininfarina that made it special in 1954 when the convertible version of the Aurelia was launched. This vehicle was often regarded as the first ever Grand Tourer to exist. The design was simple, and that is what made it beautiful. The doors of the vehicles were half, and they did not have any handles as they would interrupt the clean design lines. Only 240 units of these vehicles were built, making them collector’s items. 

Ferrari Testarossa

It would be unfair to make a list of Pininfarina-designed vehicles and not include a Ferrari. The iconic Ferrari Testarossa created a divide among Ferrari lovers as they either loved it or hated it, but it was noticeable. Sure, even at the time, its design was very different from the rest of Ferrari’s offerings – but that’s what makes it so adorable. The horizontal streaks on the doors and the rear fenders cannot be easily recreated, and the rear is wider than the front, which gives the car a confident, serious presence. 

Peugeot 406 Coupe

One thing Peugeot and Ferrari share in common is that they have a long-standing relationship with Pininfarina. The French carmaker Peugeot has had many of its vehicles designed by Pininfarina, and the 406 coupe happens to be the best of them. The clean lines and uninterrupted flowing design is what makes the 406 coupes a desirable vehicle, and even two decades after each Launch, it remains one of the most beautiful Peugeot vehicles ever made. 

Ferrari 275 GTB

Very few cars can eclipse the beauty of the Ferrari 275 GTB. The prolific styling of the vehicle created a perfectly balanced outline that still is head-turning. It’s all the more remarkable since the 275-series remained in production for a relatively short period – 1964 to 1968 – with several different subspecies to choose from. Though ostensibly a road car, three distinct motorsport-orientated variations were made. One of these Competizione editions was a class winner and the only Ferrari finisher in the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Fiat 1500 Cabriolet 

The Fiat 1500 was distinctive and a rather exceptional car, powered by overhead-valve engines and built between 1961 and 1967. But once Pininfarina had worked its magic to come up with a coupé and cabriolet, 1500 looked a whole lot more desirable. The classic two-seater styling and the long uninterrupted chrome strip running on the side of the vehicle were indeed eye-catching design aspects.