Sergio Pininfarina, who ran the famous Italian automotive design company of the same name for 40 years, has died after a long illness. He was 85. You have seen his work, some of the most iconic cars were penned by the house of Pininfarina. 61 Ferrari 250 GT - Yep, the same one owned by Cameron's dad in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The movie one was a replica. Fiat 124 Sport Spider Alfa Romeo Spider - The image below is by Old81 Sergio had the last word on the company's design projects for almost 50 years. During his time leading the design house, Pininfarina created some of the most famous production cars and concepts of the second half of the 20th century. Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120703/ANE/111129941#ixzz1zZWibDi9
That rare thing - a genuine designer, not just a stylist. I'd vote for the 1970s Fiat 130 Coupé as the perfect example of his work - utterly tasteful, utterly restrained, not a line out of place and yet has jaw-dropping presence when you see one on the road.
RIP Sergio http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/03/12541979-sergio-pininfarina-former-ferrari-design-chief-dies?lite&ocid=ansmsnbc11
The 250 in Ferris' Bueller's day off was a 250 GT Spider California which was not designed by Pininfarina. The 250 GT California SWB in FBDO was designed and built by Scaglietti. The 250 designed by Pininfarina was the 250 GT Coupe Pininfarina which looked like this:
RIP a wonderful automobile designer! I do miss my 69 Alfa Romeo Spider, it was darn sweet, but I liked my 63 Alfa Romeo Spider a lot more and I really do miss it.