Italian legend Sergio Scaglietti passes away.
Italian legend Sergio Scaglietti has unfortunately passed away at the grand age of 91 on November 20 2011. The legendary Ferrari coachbuilder created some of the world’s most beautiful cars including the iconic Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and the Ferrari 250 GTO.
Scaglietti was born in Modena, Italy in 1920. He began working in a local garage at the age of 13. Three years later he and his older brother set up their own garage across the road from Ferrari’s Scuderia factory.
It was not long before Scaglietti & Co (Carrozzeria Scaglietti) began repairing cars for Enzo Ferrari. Impressed by his skill and passion Enzo eventually commissioned Scaglietti to create a new chassis for Ferrari. Scaglietti began to collaborate with the Scuderia Ferrari and a long-lasting friendship developed between Sergio and Enzo.
During the mid-1950′s Scaglietti was the Carrozzeria of choice for the Ferrari racing team, designing and building many of their most successful cars.
Only cars which were exclusively designed by Scaglietti carry the exclusive Scaglietti & Co badge.
Original Scaglietti designs include;
- 1954 Ferrari 250 Monza
- 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Coupe
- 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport
- 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial Series II
- 1956 Ferrari 290 MM
- 1956 Ferrari 860 Monza
- 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa
- 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Scaglietti Coupe
In fact, he is credited with the distinctive “headrest” bump on most racing Ferrari’s during the 1950′s and 1960′s, a design disliked by Enzo which was strongly supported by Dino.
He also built several cars based on third-party designs including;
- 1955 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France
- 1957 Ferrari 250 California Spider
- 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (below)
Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo said “Today is a sad day for Ferrari. We lost a friend, a travel companion, a man who had his name forever connected to the Prancing Horse. Sergio Scaglietti leaves behind the legacy of an artist who with his talent created some of the most beautiful cars of our history. Who had the luck to know him like I did will also remember him as a straightforward and honest man, completely dedicated to his work. We will miss him.”
Over the years Scaglietti’s contribution to Ferrari was reflected in cars named after him including the Ferrari 612 and a special version 456M GT.
The car industry has lost a design icon, an absolute legend, one gone but never forgotten.
So what is your favourite Scaglietti car? Mine is the 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. An absolutely unique and beautiful car.
Ferrari is taking risks and for that at least they should be applauded. Not like Porsche who “create” twenty versions of the same car (although they showed at least some progress with the 918). I think, it does not look “right” for a Ferrari, then again this is just a logical consequence of what we have got used to. Ironically no matter what, this car will be remembered, either because it will be successful and has a good production run, or it will be axed soon, in which case it will become a valuable collectible.