carrozzieri-italiani.com

The ultimate italian coachbuilder site

The Prince Skyline Sport: The first Japanese-Italian Automotive Collaboration

The Prince Skyline Sport stands as a pioneering symbol of international collaboration in the automotive world. Born out of a unique partnership between Prince Motor Company in Japan and the legendary Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti, this luxury sports car blended Italian craftsmanship with Japanese engineering. Debuting at the 1960 Turin Motor Show, the Skyline Sport featured sleek lines, a distinctive front grille, and advanced engineering, including a 1.9-liter GB-4 engine capable of reaching 150 km/h. Though its steep price tag limited its domestic success, the Skyline Sport set a precedent for future cross-cultural automotive partnerships and remains an iconic piece of automotive history—showcasing the timeless appeal of Italian design and Japanese innovation.

90s Bugatti Cars That Still Turn Heads

The 90s was not exactly a golden age for Bugatti. The brand rolled out just one production car under Romano Artioli, who took over in 1987. But hold up—Bugatti wasn’t short on wild ideas. They dreamed up some seriously awesome concept cars, even if they never hit the road. It’s a shame because there were at least four models that were so cool they made you wonder: why didn’t Bugatti build these? Let’s start with their actual production car, the EB 110.

The Alfa Romeo TZ: A Milestone in Racing History and Design

The Alfa Romeo TZ (Tubolare Zagato) is more than just a car: it is a landmark in the history of Italian automotive engineering and motorsport. This sleek, lightweight coupé marked Alfa Romeo’s return to racing in the 1960s, bridging the gap between the brand’s glorious pre-war racing heritage and its aspirations for modern motorsport dominance. Created in collaboration with Zagato and Auto Delta, the TZ became an icon of innovation, design, and competitive success.

The Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina was the real F80

Imagine taking one of Ferrari’s most celebrated supercars, the Enzo, and reimagining it with a design that channels the golden age of 1960s endurance racing. Now, picture this vision brought to life by Pininfarina, one of the most revered names in automotive design. That’s exactly what James Glickenhaus, a passionate car collector and filmmaker, achieved with the Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina.

The BMW M1: The Origin

The BMW M1 holds a unique place in automotive history. As the first production car from BMW’s Motorsport division, the M1 was intended to showcase the company’s engineering prowess and racing pedigree. However, despite its striking looks, impressive performance, and significant impact on the BMW brand, the M1’s journey was fraught with challenges, including financial turmoil, production delays, and regulatory hurdles. Today, the M division has evolved into a symbol of high-performance street cars, but the M1’s legacy remains one of both triumph and failure.

The Fascinating History of the Bugatti EB110

In the world of high-performance automobiles, few cars command as much intrigue as the Bugatti EB110. Brought to life by Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli, the EB110 was a groundbreaking effort to revive the storied Bugatti name. Combining avant-garde engineering, meticulous design, and theatrical presentation, it was a car that set new benchmarks for what a supercar could achieve—both on paper and in practice.

Alfa Romeo Proteo: A Visionary Concept That Never Was

The Alfa Romeo Proteo stands as a symbol of what could have been, a groundbreaking concept car that promised to combine innovation, elegance, and high-end engineering. Unveiled at the 1991 Geneva International Motor Show, the Proteo was designed to captivate the imagination of car enthusiasts and demonstrate Alfa Romeo’s ability to push the boundaries of automotive design. Despite its technical brilliance and futuristic features, the Proteo never reached production. However, its legacy endures as a source of inspiration for future models, and its influence can still be seen in several convertible sports cars of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The Coupé That Could Have Saved BMW: How the Pininfarina Gran Lusso Shows the Way Forward

The BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé, a stunning collaboration between BMW and the legendary Italian design house Pininfarina, embodies the elegance and refinement that BMW’s current lineup seems to have lost. As BMW faces criticism for its bulky, uninspired designs, this one-off coupé serves as a reminder of what the brand could have been today—graceful, purposeful, and timeless. Could the Gran Lusso Coupé have been the design salvation BMW desperately needs?

The Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer: Pininfarina’s Iconic Departure

The Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer (BB), produced from 1973 to 1984, stands as one of Ferrari’s most radical shifts in design and engineering, thanks to the collaborative work with Pininfarina. The BB was Ferrari’s first mid-engine road car, marking a significant departure from Enzo Ferrari’s long-standing preference for front-engine designs. Its introduction signified a new chapter for Ferrari, aligning more closely with the trends set by other supercar manufacturers at the time.