Cockpit Canopy: Giugiaro’s Signature in Automotive Design
The journey begins with the Nardi “Blue Ray” I, a visionary concept penned by Giovanni Michelotti. Built on a Lancia Aurelia chassis, this sleek coupé introduced a bubble-like plexiglass canopy that immediately evoked fighter aircraft aesthetics. The entire roof was a domed Perspex™ glass canopy tinted in blue, flowing into the windshield and rear window. Entry wasn’t via conventional doors at all – instead, the Blue Ray’s side windows slid upward into the roof’s center section, like the canopy of a jet, allowing occupants to climb in. This clear roof not only gave a panoramic view but also set the tone for using transparent forms to shape a car’s character. With its dazzling blue hue and curved glass, the Blue Ray’s canopy reflected light dramatically, showcasing form through reflection – a trait future designers (especially Giugiaro) would amplify with silver paint on later concepts. What Michelotti started here was nothing short of sci-fi on wheels, establishing the bubble top as a symbol of the optimistic 1950s futurism.