BMW enthusiast or not, it s a sad day to be a car fanatic. Legendary automotive designer Marcello Gandini has passed away, reports Italy s Rai News. Aged 85, the talented man worked for Bertone during the design house s golden era, overseeing some of the most beautiful vehicles ever created. BMW fans appreciate him for the original 5 Series Sedan, which he co-designed under the supervision of Paul Bracq.
Launched in 1972, the E12 was preceded by the Garmisch concept at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show. The showcar mysteriously vanished following its first public outing, but BMW brought it back with an official recreation for the 2019 Concorso d Eleganza Villa d Este. Marcello Gandini himself contributed to the revival of the Garmisch by helping BMW replicate key details such as the light champagne metallic paint. Just like the original concept car, it too was coach-built in Turin, Italy.
Marcello Gandini s curriculum vitae goes well beyond a pair of BMWs. He penned what many consider the most beautiful car ever made and the first true supercar, the Lamborghini Miura. During his illustrious career, the Italian designer contributed to many other important models: Lancia Stratos, Lamborghini Countach, Bugatti EB110, and the De Tomaso Pantera.
While he is best known for working on a multitude of exotic cars, his expertise also helped mainstream automakers with their affordable models, such as the Volkswagen Polo, Citroën BX, and Renault 5 Turbo.
Source: RaiNews
First published by https://www.bmwblog.com
