Giotto Bizzarrini
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Giotto Bizzarrini | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | May 13, 2023 | (aged 96)
Nationality | Italian |
Alma mater | University of Pisa |
Known for | Founder of Bizzarrini |
Giotto Bizzarrini (6 June 1926 – 13 May 2023) was an Italian automobile engineer who was active from the 1950s through the 1970s.
After graduating from the University of Pisa in 1953, Bizzarrini eventually joined
Early life
Bizzarrini was born in
Bizzarrini received an engineering degree from the University of Pisa in 1953. His design thesis in his senior year was a complete redesign of a used Fiat Topolino, in which he modified the engine for increased power and relocated it in the chassis for improved handling.
Alfa Romeo
After graduation, he taught briefly before joining Alfa Romeo's 'Servizio Esperimenze Principali' unit under Ing. Nicolis in August 1954. He was assigned to the development of the
Ferrari
Bizzarrini left Alfa Romeo in 1957 and went to Ferrari when that company needed a test driver. He was quickly promoted to controller of experimental, Sports and GT car development.[citation needed]
Bizzarrini worked for five years at Ferrari as chief engineer. He also worked as a developer, designer, and skilled test driver. The
Ferrari 250 GTO
His masterpiece at Ferrari was the 1962 250 GTO. He became involved with the project in 1960. Ferrari wanted a GT racer with better aerodynamics than the previous 250 GT SWB. The SWB was a great racer but had considerable aerodynamic drag. Jaguar had just launched the E-Type and Ferrari needed a top contender in the tracks. Enzo Ferrari wanted to ensure that his racing team did not suffer another loss as it had in the 1959 LeMans race.
Tests started secretly with a
Count Volpi, the specials, ASA and ATS
In 1961, Bizzarrini was one of the "famous five" engineers who left Ferrari in the so-called "Ferrari night of the Long Knives", provoked by a reorganisation of the engineering staff. With other ex-Ferrari engineers (including Carlo Chiti) Bizzarrini founded the Automobili Turismo e Sport (ATS) company to build a Formula 1 single seater and a GT sports car, the ATS Serenissima.
In 1962, Bizzarrini was hired by Count Giovanni Volpi, owner of the Scuderia Serenissima Republica di Venezia, to upgrade a Ferrari 250 GT SWB (chassis number 2819GT) to GTO specification. Ferrari was upset with Volpi and refused to sell him a GTO, so they had to acquire and modify a used vehicle.
Bizzarrini applied all the ideas from the GTO and developed with
In 1962 Bizzarrini founded Società Autostar, an engineering firm through which he would bid for freelance engineering projects.
Lamborghini engine
Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A.
Iso Grifo
Società Autostar developed cars for
A dispute between Bizzarrini and Iso ended their collaboration, and led to Società Autostar building variants of the Iso Grifo under the Bizzarrini marque. This led Bizzarrini to change the name of Società Autostar first, in 1964, to Società Prototipi Bizzarrini and then in 1966 to Bizzarrini SpA.
Bizzarrini SpA
5300 GT Strada
Bizzarrini SpA is best known for the Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada, produced between 1965 and 1968. This car had styling from Giorgetto Giugiaro when he was working for Bertone.
Giugiaro's
After Bizzarrini SpA, Giotto Bizzarrini also developed advanced designs for other companies, including
Bizzarrini in later years
Bizzarrini taught and worked at Rome University, developing advanced projects and designing, building, and developing his own sport cars. He was often quoted as saying: "I'm not a car designer, I am a worker".
On 23 October 2012, during the inauguration of the University of Florence's new Design Campus in Calenzano, Professor Bizzarrini was given the Honoris Causa Degree in Industrial Design.[4]
Bizzarrini died on 13 May 2023, at the age of 96.[5]
References
- OCLC 1004800222.
- ^ "Giotto Bizzarrini: Engineering Excellence". autoevolution. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
- ^ "Project: Manta - 1968".
- ^ Gulett, Mike (28 October 2012). "Giotto Bizzarrini Receives An Honorary Doctorate From the University of Florence (Italy) - MyCarQuest.com". My Car Quest. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ Vaughn, Mark (14 May 2023). "Giotto Bizzarrini, Who Created the Greatest GTs Ever Made, Has Died". Autoweek. Retrieved 14 May 2023.