1966 IKA-Renault Torino
From designing a number of previous Nash models for the North American market in the 1950s (including the bathtub-like Nash/Austin Metropolitan!), the AMC group retained the design services of Pininfarina into the 1960s, with the Italians assisting in the styling of the popular Rambler American compact models. The unusually refined (by contemporary US standards) Pininfarina-influenced styling of the third-generation 1964-69 Rambler American, was ironically reworked in Turin for the Argentinian version, built locally by IKA (and later Renault Argentina) and named Torino. With a long production cycle of 25 years and drilled into the affections of every Argentinian motoring enthusiast, the Torino morphed into a Renault in 1975, with the design skills of Pininfarina retained to help keep the model looking less overtly USA, and up to date, fresh and desirable. It succeeded!
1971 Fiat 130 Coupe
Arguably Pininfarina’s greatest styling work for a production car of the 1970s (a bold statement given its other excellent styling for the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer and Lancia Gamma Coupe too), the Fiat 130 Coupé was, and remains, an absolute masterpiece. Drawing on the heritage of the equally exquisite 1950s Lancia Flaminia Coupe, Fiat’s mid-1970s flagship model was a lesson in scalpel-sharp, straight-edged purity of form, the 130’s stunning elegance winning countless international design awards, and moving Pininfarina’s design language on to its next, sharper phase from its years influenced by the Flaminia’s success. The Paolo Martin-penned Fiat cleverly spawned the Pininfarina Maremma concept car in 1974 (a ‘shooting brake’ prototype) and the Opera in 1975 (a four-door saloon version), proving the excellence and fundamental ‘correctness’ of this design. The Fiat 130 Coupe is a true masterclass in minimalist elegance, and in my view, one of the most beautiful and significant car designs of the last 50 years. It’s simply sublime!
1976 Pininfarina Peugette 104
Andrew Frankel indulged his top Pininfarina selection by choosing one none-production car, so I have done the same and opted for the charming, fun-loving Peugeot 104-based (another great Pininfarina design) Peugette sports car concept. This minimalist 1976 prototype was intended to revive the concept of a small, affordable two-seater roadster, in the style of an MG TD, Midget, Triumph Spitfire and Fiat 850 Spider. To keep costs and production methods down, the Peugette craftily utilised all symmetrical plastic body panels, left to right and front to back. Thus, the front and rear bonnet/boot and wings were interchangeable, as were the doors, with the simple dashboard using modular instrument ‘pods’ to cut down on parts and costs. All very clever, but sadly all to no avail either, as Peugeot had recently taken over Citroen, and had little time and money to spare for such ‘fripperies.’ Our loss.
1997 Peugeot 406 Coupe
Despite a few interesting and dramatic vehicle designs throughout the 1980s (e.g. the Ferrari Testarossa and 288 GTO, plus the classy Alfa Romeo 164 and Peugeot 405), Pininfarina’s knack of creating gorgeous and timeless designs slightly eluded the Turin styling house for a few years. This dry patch thankfully came to an end though in 1997 when the Pininfarina designed Peugeot 406 Coupe hit the streets with its lusciously pleasing and timeless elegance. Guaranteed to be a future classic, the svelte 406 Coupe is sadly the final Peugeot to be both styled and built by Pininfarina, the French vehicle maker subsequently turning its back on Turin to design its own (usually less appealing and sometimes challengingly-styled) cars! A loss to both Pininfarina, Peugeot and us new car buyers.