Designer Sergio Pininfarina Dies at Age of 85

Noted automotive designer Sergio Pininfarina died last night, July 2, at the age of 85 at his home in Turin. 

Pininfarina was the son of designer Sergio Farina and also a member of Italian parliament. 

Batista Farina founded Carrozzeria PininfarinaPininfarinaItaly, 1930 > present17 models
109 photos
1 video
in 1930 and maintained a close relationship with FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
5131 photos
37 videos
throughout the 50s. Sergio took over the company after his father's death on April 3rd, 1966, although he worked closely with the family company before then. In 1965, he designed the first mid-engined, road-legal Ferrari, the Dino 206Ferrari Dino 206 GTItaly, 1968 > 19694 photos
. The design was further refined in 1966 and went on sale in 1968.

Pininfarina the company still has a close relationship with Ferrari. It designed the Ferrari 599 GTB FioranoFerrari 599 GTB Fiorano Gen.1Italy, 2006 > 20125 versions
118 photos
, 458Ferrari 458 ItaliaItaly, 2009 > present14 versions
82 photos
8 videos
, CaliforniaFerrari California Gen.1Italy, 2008 > present7 versions
52 photos
, FFFerrari FFItaly, 2011 > present24 photos
1 video
, F12berlinettaFerrari F12berlinettaItaly, 2012 > present16 photos
1 video
, and nearly every other important Ferrari since the 60s.

The company works on other cars as well. It designed and produced the Alfa Romeo BreraAlfa Romeo BreraItaly, 2002 > present12 versions
35 photos
, SpiderAlfa Romeo Spider (modern) Gen.1 [939]Italy, 2006 > 20107 versions
16 photos
and Volvo C70Volvo C70Sweden, 1997 > 20052 series
68 versions
68 photos
. The company has also designed a variety of European trains since 1987.

Sergio Pininfarina has been in retirement since 2001 when his son Andrea Pininfarina took over running the company. Andrea was killed in an accident in 2008 when he was hit by a car while riding his Vespa to work. Sergio’s other son Paulo has run the company since then. 

Source: Auto Express