Trevor Fiore

Trevor Fiore, born Trevor Frost on April 4, 1937, is a former British automobile designer known for his work primarily in Italy during the 1960s and 1970s. Fiore’s background is marked by a blend of British and Italian heritage, with his mother coming from Milan. His career in automotive design began in 1952, when he started as an apprentice mechanic at Standard Triumph. Alongside his mechanical training, he also pursued art courses in Birmingham and later joined Standard’s design studio in 1956.

In 1962, Fiore moved to Paris and briefly worked at the Compagnie d’Esthétique Industrielle (CEI) under Raymond Loewy before relocating to Italy in 1964. He joined the Turin-based coachbuilder Fissore, where he became head of design. During his time at Fissore, Fiore was instrumental in designing both concept studies and production models, working with several smaller manufacturers like Alpine, Bond, De Tomaso, Elva, Trident, and TVR. Notably, Fiore’s work for the Monteverdi Hai 450 has been subject to debate, with some sources supporting Fiore’s claim that the design of the Swiss sports car was based on his work, although Peter Monteverdi himself has also claimed authorship.

In the early 1970s, as Monteverdi’s influence on Fissore grew, Fiore left the company and pursued independent projects for brands such as AC, Aston Martin, DAF, Gilbern, and Volvo. One of his significant contributions during this time was an alternative design for the Volvo 343, although it was not adopted. His design prototypes were often built by the manufacturer Coggiola in Beinasco.

Fiore’s next major role came in 1980 when he joined Citroën as a consultant. Within six months, he was promoted to head of design, where he revitalized the company’s in-house studio. During his time at Citroën, Fiore presented several design studies, including the Citroën Karin and the Xenia project. He also oversaw the establishment of a new design studio in Sophia Antipolis in 1983. However, Fiore left Citroën shortly after and briefly worked with Romano Artioli’s Bugatti Automobili in 1991, though he was unable to influence the design of Bugatti’s models.

After his departure from the automotive sector, Fiore fully withdrew from the industry and has not been active in the field since. His legacy remains tied to his significant contributions to car design, especially in Italy, where his designs continue to be remembered for their elegance and innovation.