Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
In the 1963 Ford presented the Cougar II concept build by Vignale. This very handsome two-passenger GT sports car would have made a timely contender to the popular Corvette String Ray
The Ford Cougar II Vignale is a unique and stunning concept car, born from the collaboration between the iconic American automaker Ford and the renowned Italian coachbuilder Vignale. Unveiled as a concept car in the 1960s, it embodies a perfect blend of American muscle and Italian design flair. One of its most striking features is the fiberglass body, crafted by Vignale, which gives the car a sleek, aerodynamic appearance while maintaining a lightweight structure. The body is elegantly sculpted, showcasing the distinctive Italian touch, with smooth lines and a glossy, candy-red finish that highlights its sporty character. One of the hallmark innovations of the Cougar II Vignale is its electrically-operated, top-hinged doors. These futuristic doors not only add a dramatic flair to the car’s design but also provide practical access to the cabin. Adding to its unique aesthetics, the car features pop-up headlamps, a stylish and modern element that further enhances its sleek front end. Inside, the Cougar II Vignale impresses with a serious, fully instrumented interior that reflects the car’s high-performance nature. The cockpit is designed with the driver in mind, featuring an array of gauges and controls. The four-speed transmission is paired with a console-mounted gearshift lever, emphasizing its sporty pedigree. Powering this remarkable machine is a high-performance 260 cubic-inch V-8 engine, capable of propelling the car to a top speed claimed to reach 170 miles per hour. One particularly innovative feature is the automatic relief panel, which opens when interior air pressure exceeds 15 pounds per square inch. This panel was essential due to the risk of high-speed pressure against the rear window, which could potentially blow it out. This thoughtful engineering underscores the attention to detail put into the car’s design.
The story of Carrozzeria Vignale represents one of the many somewhat forgotten success stories born against the backdrop of an Italy that was torn apart by the Second World War and which, starting from the end of the 1950s, was able to recover enough to know a real miracle. economical just a few years later.
