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News16 May 2024 by Andreas 284 Viewed

Morgan and Pininfarina Unveil Midsummer: A Celebration of Coachbuilding and Timeless Style

In a harmonious fusion of heritage and innovation, Morgan Motor Company and Pininfarina S.p.A. proudly present Midsummer, a limited series special project celebrating over two centuries of coachbuilding excellence.

The Midsummer barchetta design pays homage to the iconic European coachwork style while showcasing the timeless silhouette flexibility of Morgan vehicles. Crafted on the latest Morgan CX-Generation Bonded Aluminium platform, each Midsummer boasts a turbocharged six-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, ensuring a dynamic driving experience.

Central to Midsummer’s allure is the sensory connection it fosters between occupants and machine, achieved through its distinctive style and character. Encapsulating this connection is the exterior’s remarkable use of sustainable teak wood, meticulously laminated to create sculpted wood structures surrounding the cockpit and defining a distinctive shoulder line.

Crafted by hand, each aluminium body panel demands over 250 hours of meticulous labour, a testament to the dedication of Morgan’s skilled artisans. Collaborative efforts between Morgan and Pininfarina’s designers and engineers have resulted in a final design that is both surprising and unique.

Limited to just 50 units, all of which have been eagerly claimed by customers following exclusive preview sessions, Midsummer marks a milestone in automotive craftsmanship. Each vehicle is adorned with the “Pininfarina Fuoriserie” badge, a first for a production car, signifying its exceptional status.

Massimo Fumarola, CEO of Morgan Motor Company, expressed pride in Midsummer, stating, “We are incredibly proud to unveil Midsummer, a limited series special project that celebrates two centuries of coachbuilding and embodies the core values of Morgan. It represents the pinnacle of our talented workforce’s craftsmanship.”

Giuseppe Bonollo, SVP Sales & Marketing of Pininfarina, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Together with Morgan, we are proud to lead the coachbuilding movement. This extraordinary collaboration brings together Morgan’s century-old bodybuilding philosophy with Pininfarina’s nearly 95 years of tradition in designing and crafting bespoke vehicles.”

Midsummer’s design journey was marked by intense collaboration, with designers and engineers from both companies working closely to translate shared ideals into reality. The result is a masterpiece that seamlessly blends Morgan’s rich heritage with Pininfarina’s timeless design language.

From its striking exterior to its meticulously crafted interior, Midsummer embodies the essence of automotive excellence. With its limited production and unparalleled craftsmanship, Midsummer promises to become a coveted collector’s item, cherished by enthusiasts for generations to come

the author

Andreas

Italian classic car enthusiast with German roots. Renowned as a respected figure in the classic car community, he serves as a jury member at various international concours d'elegance, including the Classic Gala Schwetzingen and Mantova. As a content creator, Andreas passionately shares his profound knowledge and appreciation for vintage automobiles. His heart beats for cars designed by Giovanni Michelotti, showcasing his discerning taste and dedication to preserving the timeless elegance of automotive history.

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Photo courtesy of Auto Storica

The Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer (BB), produced from 1973 to 1984, stands as one of Ferrari’s most radical shifts in design and engineering, thanks to the collaborative work with Pininfarina. The BB was Ferrari’s first mid-engine road car, marking a significant departure from Enzo Ferrari’s long-standing preference for front-engine designs. Its introduction signified a new chapter for Ferrari, aligning more closely with the trends set by other supercar manufacturers at the time.

Origins and Design Inspiration

Designed under the direction of Leonardo Fioravanti, the Ferrari 365 GT4 BB (the first iteration of the BB series) debuted at the 1971 Turin Auto Show, and production began in 1973. One fascinating anecdote about the car is that its “BB” initials reportedly stood for Brigitte Bardot, the famous French actress, which was a codename used during development and remained with the model​.

The BB’s design was sleek and revolutionary. It featured a wedge-shaped, low-profile body, which became a staple of 1970s supercar aesthetics. One of its unique design elements was the bicolored bodywork, with a black lower section that visually slimmed the car while emphasizing its elongated shape. Its pop-up headlights and minimalist, flowing lines were indicative of Pininfarina’s ability to combine functionality with elegance, helping the car stand out from its competitors​.

Mid-Engine Innovation

Before the BB series, Ferrari had always adhered to front-engine layouts for its road cars, famously stating, “Never put the cart before the horse.” However, the mid-engine layout, which Ferrari had already used in its Dino models, became necessary as rivals like Lamborghini began popularizing the mid-engine format in supercars.

The 512 BB (introduced in 1976) featured a 5.0-liter flat-12 engine, mounted in the middle of the car, right behind the driver, delivering 360 horsepower. While this engine was commonly referred to as a “Boxer,” it was technically a 180-degree V12, not a true Boxer engine. In a true Boxer engine, opposing pistons move in opposite directions, but in the 512 BB, they moved simultaneously in the same direction​ This flat configuration allowed for a lower center of gravity, which significantly improved the car’s handling.

Performance and Engineering Marvels

The 512 BB was more than just a stylish car—it was a high-performance machine capable of a top speed of 302 km/h (187 mph) and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds. The car’s engineering wasn’t just limited to its engine. It featured independent suspension on all four wheels and a sophisticated five-speed manual transmission mounted below the engine, showcasing Ferrari’s commitment to performance.

Over the years, the BB saw several iterations. The BB 512i, introduced in the early 1980s, swapped the carburetors for Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, which lowered emissions and improved fuel efficiency without sacrificing too much power. Although the power dropped slightly to 340 hp, it remained one of the fastest road cars of its era​.

Legacy and Influence

The BB series laid the groundwork for Ferrari’s later mid-engine supercars, such as the Ferrari Testarossa, which succeeded the BB 512i in 1984. It also marked a significant shift for Ferrari, transitioning from the era of front-engine grand tourers to mid-engine supercars.

Today, the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer remains a prized collector’s item. Its combination of cutting-edge design by Pininfarina, revolutionary mid-engine layout, and Ferrari’s racing heritage makes it one of the most iconic cars in the brand’s history. With only 387 units produced of the original 365 GT4 BB, and slightly more of the later 512 BB and BB 512i models, its rarity further solidifies its place in the pantheon of classic supercars.

The Ferrari BB, both for its groundbreaking design and engineering, represents one of Ferrari’s most influential models. Its innovations in the mid-engine supercar market, coupled with Pininfarina’s masterful styling, continue to captivate enthusiasts and collectors to this day.

Which Ferrari model is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

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