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Pininfarina 90 anni / 90 years: the official book

The volume describes over 600 models that, from 1930 to today, have dictated the history of the motor car and spread Italian style around the world

Five hundred and twenty-eight pages, more than 800 colour and black and white photographs accompanied by short descriptive texts documenting, model by model, Pininfarina’s production during these “first” ninety years of its history. This, in extreme synthesis, describes Pininfarina 90 anni/90 years, the official book that is being published on the occasion of the ninetieth anniversary of the historic Turin design studio under the imprint of Giorgio Nada Editore, in close collaboration with Pininfarina.

Ninety years is a highly significant milestone and marks a journey on which Pininfarina – founded in Turin in 1930 by Battista “Pinin” Farina – has shown itself able on more than one occasion to innovate Italian car design and more. In the light of evolving taste and stylistic horizons, it has managed at the same time to introduce solutions that target the future. In almost a century, this intriguingly unique path has seen the historic Italian brand sign one-off models, models that end up on the assembly line for high volume production, but also futuristic concept cars that in many cases have become authentic icons of Italian design in the world.

This striving to innovate was the hallmark of Pinin Farina – at the time still written in two separate words – from its very beginnings. In the Thirties, for example, the coachbuilder was acclaimed for its de luxe creations of particular sobriety and elegance, tackling the first problems related to aerodynamics with models like the “Tipo Bocca” aerodynamic cabriolet of 1936, the same year as the Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Pescara berlinetta aerodinamica.

The 1940s were the decade in which mudguards were progressively integrated into the seamless surface of the sides, but this was above all the decade in which Pinin Farina designed the Cisitalia 202 berlinetta (1947), an authentic “moving sculpture” and icon of automotive design.

Real success, however, arrived in the Fifties when Pinin Farina, which had by now entered a more industrial dimension, though without ever losing sight of its craftsmanship origins, opened the door to new partnerships, most importantly with Ferrari and Peugeot. In that period Pinin Farina put its name to a series of masterpieces: the Alfa Romeo Giulietta spider (1954), the Lancia Aurelia B24 S and the Aurelia Florida, both from 1955, without forgetting the various Ferrari 250 GTs that would find their crown jewel in the short wheelbase 250 GT berlinetta at the end of the decade.

This leitmotif of excellence continued in the Sixties – which also saw the death of the founder Battista, “Pinin” in 1966 – marked by other landmarks in car design like the Ferrari 250 LM (1963), the Alfa Romeo 1600 Spider, alias “Duetto” (1966), the Dino 206 GT (1967) or the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona” of 1968, to which we might add prototypes of great appeal and charm such as the Dino berlinetta speciale (1965) or the “triptych” Sigma Grand Prix, Alfa Romeo 33 and Ferrari 512. These three concepts from 1969, passed the metaphorical baton on to the sensational Modulo, at the dawn of the 1970s, which in their turn were distinguished by other iconic Ferraris but also by models later produced on an industrial scale for Peugeot – another historic Pininfarina client – and Lancia.

The Eighties turned out to be just as lively with the debut of the iconic Testarossa, the 8-cylinder Ferrari family that continued to acquire new members (the iconic GTO of 1984, the F40 of 1987 and the 348 of 1989), and the partnership with Peugeot that generated the unforgettable 205 (1983), while the collaboration with General Motors led to the creation of the sumptuous Allanté, offspring of the longest assembly line in the world: the bodies were built by Pininfarina and shipped to Detroit to be assembled with the mechanicals.

Multiple collaboration agreements were also a feature of the Nineties: the one with Ferrari that led to the birth of the 456 GT (1992); new 8 cylinder models, the F355 (1994) and the 360 Modena (1999); and the sensational F50 of 1995. But this was also the decade of the Fiat Coupé (1994), the Alfa Romeo Spider and the GTV, both dated 1995, and the Peugeot 406 coupé (1997).

So here we are in the first two decades of the new millennium, twenty years during which Pininfarina has continued to contribute to the Ferrari product range by designing and collaborating in the creation of new models, while for Maserati it has designed the Birdcage 75th concept car as well as a family of vehicles of undoubted appeal like the Quattroporte of 2003, the GranTurismo of 2007 and the GranCabrio of 2009, and has given life to sensational environmentally-friendly concepts and hybrids such as the Nido, Sintesi and Blue Car, the last two presented during the chairmanship of Andrea Pininfarina, who died prematurely in 2008. But there is more: in these same years the company signed up to a series of collaboration agreements in China, confirming its status as an unparalleled exporter of Italian design in the world. Also noteworthy in 2013, the Ferrari Sergio, dedicated to the memory of Sergio Pininfarina, who passed away in 2012, and the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé.

The book closes with the Pininfarina Battista concept (2019) and the Battista Anniversario (2020), two evocative concepts designed for the new company “Automobili Pininfarina“, which contain the moniker Battista in their name, a tribute to the founder of this extraordinary and unrepeatable story of style, art and industry.

“Pininfarina 90 anni/90 years”, which describes 632 models produced from 1930 to 2020, dedicates a specific record for each car containing a short descriptive text and accompanied by one or more images, depending on the importance of the car. A reference book and, at the same time, a precious tool for car history lovers to consult but also for the neophyte eager to learn about a long, exciting history.

This book is an important moment in the celebrations for the Company’s 90th anniversary”, explains Chairman Paolo Pininfarina. “Underlying it was the desire to be able to review all our automotive projects so as to weigh up their merits and defects too, years later: an enthralling, passionate operation for me and, I hope, also of interest to the reader”.

Published by Giorgio Nada Editore, the book is available online here

Pininfarina 90 Anni/90 Years
Preface by Paolo Pininfarina
Published by Giorgio Nada Editore
Format: 26 x 28.5 cm
528 pages, bound with dust jacket
approx. 800 colour and B/W images
Bilingual text: Italian/English
EAN: 9788879118095
Europe: October 2020
€ 90 / £ 90.00 / US$ 150.00

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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!