Cars as Art

There can be no genius without skill. Designing a car is very difficult: just like with people, every small detail becomes part of their overall physiognomy and must have its own purpose.

Franco Scaglione found his extraordinary creativity in the analysis of function: studies in aeronautical engineering made him particularly aware of the role air has when it meets the bodywork and, once there, crosses it in certain areas and obstructs forward motion. Thus, as Massimo Grandi illustrates in his piece published by The Key 2020 which will be available for purchase from 18th December, he carefully studied the vortexes caused by wheels and the flow of air in that area, that led him to create cut away sections on the side of the bodywork or, on the magnificent BAT cars, shapes to help reconnect the air at an ideal distance at high speeds. Scaglione’s genius left us memorable cars such as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta sprint and Giulia SS, two of his many creations as chief designer for Bertone. Following Bertone, he worked independently and created, among many, a car that is a symbol of Alfa Romeo to this day: the 33 Stradale. A masterpiece. The book, “Il paradigma Scaglione” by Grandi, published in Italy by ASI, explores his creative approach to perfection.