Death of a Legend

Posted on Dec 3, 2019 in Antique | Comments Off on Death of a Legend

In the world of Ferrari, only one man can be called the creator of its most iconic cars. That man was not Enzo Ferrari, but the designer and coachbuilder Sergio Scaglietti. This past weekend, Mr. Scaglietti passed away at his home inModena,Italy. He was 91 years old, and his legacy includes some of the rarest, most expensive and beautiful cars of all time.

Sergio Scaglietti was responsible for the amazing bodies on cars like the famous Ferrari 375MM that film director Roberto Rossellini gave to his wife Ingrid Bergman. He personally hammered the aluminum on the design of the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, a car that recently sold for 16.4 million dollars, said to be the most ever paid for an automobile at auction.

He created, without drawings, the Ferrari 250GT California Spyder, made famous in the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. He sculpted the 250 GTO of which only three dozen were ever made, with each sale personally approved by Enzo Ferrari himself. One of these cars reportedly sold for 50 million dollars during the 1980’s classic car boom. In a company where only the name Ferrari is important, the name Scaglietti became came a close second.

Sergio Scaglietti was born into a family of poor carpenters inModenaItaly, and had four brothers become carpenters. Sergio wanted to work with metal, and got a job repairing damaged cars. He met Enzo Ferrari when he was asked to fix a mud flap on one of his race cars, and eventually developed a relationship with Ferrari. His business, Carrozzeria Scaglietti was formed across the street from the Ferrari factory inMaranello,Italyin 1951.

Scaglietti is credited with creating the headrest bump present on most Ferrari race cars of the 1950’s and 60’s, as well as the pontoon fenders used on the Testa Rossa. All of his designs started as prototypes, given to him by legendary designers like Battista Farina. He would then interpret the design into aluminum, using only his eyes, hands, and a hammer. Never one to use drawings, Scaglietti created the bodies using a wire frame, and hammering the aluminum sheets over sand bags.

Leslie Kendall, curator of thePetersenAutomotiveMuseuminLos Angelescompares Scaglietti cars to couture clothing “They were individually tailored, and achingly beautiful.” In fact, many of his designs are continually placed at the top of the “Most Beautiful Cars of All Time.” His creations were rolling sculpture.

Carrozzeria Scaglietti is now owned by Ferrari, and still is associated with many new models. The Ferrari F430, and 612 Scaglietti, as well as the 456M GT Scaglietti are just a few. In addition to his work for Ferrari, he also created the 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Scaglietti Coupe.