One of the most successful collaborations in the history of the car is that between Flaminio Bretoni (1903-1964) and Citroën – lasting over thirty years.

Starting in 1934 when the Italian designer shaped – legend has it that it took him only one night – the bodywork of the “Traction Avant” (“On the road... the comfort of home”, read the advertising at the time), to the sixties when he developed the “Ami 6”, the last of his inventions and the favourite. Passing of course through the fifties when the “DS19” was manufactured – nicknamed by the French with a play on words Deésse, “dea” and receiving great success when shown at the Triennale in Milan in 1957 – and the Quaranta, with the triumph of the highly functional “2 CV”.

An extensive retrospective at the Design Museum in London (showing until 12 October), with models, drawings, vintage material and original cars, traces the brilliant career of the Italian designer - was also an architect and artist - with the French company. It was regarding his work that Roland Barthes came to say “Cars are our cathedrals”.

until 12.10.2003
When Flaminio drove to France. Flaminio Bertoni’s designs for Citroën
https://www.designmuseum.org