In the beginning, there was Stabilimenti Farina, a pioneering coachbuilding firm founded in 1906 in Turin by Giovanni Farina – the father of Nino, who would go on to become the first Formula 1 world champion. The company remained in business until 1953, shaping generations of designers as they navigated two world wars and collaborated with major manufacturers like Fiat, Lancia, Ferrari, and Alfa Romeo, as well as prestigious international marques such as Rolls-Royce, Hispano-Suiza, and Jaguar.
Among the designers who honed their craft there were Pietro Frua, Mario Felice Boano, Giovanni Michelotti, Alfredo Vignale, and Giovanni Battista Farina – better known as Pinin, a nickname given to him for his striking resemblance to his father, Giuseppe.
Pininfarina’s car design legacy in 10 unforgettable models
Ten cars tell the 95-year old story of Pininfarina’s evolving style where timeless elegance meets groundbreaking automotive design.
Photo: Cisitalia 202 Berlinetta (1947). Courtesy Pininfarina
Photo: Cisitalia 202 Berlinetta (1947). Courtesy Pininfarina
Photo ermess from Adobe Stock
Courtesy Pininfarina
Courtesy Pininfarina
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Courtesy Pininfarina
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- Federico M. Fabbri
- 05 April 2025
In 1930, thanks to a generous loan from his wife’s wealthy aunt, Pinin decided to go independent, founding Società Anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina. He was joined by minority partners, including Vincenzo Lancia – who had developed a close friendship and mutual respect with Pinin during Lancia’s collaboration with Stabilimenti Farina – and Gaspare Bona. This company would later become the world-renowned Carrozzeria Pininfarina.
What many don’t realize, however, is that Pinin Farina was not a designer himself. He never personally sketched any of the cars featured in this article.
For the first decade, Pinin Farina worked almost exclusively with Lancia, producing prototypes, limited editions, and small production runs, mainly built on Aprilia, Astura, and Augusta chassis. When the war ended in 1945, operations resumed, and from the 1950s onward, the company’s reputation soared – thanks in part to Pinin’s son, Sergio, and his son-in-law, Renzo Carli, husband of Pinin’s daughter, Gianna. After Stabilimenti Farina went bankrupt in 1953, many of its skilled workers were absorbed into Pininfarina.
What many don’t realize, however, is that Pinin Farina was not a designer himself. He never personally sketched any of the cars featured in this article. But he had an extraordinary eye for aesthetics. Thanks to the experience he gained working alongside metalworkers and coachbuilders at his brother Giovanni’s company, he had an innate talent for refining, evolving, and perfecting automotive designs – first on paper, then through scale models commissioned by clients.
Opening image: Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer (1973). Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Along with the Maserati A6, this was one of the first true Gran Turismo models in automotive history. Crafted from a special aluminum alloy, the Cisitalia 202 has been a part of MoMA’s permanent collection for over fifty years.
Immortalized by the film Il sorpasso starring Vittorio Gassman, this car is widely considered one of the most beautiful ever built. “When you see a B24, you don’t just want to look at it – you want to touch it,” said Franco Martinengo, who directed the Pininfarina Style Center for two decades.
Unveiled at the 1962 Paris Motor Show, its timeless lines captivated audiences from the very start. Elegant and majestic, it was as comfortable cruising as it was at high speeds, thanks to its 250-horsepower V12 engine. Among its admirers? A certain Steve McQueen.
The MG B debuted as a roadster in 1962, with a 2+2 coupé version following three years later. Featuring the same engine as the open-top model and a remarkably lightweight build, this little powerhouse certainly held its own. It simply had to be on this list.
After the success of the 1962 Giulia Spider, Alfa Romeo needed a worthy successor. The Duetto, as it was known, went on to become the longest-running model in the brand’s history, with 28 years of continuous production spanning four generations.
In the 1960s, driving with the wind in your hair was the epitome of freedom and luxury. This was Fiat’s answer – a model that found just as much success overseas as in Italy. Tested by Quattroruote in May 1967, it reached a top speed of 173 km/h. Unlike the Duetto, the 124 was a 2+2.
A compact Ferrari – without the Prancing Horse badge – powered by a 2.0-liter V6 engine. Designed by Aldo Brovarone for Pininfarina, it caused a sensation, winning hearts on both sides of the Atlantic among those fortunate enough to afford one.
Following the commercial success of its predecessors, this sedan was also styled by Aldo Brovarone for Pininfarina. A three-box, four-door car with a distinctive sloping tail, it was spacious, comfortable, and far more modern than the 404 it replaced.
The first production Ferrari with a mid-mounted V12 engine. For this model, Enzo Ferrari had to abandon his famous saying, “Never put the cart before the horse.” Designed by Leonardo Fioravanti for Pininfarina – the same man behind the later Testarossa – it remains an icon of automotive design.
The ultimate poster car, the Testarossa was a radical departure from Ferrari’s previous designs. With its wide rear, headlight clusters concealed behind horizontal slats, and bold side strakes running along its flanks, it embodied the excess of the 1980s in all its glory.