Pininfarina exhibit opens at the Museo dell’Automobile di Torino

The National Automobile Museum of Turin, Italy, has reopened its doors to welcome a bevy of Pininfarina models from past and present into its midst.

The display takes on some of the milestone models of Pininfarina design and sees a wide selection of cars take up residence amidst the 200 others already on display at the recently renovated museum.

Of the more desirable models being shown is a 1947 Cisitalia 202, the two seater berlinetta that has been described as 'moving sculpture' by Arthur Drexler, the highly influential curator and director at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The Cisitalia was one of – if not the – first car to be placed on permanent display in a Museum of Modern Art.

The exhibition is not the sole reserve of Pininfarina's exotica and super car collection. A more somber – but by no means less impressive – car can be found by way of the Lancia Flaminia Presidenziale, one of four cars made for the Italian Presidency, and still used today in national parades.

Highlighting the Pininfarina of today is the Duettottanta. Conceived for Pininfarina's 80th and Alfa Romeo's centenary, the svelte two seater has just been awarded our own Car Design of the Year Award, as well as the AutoDesign Award from Czech magazine Autodesign & Styling.

Pininfarina chairman Paolo Pininfarina said he was "grateful to the Museum for giving space to our creations of past and present, giving due recognition to the Pininfarina design, which has crossed the ages while maintaining a level of excellence."

The 1,200 square meter ground floor space of the museum is dedicated to all aspects of the design industry and process. In addition to the Pininfarina display, there is also a specially created area designed with students in mind.

Within this section, visitors to the museum are able to listen to interviews with Paolo Pininfarina as well as other designers who detail their training, aspects of their careers as well as their sources of inspiration and most celebrated projects.

Related Website:
Museo dell’Automobile di Torino

By John O'Brien