Appointed senator for life for great contribution to Italian society by then Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in 2005, Sergio Pininfarina was responsible for some of the most alluring car designs of the modern era.
Son of Societa anonima Corrozeria Pinin Farina founder, Giovanni Battista “Pinin” Farina, Sergio became honorary chairman of the renamed design house, Pininfarina in 2006. He was 85 years old at the time of his death.
Having graduated in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin in 1950, Sergio joined the family firm and within ten years had impressed his father so much that he was made general manager. One year later that position was upgraded to managing director and in 1968, after his father’s death, Sergio took on chairmanship of the company.
Apart from his design skills, Sergio Pininfarina was known as a great businessman with an eye for collaboration. It was this talent that saw his company name appear on the side of such cars as the 1986 Cadillac Allante, the 1995 Bentley Azure, and the stunning Peugeot 406 Coupe. Of course, the Pininfarina name is probably most associated with fellow Italian carmaker, Ferrari. Arguably Sergio Pininfarina’s most famous work was done on the epic Ferrari F40.