Gianni Agnelli's personal cars go on display in Turin

| 18 Mar 2013

A Turin museum named after legendary Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli has opened a special exhibition dedicated to cars 'aesthetically and functionally tailored to meet Agnelli’s tastes'.

Le Auto dell’Avvocato show at the National Automobile Museum marks a decade since the death of the man who, as Fiat principal from 1966, was responsible for nearly 5% of Italy's gross domestic product.

The display – inspired by lawyer Agnelli's nickname – is split into three different areas showing Fiat's history, Agnelli's personal cars and 'tailored' cars. the latter with exhibits from Fiat Centro Stile.

The personal cars are a Lancia Thema SW Zagato, Fiat Panda Rock Moretti, a Lancia K Limousine,  Fiat 130 Maremma shooting brake, Fiat 130 Villa d'Este, Fiat Croma, Ferrari 360 Speedway, Lancia Delta Spider Integrale, Fiat Multipla Spider and Agnelli's favourite Fiat 125 (main image).

Lapo Elkann, president and founder of Italia Independent and Independent Ideas – and also Agnelli's grandson – said: "I am happy that this exhibition gives the public a chance to see a lesser-known aspect of Giovanni Agnelli's personality, his creativity.

"My grandfather loved driving cars, especially those he had custom-built in terms of style, colour, combinations of materials and engines. He was inspired by the concept of contamination and attracted to quickness."

The exhibition is open until 2 June, click here for opening times and prices.

For fans of the prototype 130 Villa d'Este station wagon (below) we have more good news – Martin Buckley has done a full feature on this intriguing car and it will appear in the May issue of C&SC.