Viva Vignale
How the great have fallen. By 2013, the Vignale name had been consigned to a range of high-spec Fords whose styling bore no reference at all to the cars designed or built by the Torinese carrozzeria in its glory days.
Before Vignale was sold to Ford in 1973, Alfredo Vignale (1913-’69) was renowned as one of the most important coachbuilders of his day.
Established in 1948, his firm, Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale, specialised in low-volume variants of models, mainly from Italian marques such as Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia, Cisitalia and Alfa Romeo – though not exclusively, as we’ll see.
Vignale also produced numerous concepts and one-offs during the 1950s and ’60s, but the following 22 chronologically ordered examples of its craft – either as a design house, a manufacturer, or both – were all made in series, albeit sometimes in very low volumes.
1. 1947 Cisitalia 202 Coupé
One of Vignale’s earliest offerings was the coachwork designed for Cisitalia’s 202 model.
Produced as either a Spider or a Coupé, as here, the body was built on a monoposto-with-spaceframe chassis, and was particularly advanced aerodynamically for a 1940s sports car.
Powered by a modified, 1089cc, Fiat, four-cylinder engine, the 202 was also a successful competition car, with Tazio Nuvolari almost clinching victory in the 1947 Mille Miglia driving a Spider version.
2. 1951 Fiat 1400 Vignale Cabriolet
Fiat’s 1400 (and its larger-engined 1900 sibling) was the Torinese company’s first monocoque model, and – though not with this body – the first to be offered with the option of diesel power.
Vignale produced this Cabriolet, pictured, for the 1952 Turin show.
The same car later appeared in the 1955 film The Racers, in which it was driven by actor Kirk Douglas.
3. 1952 Ferrari 212 Export Spider
While Ferrari’s 212 Export was predominantly built for competition, Vignale produced two roadgoing versions of the model.
Both were two-seat Cabriolets and both were right-hand drive, with each powered by a 2.6-litre, Colombo-designed V12.
Giovanni Michelotti, who would go on to design many of Vignale’s commissions, was responsible for the car’s elegant styling.
4. 1952 Ferrari 250MM
The 250MM (for Mille Miglia) was the second Ferrari to employ the now legendary Colombo V12.
First shown in 1952, it was available as either a closed-top berlinetta, by Pinin Farina, or a two-seat barchetta by Giovanni Michelotti at Vignale, the latter’s design evolving through many guises before production ceased.
The Ferrari 250MM had a long and illustrious racing career, which lasted until 1962.
5. 1952 Ferrari 340 America Spider
The 340 America was launched at the Turin show in 1951 wearing a body by Touring.
Its V12 engine displaced 4101cc and generated 217bhp, enough to power the America to a top speed of a whisker under 150mph.
Vignale produced a heavily chromed coupé and this Spider, one of just eight built by the firm, which was designed by Michelotti.
6. 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupé
Michelotti also penned Vignale’s take on Ferrari’s new 250 Europa Coupé when it arrived in 1953.
Created to take the marque into the luxury, grand-tourer market, the 250 Europa (in this, its earliest guise) was powered by a Lampredi-designed, 3-litre V12 – one of very few ‘square’ Ferrari engines, with both its bore and stroke measuring 68mm.
First displayed at Geneva with a Pinin Farina body, Vignale’s Coupé later made its debut at the Paris show that same year.
In total, 22 first-generation Europas were produced, with bodies by either Vignale or Pinin Farina.
7. 1955 Standard Vanguard (Phase III)
Standard’s third take on the post-war Vanguard model was its most radical, with Vignale’s Michelotti styling an altogether more modern-looking car.
While the Vanguard’s running gear – a 2088cc ‘four’ with standard three-speed gearbox driving the rear wheels – was merely uprated from the Phase II’s, Michelotti’s lower and more angular design marked a big departure.
This was also the first Vanguard to adopt a monocoque body.
8. 1956 Fina-Sport Convertible
The Fina-Sport was the brainchild of Perry Fina, an American engineer.
First launched as a coupé in 1954, the Convertible followed two years later, with both cars underpinned by a Ford chassis and powered by a Cadillac V8.
The designs of both were the work of Vignale.
9. 1957 Lancia Appia Convertible
Vignale was the chosen coachbuilder for Lancia’s Appia Convertible, which was presented at the Turin show in 1957.
Designed by Michelotti, the first Convertibles were based on the second-series Appia, using the 812.01 chassis, and were strictly two seaters. From 1959, the updated, third-series chassis was used.
Mechanically, all Appia Convertibles employed Lancia’s overhead-valve, 1089cc V4.
10. 1959 Maserati 3500 Spyder
Production of Maserati’s 3500GT coupé started in 1957, and the following year Touring exhibited a prototype convertible at the Turin show.
But it wasn’t until 1959 that Vignale’s Michelotti-designed drop-top was revealed and quickly adopted for production by Maserati.
Using a shorter wheelbase than the coupé and a more conventional steel body (with an aluminium boot and bonnet), versus Touring’s proposed Superleggera construction, the Spyder weighed 1380kg (3042lb).
Power came from a 3.5-litre straight-six, with either three carburettors or, on later cars, fuel injection.
11. 1959 Triumph Italia 2000
Morphing from an archetypically UK-born two-seat roadster to a svelte and clean-lined coupé was no mean feat, but Giovanni Michelotti at Vignale showed what was possible with the Triumph Italia 2000.
Combining traditional British sports-car engineering with Italian design flare, the Italia 2000 was based on the Triumph TR3’s platform and used that car’s 2-litre, four-cylinder mechanicals.
Built from 1959-’62, a total 330 Italias were produced in a Vignale-owned factory in Turin.
12. 1962 Lancia Flavia Convertible
Based on Lancia’s 1961 Flavia saloon, Italy’s first front-wheel-drive production car, the Flavia Convertible offered open-topped comfort for four occupants and was introduced at 1962’s Turin show.
Vignale’s Giovanni Michelotti designed the car around the shortened wheelbase of Pininfarina’s Flavia Coupé, and it came equipped with hydraulically operated disc brakes front and rear.
Powered by Lancia’s 1.5-litre ‘boxer’ engine, the Flavia Convertible remained in production until 1965.
13. 1962 Maserati Sebring
Derived from Maserati’s 3500GT, with which it shared its chassis (albeit a shortened version) and mechanicals, the Sebring was conceived as a more sporting version of its predecessor.
Designed by Vignale’s Michelotti with the growing US market in mind, the Sebring was lavishly equipped and came with air conditioning as standard. There was also the option of an automatic transmission.
Power came via a fuel-injected version of Maserati’s 3.5-litre, double-overhead-camshaft straight-six, resulting in a 137mph top speed and acceleration of 8.5 secs from 0-60mph.
The Sebring’s name referenced Maserati’s 1957 win at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
14. 1963 Daihatsu Compagno
The diminutive Daihatsu Compagno was the very first Japanese car to be registered in Britain, arriving in 1965.
Daihatsu had launched the car two years earlier, its rather sophisticated-looking, Vignale-designed body sitting on a separate chassis.
However, despite its engine’s tiny, 797cc capacity (designed to beat Japan’s punitive tax regulations) the Compagno cost £799, when a Triumph Herald 1200 cost more than £200 less – though it was generously equipped.
15. 1965 Daihatsu Compagno Spider
Arriving two years after its Berlina (saloon) sibling, Daihatsu’s Compagno Spider promised to be a more engaging driving experience.
Now powered by a 1000cc engine with twin carburettors producing 64bhp, the Spider was based on a wheelbase that was 60mm shorter than the Berlina.
Before production ceased in 1969, the Spider gained front disc brakes and fuel injection.
16. 1966 Jensen Interceptor
In 1965, Jensen scouted various Italian carrozzerie to design a replacement for its CV8 model, including Vignale.
While Touring’s proposal won, Jensen decided to purchase the design and manufacturing rights, unconvinced of Touring’s ability to deliver.
Vignale was chosen to complete the design and produce the bodies for the car to be built on to the CV8’s platform, using the older car’s mechanicals.
But the first bodies produced by Vignale failed to reach Jensen’s standards, and production was moved to the West Bromwich manufacturer’s UK base, where the Interceptor was made from 1966-’76 (and it is one of these later cars that’s pictured here).
Initially powered by a Chrysler 6.3-litre V8, engine capacity had grown to 7.2 litres by the time production ended.
17. 1966 Maserati Mexico
The Mexico originated from a concept car that was revealed on Vignale’s stand at the 1965 Turin show.
Based on a shortened Maserati 5000GT chassis, the car was later sold to the president of Mexico.
Seeing how popular the car had been, Maserati decided to productionise it, and what would become the Maserati Mexico received its international launch at Paris the following year.
The four-seater GT was powered by a 4.7-litre V8, and was generously equipped with electric windows and air conditioning as standard.
18. 1967 Fiat 124 Coupé Eveline
The Eveline was part of a trio of boutique, Fiat-based models, along with the 125 Samantha and Gamine that you will see shortly, created to keep Vignale’s production lines rolling in the late 1960s.
Based on the standard 124 saloon, Vignale’s Virginio Vairo penned a pretty, two-door coupé with seating for four, its front-styling reminiscent of a Jensen Interceptor and its rear with hints of a Maserati Mexico – both Vignale productions.
Available with a choice of 1.2- or 1.4-litre overhead-valve engines, many Evelines were sold in right-hand drive thanks to UK-based importer Frixos Demetriou.
19. 1967 Fiat 125 Samantha
Designed by Vignale’s Virginio Vairo, the Samantha broke cover at the Turin Salon in 1967.
Based on Fiat’s 125 saloon, Vairo’s sleek coupé body gave the car more than a hint of jet-set glamour.
Using the 125’s standard, Lampredi-designed, twin-cam, 1.6-litre engine, however, meant a rather modest output and a far from exotic-sounding 103mph top speed.
Costing more than a Jaguar E-type when it was launched, only around 100 Samanthas were produced.
20. 1967 Vignale Gamine
After Neapolitan customer Mr Geminiani approached Alfredo Vignale with an order for a small, boutique roadster, the Gamine was the result.
Based on the platform and mechanicals of the then-current Fiat 500 (but not badged as a Fiat), the Gamine was a two-seat convertible powered by a twin-cylinder, air-cooled engine displacing 500cc and producing 21bhp.
Not terribly practical – and arguably slower than the non-too-fleet 500 model on which it was based – around 2000 Gamines were sold, 800 of which were right-hand-drive models imported by London-based entrepreneur Frixos Demetriou.
21. 1969 Maserati Indy
In 1968, both Vignale and Ghia revealed prototypes for a 2+2 GT evolution of Maserati’s current Mexico model.
Maserati favoured Vignale’s car and, by the following year’s Geneva show, what had become the Maserati Indy (the name referencing its historic wins at the Indianapolis 500) was on display on the manufacturer's own stand.
Designed once again by Virginio Vairo and powered initially by a 4.2-litre V8 – which grew in later years to 4.7 and then 4.9 litres – it was also the first car produced after Citroën had taken a controlling share in Maserati.
22. 1974 Tatra 613
One of Vignale’s few relatively mainstream products, the Tatra 613 was based on an earlier Vignale design and didn’t reach production until 1974.
Penned by Vignale’s Virginio Vairo, the 613 replaced the earlier 603 and was powered by a rear-mounted, 3.5-litre V8.
It went through five iterations through its 22-year production life, with the later, fuel-injected models capable of top speeds up to 143mph.
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