Unforgettable Car Geniuses: Sergio Scaglietti

If Sergio Scagletti were alive and discovered that Wikipedia defined him as a Designer, he'd jump out of his seat. Whenever someone asked him how he could have designed extraordinary cars like the 750 Monza, the 1950s Testa Rossa, or the 250 California, he was quick to point out that his Carrozzeria—this was the clear and unequivocal definition—had never had a pencil.

Those who compared him to the Michelangelo of the automobile, a title that could be attributed to him given his work, were equally wrong: Michelangelo designed his sculptures before taking up hammer and chisel to rough-hew the marble. Scaglietti, no: we at Roarington, who knew him, admired his modesty and the sense of surprise he expressed when he was complimented, and heard him say more than once, "From Maranello, they sent us the bare chassis to Modena, complete with engine, driver's seat, steering wheel, and gearbox. They told us what the car was intended for: racing, sports, open or road, sedan or convertible, and we began to shape it by pulling the wires."