Lone Stars: the Seventies

Automotive design milestones are often one-offs. Lorenzo Ramaciotti guides us through a remarkable story.

Throughout the history of the automobile, there have been numerous lone stars which, when you take a look at them today, continue to shine with their own light. None of them were created to become production cars, but rather to send out a message that was uninhibited by industrial and marketing constraints, signed by designers and the manufacturers themselves. Here comes the next part of our series on Lone Stars, based on intensive conversations with renowned Italian designer Lorenzo Ramaciotti: the 1970ies.

The unexpected oil crisis resulting from the Gulf War at the beginning of the 1970s, brought the futuristic adventure to a sudden and cruel halt. In the second half of the decade, design returned, but with a focus on more realistic projects that paid greater attention to safety. From the hand of Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Audi Asso di Picche (“ace of spades”) and the Lancia Megagamma, a functional concept for a brand devoted to elegance, are both interesting exam ples. However, it’s well worth remem bering the final flames of the “spaceship cars” from the early years of the 1970s, those that came before the Gulf War, to be clear: the unforgettable Stratos Zero, Modulo and Boomerang.

1970

The Ferrari 512 S Modulo: Presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1970, this concept car created by Pininfarina and built on Ferrari 512 mechanics still serves as an example of the harmonious interpretation of a futuristic sports car. Designed by the hand of Paolo Martin, it remains a shining example of what we mean when we talk about a “dream car”.

Ferrari 512 S Modulo

1971

The Maserati Boomerang was the first real example of the characteristic Giugiaro style made of clear lines and wedge shape. Built on Maserati mechanics and powered by a V8 engine producing 310 hp, it was the forerunner of numerous models made by Giugiaro, including the Lotus Esprit and DeLorean DMC-12.

Maserati Boomerang

1973

The Audi Asso di Picche: Developed on an Audi 80 chassis by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Asso di Picche was commissioned by Karmann who collaborated with the Volkswagen Group on numerous projects. The radical change in proportions compared to the original model gave the car a decidedly sporty spirit accompanied by the geometric lines that were typical of the Italian designer.

Audi Asso di Picche

1978

The Lancia Megagamma: It is the concept, more than the aesthetics, that gives value to this idea by Giugiaro for Lancia. It was in fact a matter of transforming a saloon into a people carrier by raising it by 25 cm and moving the driver’s seat forwards. The Fiat Group did not believe in it, giving up a success that came, a few years later, for the Chrysler Voyager and Renault Espace.

Lancia Megagamma