One-off cars commissioned by VIP people When coachbuilders were like tailors
25 November 2023 2 min read 5 images
Photo credit: Carrozzieri Italiani, Michael Furman, RM Sotheby’s, Wheelsage
The history of custom-made cars, commissioned by invariably affluent clients, can be divided into three major chapters. Initially, coachbuilders enjoyed absolute creative freedom, free from any design constraints. This golden age spanned the pre- and immediate post-war years. The second chapter saw the dawn of industrial production, marked by the rise of monocoque construction, yet still relatively unshackled by regulatory and safety norms. The third chapter, which arrives right up to the present day, is defined by rigorous homologation rules for any cars that are transformed. These regulations are so stringent, they significantly limit and complicate any alterations to a car's bodywork.
Our story, therefore, unfolds in three stages: today's chapter, the first, celebrates the era when coachbuilders could unleash their creativity on a rolling chassis, “building” it from scratch. The first example is the 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C “Tulipwood,” commissioned by André Dubonnet, a wealthy race car and airplane pilot from the family behind the famous aperitif bearing his name. The visionary André tasked coachbuilder Saoutchik with creating an aerodynamically superior car for the time, using fabric-bodied coachwork with light wooden frames. His aim was to achieve unparalleled lightness. A pioneering enterprise indeed!
Fast forward a decade to 1933, and we encounter Count Felice Trossi, an Italian nobleman and a distinguished race car driver, who acquired a Mercedes SSK. Intent on uniqueness, he sought a bespoke body for this vehicle. A visionary in his own right, Trossi was the muse behind its exquisite design. Magnificent. This masterpiece is now one of the most important pieces in Ralph Lauren’s magnificent collection.
In 1950, Aga Khan IV, heir to an economic dynasty in aviation and tourism, and the visionary behind Sardinia's Costa Smeralda as a premier holiday destination in the 1960s, commissioned Pininfarina to create a completely bespoke Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport. Its distinctive features included paired headlights and an elegant aquamarine paint finish, complemented by trim that gracefully highlighted its contours.
At the 1954 Paris Motor Show, a very special version of the Ferrari 375 MM competition car made its debut, designed by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti. This one-of-a-kind model was commissioned by director and screenwriter Roberto Rossellini for his wife, actress Ingrid Bergman. The car's uniqueness was also reflected in its colour, dedicated to his wife's beauty. Today, this car, alongside another Ferrari commissioned by Rossellini, is a jewel in the crown of car collecting.
Last but not least, the 1964 Ferrari 330 S, bodied by Fantuzzi for the legendary film director Federico Fellini. This car also starred in the episode "Never Bet Your Head" in the film "Spirits of the Dead". The modifications to the car brought out a resemblance to the 275P competition model, while its gold and black paintwork made it a true star of the big screen.
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