Sergio Scaglietti: 1920-2011

One of the most iconic names in Italian coachbuilding has died. Sergio Scaglietti, famous for creating some of the most beautiful and valuable cars in the world, passed away earlier this week at the age of 91, in his home town of Modena, Italy.

The name Scaglietti is synonymous with Ferrari, the moniker still being carried on the 612 flagship model, and it is a pairing that runs deeper than crossbranding and business. Piero Ferrari calling Scaglietti ‘one of my father's best friends'.

The collaboration between the two brands began in 1951, with the opening of Carrozzeria Scaglietti – across the street from Ferrari in Maranello – a brand that quickly gained the trust of Ferrari to sculpt and build a string of road and race cars during the 1950's.

Born of this period were the deeply beautiful, and highly collectable, 250 Testa Rossa, 250 GTO, 250 GT California and the 750 Monza. Sergio Scaglietti was a natural talent who created cars with his hands and with his eyes, as he liked to say, crafting the cars from just sheetmetal into their final forms, without the use of blueprint or sketch.

‘Today is a sad day for Ferrari. We lost a friend, a travel companion, a man who had his name forever connected to the Prancing Horse.' Said Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, ‘Sergio Scaglietti leaves behind the legacy of an artist who with his talent created some of the most beautiful cars of our history. Who had the luck to know him like I did will also remember him as a straightforward and honest man, completely dedicated to his work'.

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By John O'Brien