ALDO BROVARONE 1926-2020
Former chief Pininfarina stylist dies aged 94
Former chief stylist for Pininfarina, Aldo Brovarone, has died at the age of 94. Born on 24 June 1926, he started his design career at a refrigerator firm after WW2 before moving to Argentina to work at an advertising agency. While in Buenos Aires he started working for Automotores Argentinos. He returned to Italy to work for Cisitalia, under the wing of Piero Dusio. It was Dusio who introduced Brovarone to Battista Farina, and he joined Carozzzeria Pinin Farina in 1952. His first design was a Maserati A6GCS/53 Berlinetta, but he rose through the ranks to lead the design on the Ferrari Superamerica Superfast II prototype.
More Ferraris followed, most notably the Dino Berlinetta Speciale (which went on to heavily influence to 206 GT and 246 Dino), 365 GT 2+2 and 500 Superfast. He also designed one-offs, such as the Ferrari 375 America Coupé Speciale for Fiat boss, Giovanni Agnelli, the 400 Superamerica for his son and heir, Giovanni Agnelli and the 375 MM Berlinetta Speciale for actress, Ingrid Bergman. Aside from Ferraris, Brovarone also designed the Lancia Gamma coupé and the Peugeot 504 and 604. He became design chief in 1974 and later retired in 1988. One of his most distinctive last acts was on the F40.
Ferrari F40 designer, Leonardo Fioravanti, said that Brovarone placed the signature rear wing at such a stark right angle, giving the car its distinctive look. He then went on to work for automotive concept design house, Stola, and also served as a consultant to Ruf. He passed away in Turin on 12 October.