Franco Scaglione
Encyclopedia
Franco Scaglione was an automobile coachwork designer.
to Vittorio Scaglione, a chief army doctor, and to Giovanna Fabbri, captain of the Italian Red Cross service. His was a well-to-do family of noble ancestry (count of Martirano San Nicola and of Mottafilocastro). At the age of 6, he and his younger brother became fatherless.
His studies are of humanistic leanings, but he enters the university of Aeronautical Engineering. His favourite hobbies are reading, tennis, riding and rowing. He went into military service with the rank of sub-lieutenant in the sappers, the Genio Pontieri. He continues his studies, but at the outbreak of the Second World War he volunteers to be assigned to a more destructive unit, the Genio Guastatori and is sent to the Libyan front. On Christmas Eve 1941, he is taken prisoner by the English at El Duda, a village to the south of Tobruk. He will be interned at the Yol detention camp in India, where he remains until the end of 1946. He returns to Italy on Boxing Day that year with the last boat used for the carrying of prisoners. He rejoins his mother (his brother Eugenio was killed during the war) in Carolei, near Cosenza, and will stay with her for almost a year.
At the beginning of 1948 he goes to Bologna in search of a job; he already has in mind to work as a stylist in the automobile field, his real passion. Initially he devotes his time to sketching clothing for fashion houses, which is very profitable, but his vocation is automobile coachwork design. On 25 September 1948 he marries Maria Luisa Benvenuti and two years later, on 10 September, his daughter Giovanna is born.
In April 1951 he moves to Turin, where there are the major coachbuilding
firms, and he contacts Battista Pinin Farina, who very much appreciates his renderings. However, this does not result in collaboration, as Pinin Farina does not allow his models to be linked to the designer’s name. He meets Nuccio Bertone
and finally an association is born, which will lead him to create splendid automobiles such as the Alfa Romeo B.A.T.
s, the Giulietta Sprint and Sprint Speciale and many others. In 1959 he breaks off the exclusive relationship with the Bertone coachworks and works on his own. His first collaboration is with Carlo Abarth and Porsche, and he designs the Porsche 356 B Abarth Carrera GTL, the acclaimed design forerunner of the 911. Then Scaglione conceived the Lamborghini 350 GTV, the ATS 2500 GT
, the 1900 Skyline Sprint for the Japanese Prince company, the Titania Veltro GTT, and various models for Intermeccanica
such as Apollo, Torino, Italia GFX, Italia IMX, Indra. In 1967 he will design for Alfa Romeo Autodelta the legendary Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
, said by many to be one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
Alas, Intermeccanica becomes bankrupt and the entrepreneur owner, Frank Reisner, moves to Canada. Franco Scaglione, having put his own savings in the production of the Indra, is disillusioned and retires from work.
In 1981 he moved to Suvereto
, a little village in the province of Livorno, where he lived a very secluded life. In July 1991 lung cancer was diagnosed, and he died two years later.
(Developed from Scaglione design but built in his absence):
Biography
Franco Scaglione was born in FlorenceFlorence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
to Vittorio Scaglione, a chief army doctor, and to Giovanna Fabbri, captain of the Italian Red Cross service. His was a well-to-do family of noble ancestry (count of Martirano San Nicola and of Mottafilocastro). At the age of 6, he and his younger brother became fatherless.
His studies are of humanistic leanings, but he enters the university of Aeronautical Engineering. His favourite hobbies are reading, tennis, riding and rowing. He went into military service with the rank of sub-lieutenant in the sappers, the Genio Pontieri. He continues his studies, but at the outbreak of the Second World War he volunteers to be assigned to a more destructive unit, the Genio Guastatori and is sent to the Libyan front. On Christmas Eve 1941, he is taken prisoner by the English at El Duda, a village to the south of Tobruk. He will be interned at the Yol detention camp in India, where he remains until the end of 1946. He returns to Italy on Boxing Day that year with the last boat used for the carrying of prisoners. He rejoins his mother (his brother Eugenio was killed during the war) in Carolei, near Cosenza, and will stay with her for almost a year.
At the beginning of 1948 he goes to Bologna in search of a job; he already has in mind to work as a stylist in the automobile field, his real passion. Initially he devotes his time to sketching clothing for fashion houses, which is very profitable, but his vocation is automobile coachwork design. On 25 September 1948 he marries Maria Luisa Benvenuti and two years later, on 10 September, his daughter Giovanna is born.
In April 1951 he moves to Turin, where there are the major coachbuilding
Coachbuilder
A coachbuilder is a manufacturer of bodies for carriages or automobiles.The trade dates back several centuries. Rippon was active in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, Barker founded in 1710 by an officer in Queen Anne's Guards, Brewster a relative newcomer , formed in 1810. Others in Britain included...
firms, and he contacts Battista Pinin Farina, who very much appreciates his renderings. However, this does not result in collaboration, as Pinin Farina does not allow his models to be linked to the designer’s name. He meets Nuccio Bertone
Nuccio Bertone
Giuseppe Bertone, called "Nuccio", was a famed automobile designer and constructor...
and finally an association is born, which will lead him to create splendid automobiles such as the Alfa Romeo B.A.T.
Alfa Romeo BAT
The Alfa Romeo BAT is an Italian concept car. The car originated in a joint collaboration project between Alfa Romeo and the Italian design house; Bertone that began in 1953...
s, the Giulietta Sprint and Sprint Speciale and many others. In 1959 he breaks off the exclusive relationship with the Bertone coachworks and works on his own. His first collaboration is with Carlo Abarth and Porsche, and he designs the Porsche 356 B Abarth Carrera GTL, the acclaimed design forerunner of the 911. Then Scaglione conceived the Lamborghini 350 GTV, the ATS 2500 GT
ATS 2500 GT
The ATS 2500 GT is a sports car made by Italian company Automobili Turismo e Sport in Bologna. It was the first Italian and one of the first GT or sports car in the world to have a mid-engine layout. The group behind the ATS project consisted mainly of Ferrari defectors, where family troubles had...
, the 1900 Skyline Sprint for the Japanese Prince company, the Titania Veltro GTT, and various models for Intermeccanica
Intermeccanica
Construzione Automobili Intermeccanica is an automobile manufacturer, founded by Frank Reisner initially based in Italy but subsequently moving to Canada. It is currently headed by Frank's son, Henry Reisner.-Founding:...
such as Apollo, Torino, Italia GFX, Italia IMX, Indra. In 1967 he will design for Alfa Romeo Autodelta the legendary Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is an extremely rare road car built by Alfa Romeo of Italy. Only 18 are reported to have been made, plus three design studies based on the 33 Stradale the 33.2, Iguana and Carabo...
, said by many to be one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
Alas, Intermeccanica becomes bankrupt and the entrepreneur owner, Frank Reisner, moves to Canada. Franco Scaglione, having put his own savings in the production of the Indra, is disillusioned and retires from work.
In 1981 he moved to Suvereto
Suvereto
Suvereto is a comune in the Province of Livorno in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 90 km southwest of Florence and about 60 km southeast of Livorno.- Technological sites:...
, a little village in the province of Livorno, where he lived a very secluded life. In July 1991 lung cancer was diagnosed, and he died two years later.
1952
- Fiat 1100 “Utiletta Frasca” (Carrozzeria Ansaloni)
- Abarth 1500 berlinetta Bertone
- Fiat-Siata 208 CS sports racing Bertone
- Fiat-Siata 208 CS coupé 2+2 Bertone
1953
- Fiat 1100 /103 TV Savio Sport berlinetta
- Alfa Romeo Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica B.A.T. 5 Bertone
- Alfa Romeo 1900L two-door saloon Bertone
- Arnolt-Aston Martin DB 2/4 sports racing Bertone (2 examples)
- Arnolt-Aston Martin DB 2/4 spider Bertone
- Ferrari-Abarth 166 MM/53 sports racing Bertone
- Arnolt-Bristol 404 X sports racing Bertone
1954
- Arnolt-Bristol 404 X spider gran turismo Bertone
- Arnolt-Bristol 404 X coupé gran turismo Bertone
- Fiat-Siata 208 CS coupé
- Alfa Romeo “2000 Sportiva” racing berlinetta (prototype) Bertone
- Alfa Romeo “2000 Sportiva” sports racing (prototype) Bertone
- Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint berlinetta Bertone
- Alfa Romeo Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica B.A.T. 7 Bertone
- Fiat-Stanguellini 1100 /103 TV “Cheetah” spider Bertone
1955
- Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Spider prototype 004 Bertone
- Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Spider prototype 002 Bertone
- Alfa Romeo 1900 convertible “Perla” Bertone
- Alfa Romeo Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica B.A.T. 9 Bertone
1956
- Fiat-Abarth 750 Record Bertone
- Fiat Abarth coupé 215 A Bertone
- Fiat Abarth spider 216 A Bertone
- Arnolt-Aston Martin DB2/4 convertible Bertone
1957
- Fiat-Stanguellini 1200 spider “America” Bertone
- Aston Martin DB2/4 coupé Bertone
- Jaguar XK 150 coupé Bertone
- Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale berlinetta Bertone
1958
- Alfa Romeo-Abarth 1000 berlinetta competizione Bertone
- NSU Prinz Sport coupé (the first 1700 or so, constructed by Bertone)
(Developed from Scaglione design but built in his absence):
- NSU Prinz Sport spider Wankel (prototype 1960, produced from 1963)
1959
- Maserati 3500 GT coupé Bertone
- Fiat-Osca 1500 berlinetta Bertone
- Fiat 1200 “Granluce” berlinetta Bertone
- Alfa Romeo 2000 “Sole” Bertone
- NSU Prinz 4 two-door saloon prototype
- Conclusion of the association with Bertone
1963
- Prince MotorsPrince Motor CompanyPrince Motor Company was a Japanese automobile manufacturer from 1952 until its merger with Nissan in 1966. Prince began as the Tachikawa Aircraft Company, a producer of the famous Japanese Zero fighter planes used in WWII...
“Skyline 1900 Sprint” berlinetta - Apollo GT
- Apollo convertible
- Lamborghini 350 GTV coupé prototypeLamborghini 350GTVThe Lamborghini 350 GTV was the prototype and forerunner of the later 350 GT - Lamborghini's first production model. The car was presented to the public on the 1963 Turin Auto Show.-Rejection for production and preparation for show:...
- Stanguellini-Guzzi “Colibrì” record runner
- ATS 2500 GT berlinetta Allemano