Giovanni Michelotti
Posted By : Chris Taylor, 26-Jun-2007, 07:04pm
Well I understand that the M on the herald etc chrome bonnet catch is Michelotti's moniker, and that appears on many kit cars and Marcos's. (Not sure
what that proves!).
I think the distinctive style is Michelloti's signature, on a HUGE variety of cars, from Heralds to Italian exotica, Frisky microcars to some BMWs. You might choose to draw a veil over the Reliant SS1, although that was quite a decent car by the standards of the time (pre MX5).
I think the distinctive style is Michelloti's signature, on a HUGE variety of cars, from Heralds to Italian exotica, Frisky microcars to some BMWs. You might choose to draw a veil over the Reliant SS1, although that was quite a decent car by the standards of the time (pre MX5).
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Giovanni Michelotti
Posted By : Jon Morton, 26-Jun-2007, 07:16pm
Was the Reliant SS1 really the new Spitfire design?
"It's been claimed that Michelotti often spent just a few minutes on sketching new car ideas to pitch to clients, presumably preferring to do detailed presentation work only once the job had been accepted; it's also been rumoured that his SS1 proposal was merely a recycling of a rejected Spitfire replacement proposal from a few years previously, but this is not necessarily something to criticise"
taken from http://www.danlockton.co.uk/rebel/double_edged.htm... under the heading Michelotti's proposal.
Jon-
Giovanni Michelotti
Posted By : Chris Taylor, 26-Jun-2007, 07:22pm
Mmmm. Better than I recalled. Some of the styling features were down to the method of panel manufacture, and this (together, it must be said, with Reliant's sometimes patchy build quality) has some bearing on panel gaps. Won't rot though.......
I'm told they handled pretty well, and there were some really quick versions. The MX5 no doubt killed it, not just by cuter styling and better build quality, but by being built in MUCH larger numbers (warranting much bigger investment) and backed up by a MUCH bigger dealer network than Reliant could ever hope to achieve.-
Giovanni Michelotti
Posted By : Calvin Andrew, 26-Jun-2007, 08:16pm
the last version was reskinned in a much more atractive and sporty way, it also ran a turbo motor from the Nissan 200zx which touche 170 horse if i remember right(wife is tutting, how can i remember this but not what i am doing tomorrow). The Power to weight ratio was very good.
Calvin-
Giovanni Michelotti
Posted By : Philip Brammer, 26-Jun-2007, 09:02pm
Don't forget Calvin, its scientifically proven that women can mult-task!!-
Giovanni Michelotti
Posted By : Calvin Andrew, 26-Jun-2007, 09:05pm
And genetically true that men can't spot a mess.-
Giovanni Michelotti
Posted By : Philip Brammer, 26-Jun-2007, 09:08pm
What mess? You've seen my kitchen! I say no more!!-
Giovanni Michelotti
Posted By : Mark Hammond, 26-Jun-2007, 11:03pm
I'd say that Michelotti was one of the most prolific car stylists of the 20th century. His influences can be seen even today, such as the famous kink in the C pillar on the 3 series BMW's (an idea first penned by Michelotti on the Triumph 1300, and subsequently stolen by others), many of the 70's and 80's Lancias, the transition of the Beta to Trevi, pure Michelotti, he even did work for VW, the FIAT Regatta, hidious car, but in the conceptual stage, beautifully styled, much of the work he has done didn't enter production until long after he died. For me, Michelottis work was much more successful than that of Pininfarina. He will be, without doubt, one of the biggest unsung heros of the 20th century for car design. Most 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's cars can be instantly recognisable if they were penned by Michelotti by the distinctive trail leading from the rear of the rear wheel arch, as in Dolomite, 2000/2500, FIAT Regatta, and many more. True genius and art on 4 wheels.
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Giovanni Michelotti
Posted By : Chris Taylor, 27-Jun-2007, 09:00am
Hear hear!
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Giovanni Michelotti
Posted By : Andrew Brady, 27-Jun-2007, 06:08pm
Even the best designers have their cars they would rather forget&8230; the Daf pedal car was one of his darker moments&194;&8230; 
Giovanni Michelotti
Posted By : Jerry Jones, 27-Jun-2007, 09:04pm
Trawling through the 'net on Michelotti, he actually designed a GT6 Mk1 convertable but as we all know it was never put in production see the
photo.
I have the Mk3 version!!
Jerry
I have the Mk3 version!!
Jerry
Giovanni Michelotti