Giotto Bizzarrini facts for kids
Giotto Bizzarrini (born June 6, 1926 – died May 13, 2023) was a famous Italian car engineer. He worked on many important cars from the 1950s to the 1970s.
After finishing university in 1953, Bizzarrini joined Alfa Romeo as a test driver. He became known for finding and fixing problems in cars. Because of his skills, Ferrari hired him in 1957. At Ferrari, he became the head of sports car development. He worked on famous projects like the Ferrari 250 GTO.
In 1961, he left Ferrari with other engineers. He first worked with ATS. Then, in 1962, he started his own company, Società Autostar. This company later changed its name to Bizzarrini in 1964. Besides making his own amazing car, the Bizzarrini 5300 GT, he also worked for other car makers. These included Iso, Lamborghini, and Alfa Romeo. Even in the 2000s, some new car designs were named after him.
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Early Life and Studies
Giotto Bizzarrini was born in Quercianella, a town in Italy. His family was wealthy. His grandfather, also named Giotto Bizzarrini, was a scientist. He worked with Guglielmo Marconi, who invented the radio.
Bizzarrini earned an engineering degree from the University of Pisa in 1953. For his final project, he completely redesigned a used Fiat Topolino car. He made the engine more powerful and moved it to a new spot. This helped the car handle much better.
Working at Alfa Romeo
After graduating, Bizzarrini taught for a short time. In 1954, he joined Alfa Romeo. He hoped to work on car engines. Instead, he was first assigned to improve the chassis (the car's frame) of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
Later, he moved to the Experimental Department. There, he trained to become a test driver. He once said, "I became a test driver who was also an engineer. I always needed to know why something fails, so I could find a solution."
His Time at Ferrari
Bizzarrini left Alfa Romeo in 1957 and joined Ferrari. Ferrari needed a test driver at the time. He quickly became the head of testing and development for sports and GT cars.
Bizzarrini worked at Ferrari for five years as a chief engineer. He was also a designer and a skilled test driver. Many famous Ferrari cars were shaped by his ideas. These included the 250 GT 2+2/GTE and the powerful 3-liter Testa Rossa V12 engine. He also worked on the 250 TR and the 250GT SWB (Short Wheelbase Berlinetta). For the very successful Ferrari 250 racing series, Bizzarrini greatly improved the chassis, engines, and handling.
Creating the Ferrari 250 GTO
His most famous work at Ferrari was the 1962 250 GTO. He started working on this project in 1960. Ferrari wanted a racing car that could cut through the air better. The older 250 GT SWB was fast but had a lot of air resistance. Jaguar had just launched its new E-Type car. Ferrari needed a top car to compete on the race tracks. Enzo Ferrari, the company's founder, wanted to make sure his team would win.
Secret tests began with a 250 GT that Bizzarrini used as his personal car. This car was a test model for ideas later used in the GTO. It was nicknamed the Bizzarrini Ugly Duck. Bizzarrini said they called it Il Mostro, which means 'The Monster'.
Tests showed that the SWB car lost a lot of speed because of air resistance. So, Bizzarrini made the front of the car smaller. He also made the hood longer. This helped reduce air resistance and kept the front of the car from lifting at high speeds. Bizzarrini also moved the engine further back and lower in the car. He used a special oil system called 'dry sump' to do this. This improved how the car's weight was spread out and made it handle better. All these changes led to the amazing 250 GTO.
Working with Count Volpi and ATS
In 1961, Bizzarrini was one of five important engineers who left Ferrari. This event was called the "Ferrari night of the Long Knives." It happened because of changes in the engineering team. Bizzarrini and other former Ferrari engineers started a new company called Automobili Turismo e Sport (ATS). They planned to build a Formula 1 race car and a GT sports car.
In 1962, Count Giovanni Volpi hired Bizzarrini. Volpi owned a racing team and wanted to make a Ferrari 250 GT SWB as good as a GTO. Ferrari was unhappy with Volpi and refused to sell him a GTO. So, Volpi had to buy a used car and have it changed.
Bizzarrini used all his GTO ideas for this car. He worked with Piero Drogo to create a very aerodynamic body. It was even lower than the GTO. The roof stretched far back and then suddenly ended, following a special aerodynamic design. The car was finished in just 14 days. The engine was moved back and lowered, just like in the GTO. This car was called the Ferrari Breadvan. It is still raced in classic car events today. The car raced well at the time but could not beat the GTOs because it had an older four-speed gearbox.
In 1962, Bizzarrini started his own engineering company, Società Autostar. Through this company, he took on many engineering projects for other car makers.
Designing the Lamborghini Engine
Ferruccio Lamborghini asked Società Autostar to design an engine for his new GT cars. This engine, the Lamborghini V12, was first used in the 350GT in 1964. Different versions of this engine were used in every V-12 Lamborghini car until 2010. It started as a 3.5-liter engine and grew to 6.5 liters in the Murciélago SV.
Working with Iso Autoveicoli
The Iso Grifo
Società Autostar also helped develop cars for Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A.. These included the Iso Rivolta IR 300 and the Iso Grifo.
Bizzarrini and Iso had a disagreement. This led Società Autostar to build its own versions of the Iso Grifo. Because of this, Bizzarrini changed the name of his company. In 1964, it became Società Prototipi Bizzarrini. Then, in 1966, it became Bizzarrini SpA.
Bizzarrini SpA Company
The 5300 GT Strada
The company Bizzarrini SpA is most famous for the Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada. This car was made between 1965 and 1968. Its design came from Giorgetto Giugiaro, who worked for Bertone at the time.
Giugiaro later started his own design company, Italdesign, in 1968. Their first design was based on the Bizzarrini Grifo racing car. This new car, called the Manta prototype, was a huge hit at the Turin Motor Show.
Bizzarrini SpA went out of business in 1969. This ended Giotto Bizzarrini's time as a car manufacturer. After this, Giotto Bizzarrini continued to design for other companies. He worked on prototypes for American Motors and was a consultant for General Motors. He also advised Japanese motorcycle companies and famous car designers like Pininfarina.
Bizzarrini in Later Years
Bizzarrini taught at Rome University. He worked on advanced projects and designed his own sports cars. He often said, "I'm not a car designer, I am a worker."
In 2012, Professor Bizzarrini received an honorary degree in Industrial Design. This happened at the opening of the University of Florence's new Design Campus.
Giotto Bizzarrini passed away on May 13, 2023, at the age of 96.
See also
In Spanish: Giotto Bizzarrini para niños
