The greatest cars by Pininfarina

Slide of From the Alfa Romeo Spider to the Peugeot 205 and Ferrari Testarossa, the portfolio of Carrozzeria Pininfarina is undoubtedly one of the finest of any design house around the world. The Turin-based consultancy is best known for its work with Italian makers, penning some of the most beloved models from Alfa, Lancia and Ferrari, but it's worked with plenty more beloved marques from around the world. Here we cover some of Pininfarina's most influential cars, starting with its efforts pre-World War Two and running all the way through to its first car developed in-house. Slide of Alfa Romeo 6C Pescara: 1935 Based on an Alfa Romeo 6C 2300, the Pescara was a one-off built for Count Theo Rossi of Montelara. Presented at that year’s Milan motor show, the Pescara was incredibly aerodynamic compared with its contemporaries. Slide of Lancia Astura: 1936 Just six examples of this luxurious roadster were built, each powered by an 82bhp 2972cc V8 and featuring one of the earliest examples of a powered roof. Slide of Cisitalia 202: 1947 Cisitalia started building racing cars in 1946 and just a year later its first road car was unveiled. At a time when many new-car designs still followed pre-war principles the two-seater Cisitalia 202 was revolutionary. Sleek and aerodynamic, 170 were made between 1947 and 1952. Slide of Nash Healey: 1952 More of an intriguing design than a beautiful one, the original Nash Healey arrived in 1951 and was billed as America’s first post-war sports car. It was pretty too, but in 1952 a car restyled by Pininfarina was launched, less attractive than before but with the Nash corporate look. Slide of Fiat 1100 TV: 1953 In 1953 Fiat introduced a new 1100 saloon, estate and convertible but turned to Pininfarina for a coupé edition. The Italian coachbuilder obliged with this, based on the 1100 TV (Turismo Veloce), the sporty version of the 1100. Around 780 were built between 1954 and 1956. Slide of Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider: 1955 There was a whole family of Giuliettas including a saloon, coupé and estate but it was only the spider that was designed by Pininfarina. At first power came from a 1290cc twin-cam engine but in 1962 the Giulietta morphed into the Giulia, complete with 1570cc engine. Slide of Peugeot 403: 1955 This was the car that kicked off Pininfarina’s relationship with Peugeot – and one that would prove to be very fruitful. More than 1.2 million 403s were sold, including saloon, estate, pick-up and convertible variants. Slide of Lancia Aurelia B24 Spyder: 1955 The original Aurelia B24 Spider featured a panoramic windscreen, quarter bumpers and no quarterlights – just 240 examples were built between 1954 and 1955. In 1956 a second series was introduced and while it was the same car the lovely details were dispensed with, spoiling the car’s design. Slide of Austin A40: 1958 Although Pininfarina is best known for its work with continental brands, it has also worked with British marques too. In 1958 it unveiled this sharply styled saloon and hatchback; it looks dumpy now but it was cutting-edge back then. Slide of Ferrari 250 GT SWB: 1959 A whole raft of 250 models was produced, one of which was the very pretty 250 GT that came in coupé or cabriolet flavours. To make the car more agile and hence more competitive in racing, a short-wheelbase version was produced; 176 were Slide of Fiat 1500 cabriolet: 1959 The Fiat 1500 was a distinctive if rather unexceptional car, powered by overhead-valve engines and built between 1961 and 1967. But once Pininfarina had worked its magic to come up with a coupé and cabriolet, the 1500 looked a whole lot more desirable. Slide of X: 1960 One of the most bonkers concept cars ever, the X may have looked ugly but as a study in aerodynamics it hit the spot with its drag coefficient of just 0.23. To help achieve this the lines were flush and the wheels were arranged in a diamond formation; power came from a Fiat 1089cc engine mounted in the rear and driving the single rear wheel. Slide of Peugeot 404: 1961 Pininfarina was a bit naughty with this one as it appeared to sell the design for the 404 before selling the same design to BMC which then put it into production wearing Austin Cambridge, Morris Oxford and various other badges. What BMC didn’t do was market coupé, cabriolet or pick-up editions – but Peugeot did. Slide of BMC ADO16: 1962 As well as the Morris Oxford and Austin Cambridge, Pininfarina styled the 1800 ‘Landcrab’ for BMC. Its biggest hit though was the 1100 and 1300 which was one of Britain’s biggest-selling cars of the 1960s. It was available in Austin, MG, Riley, Morris, Wolseley and Vanden Plas forms. Slide of Dino Berlinetta Speciale: 1965 Presented at the Paris motor show, this concept incorporated the key styling cues that would be evident on e