09.04.2004 Battista “Pinin” Farina is one of the automotive celebrities TO BE inducted in 2004 in the Automotive Hall of Fame

Battista “Pinin” Farina ( 1896 - 1966 )

Battista “Pinin” Farina was born in Turin, November 2, 1893. In 1961, the President of the Italian Republic, acting on a proposal made by the Minister of Justice, authorized the change of his last name to Pininfarina in consideration of his achievements in social and industrial activities.

At age 11 he began working in his brother Giovanni's bodyshop, the "Stabilimenti Farina". During the First World War he personally supervised the construction of the "Aviatic" trainer planes, for which he received a commendation from the Office of Military Aviation.

In 1920, he went to the United States to see America and judge first hand the great developments in that country. In Detroit he met with Henry Ford, who asked him to stay in America and work for Ford Motor Company, but Pininfarina preferred to return to Italy. However, this American visit was of great value, not so much for new technological information as for the glimpse of the enthusiasm that private enterprise instilled in the American people.

The feverish pace of the American life impressed him and encouraged him to take up the challenge of his lifetime. In 1920, he married Rosa Copasso. They had two children, Gianna, born in 1922 and Sergio, born in 1926.

Pininfarina always showed great interest in man's tenacious efforts to develop technology. He felt drawn by the automobile and was fascinated by aeronautics and flight. In 1921 he drove the winning vehicle in the "Aosta-Gran San Bernardo" race, setting the best time for all categories of vehicles in competition, even though the car he drove was his own personal vehicle and not a racing sports model. His record was unbroken for 11 years.

In 1930, he left "Stabilimenti Farina" and founded ''Carrozzeria Pinin Farina". His plan was to build special car bodies, but he aimed at eventually expanding beyond the level of manual craftsmanship. He wanted to transform car body manufacturing into an independent industry, giving employment to increasing numbers of people. With this in mind, he equipped the factory with new industrial tools and procedures. In brief time he had assembled a production line able to turn out small series of vehicles at a rate of 7/8 vehicles per day.

Even before the Second World War, his plant in Corso Trapani had produced car bodies of revolutionary design, prefiguring the lines automobiles would have in the future. Before the war Pininfarina had established contacts with foreign car companies: General Motors sought his cooperation as did Renault. The war interrupted these contacts.

After the war, Pininfarina designed and produced, among other things, the 1946 "Cisitalia" shown in the Museum of Modern Art in New York as "one of the eight outstanding cars of our time". It was defined as the best expression of simplicity and beauty of design in the automotive field. It set the standards for the post-war era automobile. Twenty years later, the Museum of Modern Art in New York would present another Pininfarina vehicle, the "Sigma", a prototype of safety car that would receive praise world-wide and especially in the United States.

Immediately after the war, several automotive manufacturers opened talks with Pininfarina. Collaboration began with the American Company, Nash Motor of Detroit (now the American Motors Co.). In 1952, Pininfarina returned to the United States for the unveiling of the "Ambassador", which he had designed, and the “Nash Healey”, planned and built in limited series at his Turin plant. He was warmly welcomed and showered with manifestations of respect and esteem.

That was the first time in the history of American automobile companies that the name of a designer became famous. In the following years many automotive manufacturers would turn to him for the planning of new models for the assembly line.

In 1958, Pininfarina completed the costruction of a new plant, built according to the most modern standards, covering an area of 75,000 sqm. The covered surface was 40,000 sqm. A series of subsequent industrial expansions brought the surface area of the grounds to 102,500 sqm, 50,000 of which are covered. This meant a notable increase in production and personnel.

In 1961, after 50 years of activity, Pininfarina turned over the direction of the firm to his son, Sergio, and his son-in-law, Renzo Carli. This change, nonetheless, assured the continuation of Pinin's work, since they took place as designers as well as industrial managers.

Pininfarina travelled widely, made films, but above all, he dedicated his time to cultural and charitable works. For the celebration of the Centenary of the Unification of Italy, he presided over the "Fashion-Style Costume Show", highlighting the development of man and his environment from the "belle-epoque" to the missile era.

In 1964, a Professional and Recreational Complex in Grugliasco was opened. Pininfarina instigated this complex as a demonstration of his enthusiasm for all that could contribute to the cultural and professional formation of young workers.

In 1966, about one month before his death (happened on April 3 1966), Pininfarina appears in public at the inauguration of the Pininfarina Studies and Research Center, sharing the occasion with the President of the Republic.

Last among the many honors and tributes he received during his life, Pininfarina received the "Légion d'Honneur” from the General De Gaulle. Over his sixty years of professional activity, Pininfarina was named "Cavaliere del Lavoro” and "Honorary Member of the Royal Society of Arts of London" as "Honorary Royal Designer for Industry", He was later named "Fellow" of the same Society. King Baldovino of Belgium decorated him, at the suggestion of the Union Professionnelle du Ministère des Affaires Economiques.

Pininfarina was named “Honorary Member” of the Engineer and Architect Society of Turin, which later granted him the “Premio Torino”.

He received the Gran Premio Nazionale Compasso d'Oro. He received recognition from the Paris Society for the Encouragement of Research and Invention, the “Gran Croce con Placca” of the Order of Malta, a degree “Honoris Causa” from the faculty of Architecture at the Turin Polytechnic Institute.

The President of the Italian Republic conferred upon him the gold medal for education, culture and art. Also, during his trip around the world, Pininfarina was given a golden key to the city of Detroit by its major, with honorary citizenship.