Giotto Bizzarrini

Giotto Bizzarrini (6 June 1926 – 13 May 2023) was an Italian automobile engineer who was active from the 1950s through the 1970s.

Bizzarrini's responsibility increased until he became sports car development chief at Ferrari in the late 1950s, working on such notable projects as the Ferrari 250 GTO.

After graduating from the University of Pisa in 1953, Bizzarrini eventually joined Alfa Romeo as a test driver.

Bizzarrini received an engineering degree from the University of Pisa in 1953.

His design thesis in his senior year was a complete redesign of a used Fiat Topolino, in which he modified the engine for increased power and relocated it in the chassis for improved handling.

After graduation, he taught briefly before joining Alfa Romeo's 'Servizio Esperimenze Principali' unit under Ing.

Nicolis in August 1954.

He was assigned to the development of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta chassis, which was disappointing, as he aspired to become a powerplant engineer.

He was later able to move to the Experimental Department, receiving on-the-job training to become a test driver.

In his words: "I became a test driver who coincidentally was also an engineer, with mathematical principles. I always needed to know why something fails, so I can invent a solution."

He gained a reputation for identifying and solving problems and was head hunted by Ferrari in 1957.

Bizzarrini left Alfa Romeo in 1957 and went to Ferrari when that company needed a test driver.

He was quickly promoted to controller of experimental, Sports and GT car development.

Bizzarrini worked for five years at Ferrari as chief engineer.

He also worked as a developer, designer, and skilled test driver.

The 250 GT 2+2/GTE, the 3 litre Testa Rossa V12 engine, the 250 TR Testa Rossa, and the 250GT SWB (Short Wheelsbase Berlinetta or Berlinetta Passo Corto) were influenced by his ideas and technical solutions.

For one of the most successful Ferrari racing series, the 250, Bizzarrini worked hard to develop the chassis, engines, and advanced dynamic solutions.

Enzo Ferrari wanted to ensure that his racing team did not suffer another loss as it had in the 1959 LeMans race.

Tests started secretly with a 250 GT, bodied by Mario Boano, with chassis number #2643GT which was Bizzarrini's personal car.

This car was developed and was used as a test mule for technical solutions later seen in the GTO.

This car was known as the Bizzarrini Ugly Duck.

(He said, "We dubbed the car Il Mostro." 'The Monster') Experiments with the SWB chassis indicated considerable speed loss due to aerodynamic drag, so Bizzarrini reduced the frontal area and increased the bonnet length, to reduce both drag and tendency to front lift at high speeds.

Bizzarrini moved the engine well back into the chassis and lowered it (by using a dry sump lubrication system) to improve weight distribution and handling.

The result was the 250 GTO.

He became involved with the project in 1960.

Ferrari wanted a GT racer with better aerodynamics than the previous 250 GT SWB.

The SWB was a great racer but had considerable aerodynamic drag.

Jaguar had just launched the E-Type and Ferrari needed a top contender in the tracks.

He split from the company as part of the 'Great Walkout' in 1961, worked first with ATS, and then in 1962 started his own company, Società Autostar, whose name was changed to Bizzarrini in 1964.

In addition to producing the exotic Bizzarrini 5300 GT, Bizzarrini also worked for other makers including Iso, Lamborghini, and Alfa Romeo.

In 1961, Bizzarrini was one of the "famous five" engineers who left Ferrari in the so-called "Ferrari night of the Long Knives", provoked by a reorganisation of the engineering staff.

With other ex-Ferrari engineers (including Carlo Chiti) Bizzarrini founded the Automobili Turismo e Sport (ATS) company to build a Formula 1 single seater and a GT sports car, the ATS Serenissima.

His masterpiece at Ferrari was the 1962 250 GTO.

In 1962, Bizzarrini was hired by Count Giovanni Volpi, owner of the Scuderia Serenissima Republica di Venezia, to upgrade a Ferrari 250 GT SWB (chassis number 2819GT) to GTO specification.

Ferrari was upset with Volpi and refused to sell him a GTO, so they had to acquire and modify a used vehicle.

Bizzarrini applied all the ideas from the GTO and developed with Piero Drogo of Carrozzeria Sports Cars in the Modena works an aerodynamically advanced body, even lower than the GTO, with the roof line dramatically extended to the rear end, then abruptly truncated following the Kamm aerodynamic theory.

The car was completed in just 14 days.

Several concept cars in the 2000s bear his name.

Bizzarrini was born in Quercianella, Livorno Province, the son of a rich landowner from Livorno.

His grandfather, also named Giotto Bizzarrini, was a biologist who had worked with Guglielmo Marconi on his inventions, especially the radio, following which one of the Livorno Library sections was named The Bizzarrini Library.