Giotto Bizzarrini

Giotto Bizzarrini (1926 to 2023) was an Italian automobile engineer who worked from the 1950s through the 1970s. After graduating in engineering from the University of Pisa in 1953 he joined Alfa Romeo as a test driver, moved to Ferrari in 1957 and became head of sports and GT car development there, where his ideas shaped the 250 GTO and other 250 series cars. He left Ferrari in the 1961 walkout, helped found ATS, and in 1962 set up the engineering firm Societa Autostar, later renamed Bizzarrini. Through it he designed the first Lamborghini V12 engine, developed cars for Iso, and built the Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada. He also consulted for American Motors, General Motors and others, taught at Rome University, and received an honorary degree in industrial design from the University of Florence in 2012.