Michelotti design studies
Michelotti’s long standing association with Triumph started in 1956 when, during the development of their new small car (at the time, known as “Zobo”), they were approached by a jobbing Italian stylist, who offered to produce a body style for this car for the sum of £3,000.
Rather bemused, Harry Webster accepted, and three months later the new and well-prepared prototype duly appeared. This model would form the basis of the Triumph Herald, and needless to say, Webster was so impressed he used the designer, Giovanni Michelotti, to design all of the company’s subsequent cars (with the notable exception of the Karmann-styled TR6). As with the BMC-Pininfarina link, the Triumph-Michelotti partnership did not survive for long in the new BLMC regime.
Michelotti's first proposal for what was to become the Triumph Stag. This model was designed by Giovanni Michelotti in Italy in 1965, following the work that the Italian styling house had already completed for Triumph (Herald, 2000 and the forthcoming 1300/Toledo models). Harry Webster had donated a Triumph 2000 for Michelotti to use for a basis for this car, but when the Triumph chief saw the prototype, he snapped it up for himself and had the car returned to Triumph for evaluation. It never did stand on the Michelotti stand at the 1966 Turin Motor Show. The final car did, however cause a splash when it was launched in 1970.
This proposal for the Marina (ADO28) was favoured by Harry Webster. It was eventually turned down because of the fear of it costing too much to build.
This is Michelotti's proposal for the late 1960s Triumph Lynx project. The name was later revived for a proposed fastback version of the TR7, but neither car made it to the showroom.
Michelotti's proposal for the Rover P10. This project eventually led to creation of the Rover SD1.
ADO70 was a Mini-based sports car proposal commissioned in 1970.
The 1972 Leyland-Crompton electric car prototype, with Michelotti body on Mini underpinnings.
This was Michelotti's proposal for project ADO74, BLMC's first serious attempt at developing a car to replace the Mini.
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