What Makes Giorgetto Giugiaro a Living Legend

The DeLorean DMC-12 may be one of the most infamous cars of all time. There’s a good chance that more so-called “normal” people on the street could identify the short-lived stainless-steel sports car than the Ford Model T, which put the world on wheels. Quizzed where they knew it from, first would be the “Back to the Future” franchise and second would be the scandalous drug deal by John DeLorean that brought the fledgling brand to an ignominious end. Dead last would be the gullwinged car’s association with its designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro.

That’s how it goes. Giugiaro has been out there changing the cultural landscape of the world we live in since the 1950s while the rest of us are oblivious. Among classic car nuts, hell, industrial design nuts (especially those of a certain age), the Maestro holds a place of reverence. Considered by many to be the greatest designer of the 20th century, Giugiaro has touched everything from supercars to the high-stakes replacement for the People’s Car.

To gain a better understanding of his impact, AutoEsoterica’s Craig Cole surprised Jason White, a professor at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, with a trio of vehicles penned by Giugiaro. In their ongoing series called “Drawing Conclusions,” White shines a light on the unseen genius behind the Maestro’s designs.

You can find this episode and expert design analysis of cars like the Maserati Ghibli and the first-generation Volkswagen Golf, on AutoEsoterica's YouTube page.

AutoEsoterica is home to the under-appreciated and fantastical in car culture. Frontman Craig Cole is a life-long car enthusiast whose videos range from the restoration progress of his vintage Fords to design analysis and industry insights from contributors Jason White and Jim Hall.

The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.