Bellissima! ─ The Italian Automotive Renaissance 1945-1975

A beautifully designed volume devoted to the most collectible and rare mid-century Italian cars and motorcycles. Bellissima! presents some of the most breathtaking Italian-designed automobiles and motorcycles of the post–World War II era, a series of visionary designs that thrilled the world and signaled a period of remarkable industrial rebirth. All-new photographs featuring pioneering masterpieces by Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, and others trace a remarkable lineage of design that captivated buyers and greatly influenced mid-century industrial design, architecture, aeronautics, furniture, and fashion. Created for the privileged few, these luxurious, custom-built machines embodied speed, style, and grace and exhibited a level of artistry and craftsmanship unparalleled at the time.Texts by noted automotive writers illuminate the history of this period and the impact of these designs, covering such themes as berlinetta coupes, aerodynamics, advanced mid-engine cars, wedge-shaped automobiles, and coachwork designs for domestic and non-Italian automakers.Today, Italian-designed cars from this era are among the most highly valued automobiles in existence. More than half a century after their construction, they continue to intrigue and excite all who see them.

Ken Gross is guest curator of the Bellissima! exhibition. He is an automotive writer who has written many articles and books, including The Allure of the Automobile and Dream Cars. Robert Cumberford is design editor for Automobile magazine. Winston Goodfellow is an author and photographer who has written extensively about Italian automobiles. Michael Furman and Peter Harholdt are photographers whose work has appeared in numerous books about automobiles.