Road book

Unlike Pininfarina or Bertone, Giovanni Michelotti remains relatively unknown to the general public. Yet, he was responsible for designing hundreds of cars, including numerous Ferrari, Maserati, BMW, and Triumph models, as well as the Alpine A108, which later evolved into the iconic Berlinette A110. He is regarded as the most prolific automotive designer from the 1950s to the late 1970s. Fiercely independent and committed to creative freedom, he never accepted a permanent position, choosing instead to collaborate directly with manufacturers and major coachbuilders. He is famously credited with the saying: “A camel is a horse designed by a committee of executives.”

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Nick Mason, the legendary drummer of Pink Floyd, has two great passions: music and cars. His collection boasts over forty exceptional automobiles, including one of the 36 legendary Ferrari 250 GTOs. Sold new by the factory in June 1962, this GTO—chassis 3757 GT—was the 13th built, and Mason acquired it in 1978, making him one of the longest-standing 250 GTO owners. Beyond music and collecting, he is also a businessman and an expert in automotive investments. A great musician, an astute collector, a skilled driver, and a sharp entrepreneur—now that’s rock’n’roll!

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Some cars, whether elegantly refined or radically innovative, have left an indelible mark. The Mercedes 300 SL is one of them. Derived from the 1952 Le Mans-winning 300 SL race car, the road version unveiled in 1954 retained its ultra-light tubular chassis, iconic gullwing doors, and independent suspension on all four wheels. It also introduced direct fuel injection, desmodromic valve timing, and dry sump lubrication—an impressive package of cutting-edge technology. With 215 horsepower and a top speed of 260 km/h in its long-axle version, it was the fastest production car of its time. In just three years, 1,400 units were sold—six times Ferrari’s sales over the same period.

Unlike a certain Enzo, who still remembers the four Maserati brothers: Alfieri, Ernesto, Bindo, and Ettore? The workshop was founded in 1914 by Alfieri, later joined by his three brothers, who introduced the first true Maserati in 1926—the Tipo 26 race car. Alfieri’s passing led to financial struggles, and by 1937, the company was sold to the Orsi family. Surprisingly, Maserati was later acquired by Citroën in 1968. After changing hands multiple times, the brand has come full circle, now once again alongside Citroën under the Stellantis group—after even spending time under Ferrari ownership.