Il National Automobile Museum of Torino tells i 50 years of the Fiat 127, from Thursday June 17 protagonist of shows “What a car!”, edited by the journalist Joshua Boetto Cohen in collaboration with the Manzoni Foundation. An exhibition to celebrate the historic car and the man who conceived its shape: Pio Manzoni, in art Manzù, son of Giacomo, an established sculptor. The exhibition will be visible throughout the summer, until September 5.
On display 7 models of the small car presented in 1971 and acclaimed "Car of the year" the following year: the car suitable for all circumstances, spacious inside and small outside, brilliant and sporty at the same time, remained in production in the many versions for 16 years. The 127, produced in over five million units, represented in the history of Fiat one of the most successful cars in the Italian automotive industry, destined to significantly influence world production. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to relive the emotions transmitted by most beautiful 127 went into production: two 127s from the first series, the Rustica, the Sport, the Top, the Panorama and the City Taxi. There will also be the original drawings of the 1964 AutonovaFAM, designed by the same author, the first small minivan of our era, together with its GT version and the scale model of the Autobianchi Coupè.
«The Fiat 127 was my first car – said Benedetto Camerana, President of UMAUTO –, followed by three others, one of which was a Sport model. Years earlier, still a boy, I had been taken to the track at Fiorano on the 127 second series, the hands of Carlos Reutemann, Jacques Laffite, Vittorio Brambilla at the wheel. Pio Manzù was a close friend of my father Oddone, head of Fiat Advertising and Image for many years. I often remember him at home, I was just a child, but struck by his quick intelligence, his lively eyes behind his big glasses. These are two very good reasons to be happy, on the one hand, and proud, on the other, of this exhibition, which unites in memory, intimate and public, important values of Italy in the 60s and 70s».
Next to the cars, some of the iconic design objects created by Pio Manzù will be exhibited: from the lamp Brackets – considered unique in the history of design, a reference model exhibited in all museums, Compasso d'Oro award (1979), best and long seller that crosses culture and generations – a Chronotime – the first transistor clock; from the glove Kartell to the project of parking meter – product of industrial design, but also of communication, for the attention due to the aspects of legibility and visibility of urban equipment. There will be various original drawings and sketches on display, films from the period and interviews with personalities from the world of design, as well as other objects designed by Pio Manzù.
The Director of the MAUTO Mariella Mengozzi adds: «seethe birth of this exhibition is a source of special meanings and satisfactions. The M.CAR has maintained its vitality and proactive ability in one of the most difficult periods. And today it returns to tell stories of men and cars, with two protagonists:lto 127, brand new fifty years ago like today, which brought Fiat to Europe and sold over five million units, and Pio Manzù, a designer different from all the others. I would like to thank James in particular Manzoni, son of Pio, who has generously granted all the works on display, and the collectors who have lent their cars for the exhibition. "
The celebratory exhibition of the Milanese designer and the Fiat 127 was preceded on Saturday 12 June by a gathering of Fiat 127s at the MAUTO, in which around 40 cars took part; Tuesday 6 July, at 10.30 will instead be held – in the MAUTO AUDITORIUM – a convention in which will take part - among others - prof. Luciano Galimberti, President of ADI, Robert Giolito, Head of Heritage, Stellantis, Rodolfo Gaffino Red, former Director of MAUTO who at the time was at the Centro Stile Fiat and collaborated with Arch. Luigi Rapi in the creation of the new models, aldo sessano, designer of the Centro Stile Fiat who collaborated with Pio Manzù. The participation of students from the Polytechnic, the Accademia Albertina, the IED and the IAAD is expected.
