Ercole Spada

Ercole Spada ( born August 26, 1938 in Busto Arsizio, near Milan ) is an Italian automobile designer who has designed numerous Italian and German cars since 1960. In the 1960s, Spada was chief designer at Zagato and later he designed for BMW and Fiat bodies for production vehicles. He is currently working on the design studio Spadaconcept. Ercole Spada's creations are often regarded as timelessly elegant. Despite its productivity and its influence on other vehicle designers Spada is still regarded as one of the least known European designers.

Professional Biography

From 1956 to 1960 Spada underwent training as a designer at the Istituto Technico Industriale Feltrinelli in Milan. In 1960 he took on a job for Zagato, which was to last until 1969. Spada was after a few months chief designer of the traditional Milanese bodywork manufacturer. During this time, Spada for Zagato designed numerous sports cars that today are considered classics. In many cases, Spada is regarded as the most important designer Zagato, who was responsible for the most creative and successful period of the company. They include the Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato, the Alfa Romeo 2600 SZ and the Lancia Fulvia Sport. In addition Spada designed individual pieces or small series vehicles for Aston Martin and Bristol.

1969 Spada Zagato left to become chief designer of the Ford company Carrozzeria Ghia belonging. Here he designed among other things, the Ford GT70, one produced only in small numbers in the UK sports car.

From 1976 to 1983 Spada worked in Germany for BMW. Together with the 1976 newly appointed Chief Designer Claus Luthe, he designed two of the 5 Series and 7 Series, which were sold to the 1990s, series.

1983 Spada returned back to Italy. He was chief designer of the Turin I.DE.A Institute, designed numerous high-volume vehicles for the Fiat Group in the 1980s. Spada's designs here, based primarily on the newly developed platform of the Fiat Tipo, of which numerous offshoots have also been developed for the Alfa Romeo and Lancia. Spada's last creation for the Fiat group was the Alfa Romeo 166

1992 Spada began to work again for Zagato. During this period a number of individual pieces or small series vehicles for Ferrari and Aston Martin.

In 2006, with his son Paolo Spada and Boschi Domitian the Turin-based company Spadaconcept that deals with automotive and industrial design. Ercole Spada is currently president of the company.

From Spada designed cars

Zagato

  • Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato (1960 )
  • Alfa Romeo 2600 SZ (1962 )
  • Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ (1962 )
  • Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato (1969 )
  • Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato (1960 )
  • Bristol 407 GTZ Zagato (1961 )
  • Lancia Flavia Sport ( 1962)
  • Flaminia Super Sport ( 1963)
  • Lancia Fulvia Sport ( 1965)
  • Lancia Flavia Zagato (1967 )
  • Rover 2000 TCZ (1967 )
  • Volvo GTZ 2000 (1969)
  • Ferrari FZ93 (1992, based Ferrari Testarossa )

BMW

  • BMW E32 (second series of the 7-series, 1986-1994)
  • BMW E34 (third series of the BMW 5 - series, 1987-1996 )

I.DE.A

  • Alfa Romeo 155 (1992-1998)
  • Fiat Tipo (1988 )
  • Fiat Tempra (1990 )
  • Lancia Dedra (1989 )
  • Lancia Delta Nuova (1993-1999)
  • Nissan Terrano II (1993-2004)

Spadaconcept

  • Spada TS Codatronca (2007)
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