The Independents - The Sixth Edition

In this issue we take a look back at the important role that independents played in the story of the Biscione brand. We picked up one representative from the mighty houses of Touring, Bertone, Pininfarina and Zagato and took a deeper look at it.

We also visited the largest independently-organised Alfisti gathering in the world, Netherlands Spettacolo Sportivo, to witness the power of independence in action. And we ended our journey with one of Giorgetto Giugiaros wildest dreams, the pointy Caimano concept car. On our way we learned that, somewhat away from the spotlight, the story is a much more optimistic one than we first anticipated.

All the major houses are alive and kicking, albeit playing on a market that is more akin to their coachbuilding roots than to their role in the 1980s and 1990s. There is a flurry of limited-edition cars that all of them are launching under their own brand, but some still keep a close connection to Alfa.

Pininfarina recently launched their Classiche certification programme that celebrates, among other masterpieces, their work on the Spider. Zagato has gone a step further as just last year it built a custom Giulia SWB for a lucky customer. Touring is currently outdoing them all by helping put together the 33 Stradale.
Just like in the old days.

We may never see again a proliferation of noble design house badges stuck on a factory-sourced machine, but the independents are here to stay and their story is far from being over.

Edited by Alfattitude, powered by OKP

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