is one of the unsung masters of modern car design. For the past four decades, Sbarro has created a unique high performance aesthetic for discerning collectors, untrammelled by brand identity (or budgetary demands).
See more of Franco Sbarro's concept cars
Designed and edited by Sbarro's eldest son Fabian, this slip-cased monongraph traces the back-story of the Italian-born designer, now working out of a hands-on atelier in the Swiss town of Grandson.
From his early years as a motorcycle designer through to managing the Scuderia Filipinetti GT racing team, Sbarro showed an aptitude for both form and technology, demonstrating an innate understanding not just for aesthetics but for their relationship to the mechanical heart of the car.
Having studied the art of sculptural model-making - first with a boat maker on Lake Neuchâtel, then through the construction of an elegant pair of one-off coupes for the Filipinetti company, Sbarro set up his own Atelier de Construction Automobile in 1968.
After experimenting with racing specials, Sbarro turned his bodywork expertise to safety, creating the SV1 (Safety Vehicle 1) in 1973. Stylistically extreme, the SV1 evolved into the Stash, a 70s super-coupé that featured interior trim by Pierre Cardin. After being invited to build replica versions of iconic cars like the BMW 328 and Bugatti Royale, Sbarro's atelier settled into a very individual niche, constructing bespoke 4x4s for the Saudi Royal Family (the six-wheeled Windhawk) as well as forays into highly overstyled Mercedes SEC's, tricked out with gull-wing doors. Other bespoke machines include the wedge-shaped Challenge, the vast Monster 4x4, the Osmos supercar and a succession of exotic motorbikes.
The beauty of Sbarro's conceptual aesthetic is that the results are always fully functional, albeit occasionally rather eccentric in appearance. Sbarro's passion has always been sports cars and bikes, although recent projects have focused on two and three-wheeled solutions for urban mobility (with the emphasis on extreme performance).
Concept Cars is a fascinating summary of a career spent on the fringe of automotive extremism.
-
Ikea introduces its first gaming furniture collectionBrännboll is the first Ikea gaming furniture collection, unveiled during Milan Design Week 2024 and designed to swiftly transform a domestic space into a gamer’s paradise
-
Morgan take their classic roadster and give it subtle but significant tweaks for 2024New details and features give the compulsive Morgan Plus Four an even more pared back silhouette and driving ability
-
Wallpaper* Class of '24 exhibition now open at Triennale MilanoWallpaper* Class of '24 exhibition at Triennale spotlights international emerging talent in furniture and product design, with the support of AHEC and SNOW (until 21 April 2024)
-
René Redzepi, Mette Søberg and Junichi Takahashi on Noma’s new cookbookLifting the lid on Noma’s secrets, a new cookbook celebrates the pioneering restaurant’s season menus, and offers a deep dive behind the scenes
-
60-Second Cocktails book shakes up summer happy hour at homeThis 60-Second Cocktails book brings summer happy hour into your home with easy but sophisticated cocktail recipes and tips to guide even novice shakers
-
New cookbook transforms horror movies into terrifying food artHorror Caviar, the first cookbook from A24, features recipes inspired by horror movies, from creatives including Laila Gohar and Chloe Wise, alongside essays by Carmen Maria Machado, Stephanie LaCava, and more
-
Edible flowers: the how, the what and the whyA new book from Monacelli, Edible Flowers: How, Why, and When We Eat Flowers, uncovers a fascinating history
-
Match point: learn how to properly pair food and wineLearn a thing or two about fine cooking and wine selection with this new book from the London Club
-
Fragile Self’s multi-platform debut album is a fervent fusion of sound and visionThe designer behind David Bowie's album covers has released a multimedia album exploring the history of psychology and the definition of ‘normality'
-
The art of love: creative couples making it work in romance and businessCreative Couples: Collaborations That Changed History explores the unique bond between 15 creative couples
-
Chic peas: new art cookbook charts a history of hummusOn the Hummus Route traces a utopian track between cities, people, markets and dinner tables. It documents street food in nine Middle Eastern cities, including Cairo, Jerusalem, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, and Damascus, and in doing so, offers a fascinating insight into the area's design, food, and culture
