Gandini was born in Turin on 26 August 1938, into a family with a background in classical music; his father was an orchestral conductor and composer. Despite his father's desire for him to become a pianist, Gandini developed an early interest in cars and mechanical engineering, leaving school at 18. In 1963, at the age of 25, Gandini approached Nuccio Bertone, head of the Gruppo Bertone company, with his automotive designs. Initially, Giorgetto Giugiaro, then Bertone's chief designer, opposed his hiring. However, after Giugiaro left in 1965, Gandini was hired at 27 to take his place. He designed the Lamborghini Miura from initial sketch to finished prototype in three months and remained with Bertone for fourteen years.
Gandini established the 'Stile Bertone' styling house in Caprie, Turin, serving as its general manager. In this role, he designed concept cars and oversaw the construction of prototype automobiles for various manufacturers who commissioned Bertone, often specifically requesting Gandini's expertise. Gandini stated that his design interests prioritized vehicle architecture, construction, assembly, and mechanisms over styling.
Gandini is widely recognized for his designs for Lamborghini sports cars, beginning with the rear mid-engined Miura in the mid-1960s, which featured a transversely mounted V12 engine. He continued to design Lamborghini models such as the Espada, Urraco, and Countach, as well as concept cars like the Marzal and Bravo. He also created the original design proposal for the Diablo.
Beyond Lamborghini, Gandini designed a diverse range of vehicles. These included mass-production cars such as the Innocenti Mini, the first-generation Volkswagen Polo, the first-generation BMW 5 Series, and the Citroën BX. His work also encompassed other Italian sports cars like the Alfa Romeo Montreal and Carabo, Lancia Stratos Zero, Maserati Khamsin, Ferrari GT4, and Fiat X1/9. The Lancia Stratos rally sportscar, known for its seamless semi-elliptic windshield and door glass combination, was also a Gandini design.
Gandini left Bertone in July 1979 to establish his own design house, Clama, focusing on freelance automotive, industrial, and interior design. For the first five years, he worked exclusively for Renault, which resulted in the second-generation Renault 5 (the 'Supercinq') and the Renault Magnum truck. He later collaborated with Maserati, Nissan, Toyota, and Subaru, and returned to Lamborghini in the 1990s to work on the Diablo.
Gandini's design work extended beyond automobiles to include home architecture, nightclub interiors, and the body styling of the Heli-Sport CH-7 helicopter. In January 2024, the Polytechnic University of Turin awarded him an honorary degree in mechanical engineering. Gandini died on 13 March 2024, at the age of 85.
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