When Ferrari’s name began to shine brightly across the Atlantic, few figures shaped its American allure as decisively as Luigi Chinetti—and fewer still gave form to that allure as brilliantly as Giovanni Michelotti. Through Chinetti’s vision and Michelotti’s pen, Ferrari’s most exclusive clients discovered cars that went far beyond Maranello’s catalog: unique bodies, daring prototypes, and Daytona rebirths that blurred the line between road and dream. This is the story of their partnership.

For Giovanni Michelotti, the motorcar always symbolised freedom. But as he often remarked, it was also “the most widespread legalised weapon in the world.” This awareness accompanied him throughout his career and made safety—both active and passive—a core principle in his approach to automotive design.

Giovanni Michelotti, my father, was one of the most influential designers in the world of automotive design.