Vignale

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Automotive sub-brand owned by Ford

title: "Vignale" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["coachbuilders-of-italy", "defunct-motor-vehicle-manufacturers-of-italy", "ford-of-europe", "vehicle-manufacturing-companies-established-in-1948", "italian-companies-established-in-1948"] description: "Automotive sub-brand owned by Ford" topic_path: "geography/italy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vignale" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Automotive sub-brand owned by Ford ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

FieldValue
nameVignale
former_nameCarrozzeria Alfredo Vignale & C.
logoFord vignale logo.png
type
fateCompany defunct; brand taken over by Ford in 1973
foundation1948 in Turin
founderAlfredo Vignale
defunct
location_countryItaly
industryAutomotive
servicesAutomotive design, coachbuilding
ownerFord (1973–present)
parentDe Tomaso (1969–1973)
::

| name = Vignale |former_name = Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale & C. | logo = Ford vignale logo.png | logo_size = | genre = | type = | fate = Company defunct; brand taken over by Ford in 1973 | foundation = 1948 in Turin | founder = Alfredo Vignale | defunct = | location_city = | location_country = Italy | location = | locations = | area_served = | key_people = | industry = Automotive | products = | services = Automotive design, coachbuilding | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = Ford (1973–present) | num_employees = | parent = De Tomaso (1969–1973) | divisions = | subsid = | slogan = | homepage = | footnotes = | intl = Vignale is the luxury car sub-brand of Ford Motor Company used in automobiles sold in Europe. The former company Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale was an Italian automobile coachbuilder established in 1948 at Via Cigliano, Turin, by Alfredo Vignale (1913–1969). After its founder's death in 1969, Carrozzeria Vignale was acquired by De Tomaso (founded by Argentine businessman and race driver Alejandro de Tomaso). The studio ceased operation in 1973, but ownership of the name was taken over by Ford Motor Company (which had majority ownership of De Tomaso).

Since then, Ford has continued to use the name sporadically to the present day. Up to present days, Ford of Europe released Vignale versions of models Mondeo, Edge, Fiesta, Focus, and Kuga, among others.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Alfredo_vignale_foto.jpg" caption="Alfredo Vignale, founder"] ::

The first body on a Fiat 500 Topolino base was made in 1948, followed by a special Fiat 1100. Most customers were Italian firms, such as Cisitalia, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat, Maserati, Lancia. In 1952, Vignale collaborated with Briggs Cunningham to jointly produce the Continental C-3. A close cooperation was maintained with Giovanni Michelotti, who in 1959 opened his own design studio and in 1962 definitely concluded the cooperation.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/1952_Ferrari_340_Mexico_Vignale_ad.jpg" caption="1959 ad for the Ferrari 340 coupe bodied by Carrozzeria Vignale"] ::

Also Rodolfo Bonetto designed a couple of cars in the early 1950s before moving to Boneschi. Later Vignale designs were created by Virginio Vairo. Vignale also designed and built cars themselves, usually low volume variants of the main production cars of these automobile manufacturers. Amongst them were 850, Samantha, Eveline and the Vignale Gamine, based on the Fiat 500. In 1968, Vignale designed the body of their last prototype, the Tatra 613. Vignale was taken over by De Tomaso in 1969 who already owned Carrozzeria Ghia. Shortly after selling, Alfredo Vignale died in a car crash on 16 November 1969. Both coachbuilders were sold to Ford in 1973 but the Vignale brand was discontinued.

At the 1993 Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin, at the time owned by Ford, produced a concept car called Lagonda Vignale. but the production model was named the Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet.

In September 2013, Ford of Europe announced plans to resurrect the Vignale name as an upscale luxury sub-brand of Ford. The cars would be visually distincted from regular Ford products and have an improved dealership experience. Exclusive services, such as free lifetime car washes, will be offered as well. The first Ford model to receive the Vignale name was the 2015 Ford Mondeo.

On 1 March 2016 Ford of Europe announced a Kuga Vignale concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show where the company also announced the line-up of Vignale products, S-Max, Edge, and Mondeo Vignale five-door models debut alongside Kuga Vignale Concept, offering a vision of the future of upscale SUVs as well as revealing Vignale Ambassadors and the signature Vignale collection.

Designs

List of cars designed and bodied at Carrozzeria Vignale or coachbuilt to a third-party design. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Vignale_Ferrari.JPG" caption="Ferrari 212]] Vignale coupé"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Ferrari_375_Vignale_2.jpg" caption="1953 Ferrari 375 America with bodywork by Vignale"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Fiat_8V_Vignale_(26371241855).jpg" caption="[[Fiat 8V]] Vignale Coupé"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Maserati_3500_Spider_(4353561585).jpg" caption="[[Maserati 3500 GT]] Spyder"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Kopřivnice,_Technické_muzeum_Tatra,exponát(090).jpg" caption="The Vignale designed [[Tatra 613]] prototype"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/1969_Vignale_Fiat_500_Gamine.jpg" caption="[[Vignale Gamine]] by Alfredo Vignale"] ::

Notable designers

References

Bibliography

References

  1. [https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/94870/ford-vignale-the-history-behind-vignale-fords-new-luxury-division "Ford Vignale: The history behind Vignale, Ford's new luxury division"]. ''Auto Express''. 28 March 2016.
  2. "About Carrozzeria Vignale". geocities.com.
  3. (4 May 2019). "Alfredo Vignale".
  4. [https://motorgiga.com/historia/marcas/historia-de-la-marca-de-tomaso/gmx-niv22-con520.htm "Historia de la marca de Tomaso"]. ''Motor Giga''.
  5. [https://ar.motor1.com/news/470691/vignale-ford-recupera-una-marca-con-historia-argentina/ "Vignale: Ford recupera una marca con historia argentina"]. ''Motor1''. 4 September 2013.
  6. [https://www.diariomotor.com/coche/ford-edge/ "El Ford Edge al detalle"]. ''Diario Motor''.
  7. [https://ar.motor1.com/news/478877/fiat-ford-y-de-tomaso-la-marca-vignale-vuelve-a-la-argentina/ "Fiat, Ford y De Tomaso: la marca Vignale vuelve a la Argentina"]. ''Motor1''. 4 June 2019.
  8. Cotter, Tom. (11 March 2011). "Italian Flair and American Muscle". [[The New York Times]].
  9. "Elenco delle Vetture progettate da Giovanni Michelotti conosciute al momento".
  10. Vignale, Alfredo Zanellato. (2009). "Vignale con Michelotti Designer". ASI.
  11. "The Maserati Mexico: Modena's conquest of the New World".
  12. "The History of the Fiat Gamine". geocities.com.
  13. "2004 Ford Focus Vignale". Conceptcarz.
  14. (3 September 2013). "Ford to reveal Vignale sub-brand with special Mondeo in Frankfurt [UPDATE]". Autoblog.
  15. (1 March 2016). "Ford of Europe Press Release Geneva Motorshow".
  16. "Ford Expands Upscale Ford Vignale Line with Four New Models, Exclusive Concierge and Travel Services".
  17. "Fiat 125 coupé Samantha Vignale".
  18. "The Designers".
  19. (4 November 2018). "Vignale Interceptors". Jensen Museum.
  20. (16 June 2017). "Vignale Jensen FF 119/004". Jensen Museum.
  21. (16 January 2017). "Vignale's Jensen Nova". Jensen Museum.
  22. "Vignale Lancia".
  23. "1952 Lancia Aurelia B52 2000 Coupé by Vignale". RM Sotheby's.
  24. (24 December 2014). "Lincoln Vignale Show Car (1987)".
  25. Tabucchi, Maurizio. (2003). "Maserati: The Grand Prix, Sports and GT cars model by model, 1926–2003". Giorgio Nada Editore.
  26. "Maserati Mexico Registry".
  27. "Vignale Matra M530 Sport".

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coachbuilders-of-italydefunct-motor-vehicle-manufacturers-of-italyford-of-europevehicle-manufacturing-companies-established-in-1948italian-companies-established-in-1948