Sad news from Italy

[belgianboxer]

On Saturday 28th of November Sergio Sartorelli, the designer of the Karmann Ghia Type 34, died in Turin, Italy.

Eng. Sergio Sartorelli was 81 years old an Honorary president of the Italian Karmann Ghia Club. The sad news was announced by a message on the Type 34 Registry mailing list by the president of Italian KG club, Mr. Antonio Pellegrino:

“With deep sadness I'm deeply sorry to inform you that yesterday November, 28th our beloved Honorary President Eng. Sergio Sartorelli died in Turin.

He leaves a terrible void in all people who had know him and so appreciate his naturalness, his great human charge and his professional qualities.

I had the honor, over the last year, to have frequent opportunities to contact him and I believe all people who partecipated in the Verona meeting have surely been hit by his human qualities.

I can hardly find the right words to remember the man, because - I can't deny it - I'm deeply touched by this occurrence.

The funeral, which I will be present, will be held in Turin on Tuesday December, 1st and I will let you have more details about the place and the hour.

I think is right, we are evaluating how, testify to the family the closeness and the affection of the whole Karmann Ghia Club Italia, of all Karmann Ghia Clubs worldwide and also of all people who have admired his professional works.

With deep emotion.”

Sergio Sartorelli worked for Ghia from 1957 until 1963, from 1959 onwards as chief designer of the prototyping department. He was not only the designer of the Type 34, but of numerous other beautiful cars, one of the best know is the Ford OSI 20m TS.

May his soul rest in peace.

Condolences from Belgium

[Tram]

Wow. Sad to hear! Thanks for posting this.
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Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.

[peaceful warrior]

I've never owned a type 34, but always admired them.......great lines!

Please pass on our condolences to the family from the Samba family!
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"Two things are infinite: The universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." Albert Einstein
"Notchboy" says "Man up!"
"Tram" says " My bus is bigger than your bus."
66 13W Deluxe, 68 Westfalia, 87 Syncro.
TOOB Member #15
Brian

[notchboy]

Sad news to hear. Be thankful that some time was spent with him in his last years and that he could see some of the T34 fanatics live and love the car he designed. What an exciting time he got to live in.
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[jlew]

sad indeed.... he lives on in car heaven for sure.

Cool info I had for Ghia... the coachbuilder

http://www.imperialclub.com/Articles/87Ghia/index.htm

Love a T1 Ghia lowlight!!
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1968 Notchback

[Type3willy]

Thanks for the info, and condolences. More than never, I wish to buy the KG that is close to my house.

[belgianboxer]

As mentioned in my first post, Sergio Sartorelli was Honorary president of the Italian KG club. He received the title on occasion of a clubmeeting on 18th of October 2008, where he was invited as special guest. There are very nice images of this moment, with Mr. Sartorelli checking the quality of the bodywork of some T34’s. These pictures can be seen in the Gallery on the Italian Karmann Ghia Club website: http://www.karmannghia.it/

There’s also an impressive CV of Mr. Sartorelli on the website, with many images of the cars he designed in his career (for English translation, you must scroll down to the bottom of the page).

I had hoped to meet Mr. Sartorelli in person in 2011, at the occasion of the Type 34-anniversary in Georgsmarienhütte (near Osnabrück), as he had already accepted the invitation for that event. Unfortunately, this was not to happen. I hope the organizers and participants of the event will pay respect to him with a new world record, that is to bring together at least 50 Type 34’s…!
http://50-jahre-typ-34.de/

Regards,
Paul