There are cars that mark an era, and others that become timeless. The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione unquestionably belongs to the latter category. Behind its sensual curves and almost mythological aura lies a story of passion, daring and sometimes painful decisions. A story that Daniele Gaglione, one of its designers, recently chose to tell from the inside.
Born in 1974 in Imperia, Daniele Gaglione followed a classic path for an industrial design enthusiast. Trained at the Faculty of Architecture in Genoa, he then honed his eye and his methods at the Des-Tech studio in Florence. But it was in 2001 that his career took a turning point when he joined the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo to Arese as exterior designer. He worked on several of the brand's major models, from the 166 to the Giulietta, but it was the 8C that would stand out as one of the highlights of his career.
When the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione was unveiled in concept form at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, enthusiasm was immediate. The name itself was a statement of intent, referring to the legendary Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and the 6C 2500 Competizione raced at the Mille Miglia in the late 1940s. But behind the concept's surprise effect, everything remains to be done.
On his Instagram account, Daniele Gaglione recently posted a series of videos retracing, chapter by chapter, the actual birth of the 8C. It all began in 2004, in Arese. The prototype was still in gestation when the team prepared for the Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance. At this stage, the car is not just a styling object: it has to come alive. The first sequences show preparations in the prototype workshops, followed by a key, almost intimate moment: the first engine start. A suspended moment, when the concept begins to transform into a real car.
One of the most symbolic moments shared by Gaglione is what he calls the "reverence". The prototype is presented under the technical direction of the entire team. It's no longer a sculpture, but a dynamic car, ready to face the public gaze. The return to the Centro Stile to organize transport to Villa d'Este concludes this intense phase of preparation.
In 2004, the rewards were well worth the effort. At Villa d'Este, the 8C Competizione prototype took first prize in the concept category, before also winning the next day at Villa Erba. This double success confirms that the project is more than just a styling exercise.
Yet the story of the 8C could have been very different. Gaglione reveals the existence of a unique, rolling, fully functional prototype, preserved today in the Arese museum. This prototype used an entirely new chassis, making it possible to retain almost exactly the proportions and volume of the 2003 concept. An ambitious choice, ultimately abandoned, not only for economic reasons, but also for industrial imperatives. The chosen solution was the Maserati M145 chassis, used on the GranTurismo, which paved the way for series production.
The rest is history: the production version was announced at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. 500 units of the 8C Competizione would be produced, powered by a 450 hp, naturally-aspirated 4.7-liter V8 from Maserati's organ bank. A six-speed robotized gearbox, four colors in the catalog, and already the aura of a future icon. The videos continue through to the "8C Competizione day" test drive on the Balocco track in 2006, the final stage before the car goes into production.
Today, Daniele Gaglione continues his career away from Alfa Romeo. After being appointed Chief Exterior Designer in 2008, he also signed exclusive projects such as the Porsche Moncenisio for Studiotorino. Since 2021, he has headed the Jac Italy Design Center in Turin. But through these images and shared memories, one thing is clear: the 8C Competizione is not only an exceptional Alfa Romeo, it is for Daniele Gaglione: "the best period of my professional life".
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