Gianni Agnelli's Personal Cars up for Auction

Gianni Agnelli, the charismatic industrialist at the helm of Fiat and one of the most stylish men of the 20th century, had a reputation for impeccable taste, and a passion for all things beautiful. His car collection was no exception. As three of his former cars head for the upcoming Agnelli Auction with RM Sotheby’s on 24th April, we thought we’d take a closer look at the cars going under the hammer, as well as some of the other notable vehicles previously owned by the uncrowned king of Italy. 

The cars under the hammer…

1985 Lancia Thema Familiare by Zagato

Seeing potential in the market for an estate version of the Thema, Lancia contracted both Pininfarina and Zagato to design estate cars on the Thema chassis and drivetrain. Zagato built two cars; one with a turbocharged diesel engine and the other, the car presented here, with a naturally aspirated, petrol-powered 2.8-litre V-6.

Later purchased by Gianni Agnelli, this car was used by him as his personal car for two years, first registered in May of 1985 as TO 56639D in Torino. Having always remained in Italy, the car presents in excellent condition, showing 92,329 km on its odometer. The estimate is €80,000 - €160,000 EUR and is offered without reserve.

1974 Fiat 130 Familiare

Just three Fiat 130 Familiares were built, including this example, the very first and thus intended for the use of Gianni Agnelli himself, with the other two built for Umberto Agnelli and a friend named Guido Nicola. All three cars were unique, with this example being arguably the most interesting and recognisable. Agnelli had it painted in silver and fitted with faux wood trim on the sides and a roof rack fitted with a wicker basket, the only one of the trio to be equipped as such. Finally, an asymmetrical third rear brake light was installed, in order to better alert Agnelli’s security team to his movements while following him.

The car was kept at Agnelli’s home in St. Moritz and used by him accordingly during the winter months, with the roof rack and basket carrying skis to and from the slopes. Being such a powerful and influential figure in Italy, Agnelli always attracted the attention of the paparazzi, and he was photographed with this car on several different occasions. He obviously very much enjoyed his 130 Familiare, and it remained in his ownership until 1985.

With its current custodians the car has been well preserved, yet used as its manufacturers intended with the current owner, appearing most notably at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza in 2014 and at The Ice at St. Moritz in 2022. The estimate is €170,000 - €300,000 EUR and is offered without reserve.

1986 Fiat Panda 4x4

Purchased new by Agnelli in February of 1986, this Panda was used by him for trips in and around St. Moritz during the winter. He retained the car for fifteen years, before it was sold in 2001, just two years prior to his passing. The estimate is €20,000 - €40,000 EUR and is offered without reserve. 

Other beautiful cars once owned by Agnelli…

1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Spider

Agnelli drove this custom Lancia Delta Integrale until his passing in 2003. Now housed in the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Turin, it’s easy to understand why he was so fond of it. This one-of-a-kind, four-wheel-drive convertible was built to deliver a thrilling driving experience, with 250 horsepower, two doors, and a front design that instantly recalls the iconic original.

1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spider

Gianni Agnelli’s Ferrari Testarossa Spider is one of the most iconic and personal cars ever associated with the Italian industrialist. It was a unique, custom-built creation that holds a special place in both Agnelli’s life and automotive history. Commissioned by Agnelli himself, the car was a gift to celebrate his 20th anniversary as the president of Fiat in 1986. He wanted a convertible version of the car—something Ferrari had never produced before. The car was thus a one-off creation, and its drop-top design proved a significant engineering challenge.

1966 Ferrari 365 P Berlinetta Speciale

‘Barely road legal’ is not what you want to hear from your car dealer about a vehicle, unless of course it is a prototype Ferrari from Sergio Pininfarina, and that dealer is New York’s Luigi Chinetti. Toured around the world by Pininfarina as a counterfoil to Lamborghini’s mid-engined Miura, the 365P was never given the green light for production by Enzo. However it played an important role as one of the first mid-engined 12-cylinder Ferrari prototype road cars, preceding the 1973 365 GT/4 BB. It also had a fantastic three-abreast seating arrangement, with the steering wheel in the middle. Agnelli liked the prototype so much that a second coachbuilt car, chassis 8815, was built just for him. 

1958 Fiat 500 Spiaggina Boano 

This open-top beach car was designed for leisurely summer drives along the Italian Riviera. Built by Carrozzeria Boano, this unique Fiat 500 was a perfect reflection of Agnelli’s effortless style and love for elegant, practical, automobiles. 

The Spiaggina (Italian for "little beach car") featured a doorless, open-air design, with wicker seats and a retractable fabric roof, making it ideal for coastal cruising. Unlike the standard Fiat 500, which was designed for urban mobility, this version was all about relaxed luxury. Boano’s custom touches elevated the car’s aesthetic, transforming a simple city car into a sophisticated leisure vehicle fit for one of Italy’s most powerful men.

More details about the upcoming auction here.