‘Some men leave quietly. Gianni Agnelli left tyre marks.’
Gianni Agnelli limped because he crashed a Ferrari, fleeing an angry boyfriend on the French Riviera.
And instead of embarrassment? He turned it into legend.
This is the story of how a man, a mistress, and a mid-century Ferrari created one of the coolest scars in automotive history.”
It was 1952, and Gianni Agnelli, heir to Fiat and Italy’s answer to James Bond, was enjoying the company of someone else’s girlfriend on the French Riviera.
The boyfriend returns unexpectedly.
Choices:
a) Confrontation.
b) Rapid exit.
Agnelli opts for b).
Straight into his Ferrari.
Straight onto the road.
Straight into a tree.
The crash is brutal. Gianni’s right leg is nearly severed, only saved by surgeons.
The limp? Permanent.
But instead of a setback, Agnelli wears it like a bespoke suit.
♔ The Aftermath
The walk slows.
The style sharpens:
The watch is worn over the cuff (rumoured to be practical post-injury).
An effortless air of ‘I couldn’t care less.’
The whispers begin:
‘Did you hear how he got that limp?’
Meanwhile, Ferrari releases the 365 P in the mid-60s.
Ferrari had already nailed it before McLaren F1 fans got misty-eyed about central driving positions.
Central driving position.
V12 soundtrack.
Ferrari only made two—one for Agnelli, naturally.
♔ The Lesson:
If you’re going to crash, do it in a Ferrari on the Riviera.
If only for reasons worth telling over dinner for the next 70 years.
‘Most people crash a Ferrari and get a repair bill. Agnelli got a signature limp and a lifetime of applause.’
