Long-forgotten car designs come to market

Posted on 04/24/2007 under: Design

Thirty-four long-forgotten original design concepts, including those for Jaguar, Austin-Healey, Lancia, Alvis, Elva and Trident cars of the mid ‘60s, are to be auctioned by H&H at its Buxton sale on June 19. Most of the watercolour/ink drawings are contained in folders emblazoned with the logo of ‘Fiore Design’ and are the work of leading British designer of the ‘60s/’70s, Trevor Fiore. They were recently unearthed by renowned tennis photographer and car enthusiast Michael Cole, whose father employed Fiore at the time much of this fascinating work was produced.

Said H&H’s automobilia expert Matthew Kershaw, “These wonderful drawings are a unique snapshot of what could have been. There are striking sports coupes for a whole range of marques, plus convertibles and four-door saloons. The latter include one entitled Jaguar ‘S-Type’ but, rather than resembling the manufactured model of that name, it has distinct shades of the Jaguar E-Type and even the sleek NSU RO80 of that period.”

Fiore was born Trevor Frost, the Fiore moniker apparently being from his mother’s side of the family. Having an Italian surname would, of course, have put him on a par with most of his competitors, however, as the Italian design houses were pre-eminent at the time. During the ‘80s he headed up the design department at Citroën, after which he dropped from prominence.