Pininfarina, the legendary design house, for the first time in its 92 years of unparalleled history, is unveiling a stunning NFT Collection focused on one of the most iconic and futuristic automotive designs of all time—the Pininfarina Modulo concept car.
The Modulo is regarded as one of the most iconic concept cars in automotive history with truly futuristic lines. Since it was first seen, the design has won 22 international design awards and has been described as a "search for pure form in its deliberate geometricity." Modulo was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1970 as a special Berlinetta characterized by two overlapping body shells. Originally unveiled in a pearl light blue color, the prototype was selected to represent the best of Italian coachbuilding skill at the 1970 Osaka Expo and was displayed as an envoy of Italian design in Mexico City in 1971.
The Pininfarina Modulo NFTs, in collaboration with 1of1, the luxury NFT specialists—powered by ARTM Technologies—in the development of solutions for the Metaverse, and with the iconic musician Sasha Sirota, will be offered as a series of five pieces of art, which will be auctioned by RM Sotheby's within a dedicated online auction on 24-26 May 2022.
The NFT Collection is inspired by the original “one-off” sketches of the Modulo, preserved until now in Pininfarina’s private archive, and developed with the active collaboration of the Pininfarina design Team.
Each unique NFT comprises a package of artistic and experiential components that allow NFT owners to become part of Pininfarina’s iconic legacy by having access to a range of benefits and extraordinary contents.
Each NFT will be characterized by an artistic video-animation featuring original soundtracks and a unique period setting with each NFT presenting Modulo in a different context, respectively set within five distinct decades ranging from the 1970s through to 2020.
Each NFT will furthermore showcase original content such as the sketches of the original and rare drawings and real-world exclusive experiences (including a reserved visit to the company museum accompanied by Pininfarina’s Chairman, Paolo Pininfarina) and private sessions with the design team. In addition, NFT owners will possess a unique digital replica of the Pininfarina Modulo—the very first Pininfarina car ready for life in the Metaverse. The owners will also be presented with framed, physical artworks of the Modulo relating to each of the NFT packages.
“We are proud that our first NFT Collection is dedicated to give a new life to the Modulo” affirmed Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman of the Group. “The concept car designed in 1970 is a manifesto of Pininfarina vision: beauty and innovation to design the future”.
“We enter the NFT world with the intention of exploring its boundaries and opportunities” says Silvio Angori, Pininfarina CEO. “The metaverse is an area we can make a significant contribution to by having been producers of cutting-edge creativity for 90 years. Our immense creative archive, the ability to imagine the future of design using the most advanced technologies open up new avenues for the further economic enhancement of our brand.”
Gord Duff, Global Head of Auctions at RM Sotheby’s, says: “We are delighted to partner with Pininfarina on this project. As one of the most important design houses to ever exist within the automotive industry, the vehicles they have created are amongst the most iconic in history. The Modulo remains one of the most influential concepts of its era, and it is fitting that it is the basis of Pininfarina’s first ever NFT project.”
