Bellissima! Stunning Italian car designs

“If you can dream it, you can do it,” Enzo Ferrari famously said. The dreams of auto designers are alive in an exhibition of exotic Italian sports cars at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville. “Bellissima! The Italian Automotive Renaissance, 1945-1975,” showcases 19 classic automobiles, each more irresistible than the next,

Pictured: A 1946 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Speciale.

"Bellissima!"

A view of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts’s exhibition “Bellissima!” celebrating Italy’s post-war automotive renaissance.

Ferrari

A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, from the collection of Bernard and Joan Carl.

The Ferrari GTO is the most valuable vintage auto in the world. One recently sold for more than $50 million.

ATS

bellissima-1963-ats-2500-gt-front-3-4-peter-harholdt.jpg — Peter Harholdt

The familiar names are in the exhibition, of course: Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari. But then there’s ATS, a company formed by a group of engineers who walked out on Ferrari, and who tried to out-do Ferrari after leaving the company. With the 1963 ATS 2500 GT, they did.

Lancia

A Lancia Aurelia is wheeled into the Frist Center for the Visual Arts n Nashville.

Cisitalia

Peter Harholdt

A 1950 Cisitalia 202 SC, from the Collier Collection at the Revs Institute.

Chrysler

The 1955 Ghia Gilda was introduced in 1955 in Turin as “the car of the future.” Commissioned by Chrysler, the Ghia Gilda and its fabulous fins would influence a decade of Chrysler styling.

It was, alas, a concept car - only one was built, and (luckily) preserved.

Cunningham

A 1952 Cunningham C3 Continental, from the Collier Collection at the Revs Institute.

Alfa Romeo

A 1953 BAT (Berlinetta Aerodinamica Technica) 5 car by Alfa Romeo. Designed by Francesco Scarleoni, who had been both an aviator and a fashion designer.

Alfa Romeo

A 1954 Alfa Romeo BAT 7, from the Blackhawk Collection.

Alfa Romeo

The 1955 Alfa Romeo BAT 9. The Blackhawk Collection.

Alfa Romeo

A BAT car in the lobby of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.

Lincoln

Some of the cars created in Italy were aimed at America, like the creamsicle-colored 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis. Legendary car guy Ken Gross, who curated the “Bellissima!” exhibition, told CBS News’ Anthony Mason that Italian coachbuilder Boano designed its body on a Lincoln chassis.

“It was done this way because Boano wanted to get the lucrative business of the American market,” Gross said. “It appeared on the cover of Auto Age magazine and the headline was: “Is this the new Lincoln?’ But Lincoln was working on its own two-seater personal coupe, the Continental. So when this was finished, there was really no market for it.”

So the Indianapolis ended up being one-of-a-kind.

Maserati

A 1956 Maserati A6G 2000 Zagato.

Chrysler

The 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car, from the collection of FCA.

Ferrari

A 1966 Ferrari 365 P Tre Posti, from the Luigi Chinetti Trust.

Bizzarrini

A 1968 Bizzarrini 5300 Strada, from the Collection of Don Meluzio.

Lancia

The 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero was first (and ultimate) expression of the wedge-shape car. With its highest point being 33 inches, the Lancia Stratos still holds the world record for the lowest fully-functional vehicle ever made.

Lancia

The Lancia Stratos was designed on spec by Nuccio Bertone; he arrived with his creation at the Lancia security gate without an appointment:

“They wouldn’t raise the barrier for him,” said Dr. Thomas Mao (pictured), who bought the rarity at auction for a cool million. “And he just drove right underneath it.”

Dr. Mao has had a life-long love affair with the car: It still takes his breath away. “It still does. I come back in the gallery and see it, and I’m just head over heels in love again.”