Once upon a time, the art of making a traditional painting from scratch (otherwise known as a painting) was the norm. Automobiles were rare, highly personal, and valuable possessions, and frame builders were able to create exceptional bodies with their highly professional expertise. groups of designers, panelists, and engineers. This art reached its peak in the 1950s and 1960s, an era that gave way to creations such as Pininfarina’s Ferrari 250 GT California, Frua’s Maserati A6GCS, and Touring Superleggera’s Alfa Romeo Disco Volante.
While the move towards mass manufacturing saw the practice decline from the 1970s onwards, coachbuilding is back on the map, largely down to the work of companies like Ares Modena. Based in the heart of Italy’s fabled Motor Valley, Ares was founded in 2014 to bring highly personalised, coachbuilt creations to life, such as its latest, bespoke build – the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder. Behind the Spyder’s unusual name, lies the story of its creation – made in partnership with French crystal maker Lalique, the Wami takes its name from the man who created it, Ares executive chairman Waleed Al Ghafari.
“As a child, I was captivated by the cars driven by movie stars in the 1950s and 1960s, in that glorious, car-free era known to everyone as La Dolce Vita,” says Al Ghafari, looking at a cream-colored car. a pre-production model at the company’s Centro Stile in Modena. “It is this admiration that has led us to design and develop a car like no other: a retro-styled roadster that will not only pay homage to some of the most beautiful cars ever created, but also incorporate Lalique’s remarkable artistry and craftsmanship. “
Shaping Lalique’s Wheeled Badge
Made in collaboration with Lalique, most of the 13 handcrafted crystals can be found inside the car, embedded into the dashboard, centre console and headrests, while four crystals sit proudly in the middle of the Spyder’s wire wheels. While it’s the first time Lalique has completely outfitted a production car, Lalique’s automotive pedigree is well founded, with the French company responsible for making the detailed crystal mascots that adorned many of Ettore Bugatti’s cars in the 1920s.
The headrest-mounted crystal panel made by Lalique
Underneath its coachbuilt, carbon-fibre body lies a naturally aspirated 3.0-litre straight-six engine that puts out 231hp. While it’s no match for any modern-day supercar, the unit was chosen for its character and sound quality, with Al Ghafari opting for an engine that would be sympathetic to the car’s midcentury aesthetic.
The Lalique crystal in position in the center of the cord wheel.
On that note, there’s more than a hint of the Maserati A6GCS Frua about the Spyder, with the front grille designed to reference Al Ghafari’s favourite classic car. From the grille, an unbroken, sweeping shoulder line rounds off rear, where three stacked rear lights resemble that of the Aston Martin DB5 – another Italian-designed classic from the period.
“Thanks to the best union between Lalique’s custom crystal design and Ares’ highest point of excellence in automotive design and technology, the result of this collaboration is the ultimate luxury accessory,” said Silvio Denz, President and CEO of Lalique, at the presentation. of the collection. production car”. This very special collaboration perpetuates the paintings of René Lalique, whose iconic automotive mascots were among his best-known pieces created in the Roaring Twenties.
The headrest-mounted crystal panels in place
With only 12 examples of the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder planned for production, the company’s newest frame supply will be infrequent. Priced at just under £400,000, the Spyder is only available in a handful of colours, such as Amalfi red or Mediterranean light blue, to ensure it stays true to the pastel palate of mid-century cars. century that he imitates.
While the Ares Wami Lalique Spyder is a significant purchase, like most of the company’s creations, it’s guaranteed to stand out from the crowd, even in the supercar scenes of Monaco and Modena. With other projects well in the works, Ares’ commitment to coachbuilding is ensuring the art of crafting entirely bespoke automobiles survives well into the future.
AresDesign. com, @AresModena