“Beauty will save the world” once said Fyodor Dostoevsky. Out of context, it’s easy to dismiss this quotation as hopelessly naive or optimistic. But it’s complicated. For Dostoevsky, “beauty” transcends aesthetics, and is what inspires the best in us, our aspirations for what is good and true, and what connects us to each other. And in fact, the sheer beauty of Ferrari Daytona SP3 is the result of an incredible mix of elements between future and tradition, function and style. The wonderful shape designed by Flavio Manzoni is mind-blowing, to say the least. It’s not just aesthetic. It’s beautiful. And this car also inspired the Montblanc Stilema SP3 designed by Manzoni and Alessandra Elia. Let’s dive into the details of this incredible writing instrument made of monolithic design, fluidity and unexpected details. More than just an aesthetic exercise.
The designer
Flavio Manzoni, born 1965 in Nuoro, is now Chief Design Officer at Ferrari and has designed all the recent Ferraris, starting from the Ferrari FF across many other Masterpieces such as La Ferrari and the Monza SP1 and SP2 of the ICONA program up to the mentioned Daytona SP3. Architect, graduated in Milan and multiple award winner, Manzoni has a unique approach on design in the automotive industry. “What is tradition? Tradition is the uninterrupted chain of innovations”, quoting Le Corbusier, says Manzoni. “This is how we interpret history at Ferrari.
We respect the history and tradition of Ferrari since it’s more than a Sportscar Manufacturer. It’s a legend, a myth that inspires millions of people around the world. But with every car we design, we try to trigger the next evolution, to write, so to say, the next chapter of this story. But always in the respect of the tradition”. In fact, if you observe Flavio Manzoni’s creations at Ferrari, you can immediately recognize it’s a Ferrari. And even though they look futuristic and visionary, you also capture details that recall Ferraris from the past without being a remake as it’s often the case in the car world. Exactly these are the elements that distinguish the Daytona SP3 as well as the Stilma SP3.
The Car
In 2018 Ferrari launched the ICONA program. A series of strictly limited cars created for a very exclusive clientele that evokes successful race cars from the past such as the Monza SP2 and the last creation was the Daytona SP3. The names are taken by very famous race tracks around the world where Ferrari has collected many wins over the decades and the last creation, the Daytona SP3, is really the pinnacle of the series. Remember Flavio Manzoni’s view of the Ferrari design? If you look at the Daytona SP3, it screams Ferrari from every pore.
However the combination of futuristic elements and tributes to the past is absolutely unique. I had the chance to see this car static as well as on racetrack. It doesn’t matter from which angle you look at it, it transmits dynamicity, power and confidence. The connection to the 330 P4, which won at Daytona in 1967, is undeniable. However, the Daytona SP3 is by no means a sort of “restomod” or a replica of an old car. It stands out with its own unique style, capturing the attention of onlookers both at rest and in motion, thanks to its sinuous yet clean lines, free of any embellishments that are not functional. And this philosophy precisely transmitted to the marvelous object inspired by this magnificent car, which incorporates some of the design elements that have shaped Ferrari’s history.
Stilema SP3
“Stilema” is by definition that peculiar element which allows to distinguish and recognize a work and its author as well as a brand and its productions. Ferraris are recognized around the world for these “stilemi” or design elements that have been unique across their history. The prancing horse on every front grill, the round tail lights from the 70s right to the late 2010s, as well as the side slits of the Testarossa. Manzoni was asked to combine all these elements into a one-of-a-kind writing instrument.
Monolithic – Fluid – Unexpected
The design philosophy of the Stilema SP3 is based on 3 elements: monolithic, fluid and unexpected. The first term refers primarily to an object obtained from a single block of material. In fact, the Stilema SP3 has a very clean, almost edgeless design. The upper part of the writing instrument is designed with very few lines, with the Montblanc logo integrated on top of the cap, in white gold to emphasize the nobility of the materials used to produce the Stilema SP3. Further down on the cap, there is a discrete prancing horse recalling the emblem on every Ferrari’s back.
The Stilema SP3 has been equipped with a 18k gold Starwalker nib and is a pleasure to use as you would expect it. However, fluidity doesn’t apply only to the ink flow in this case. The Stilema SP3 hides some design gems worth exploring. For example, the filling mechanism is hidden within the body and in order to refill your writing instrument, you have to pull the cone at the back and then gently screw the Montblanc-emblem-shaped inner part of the mechanism. This is not only a design element, but the shape of the mechanism helps if the writing instrument is slightly humid as it often is if you intensively use your pens. In general, it is safe to say that the Stilema SP3 has very few design elements that are not functional, very typical from Manzoni and in general from car designer. A red translucent element at the back of the Stilema SP3 rounds up the design recalling the long tail lights specifically designed only for the ICONA vehicles in Ferrari’s line-up. A subtle “fil-rouge” that rounds up the fantastic design of this writing instrument.
One of the most interesting facts about the Stilema SP3 is that, compared to all the other Montblanc’s Artisan pieces, it uses about 50% of the pieces. The Stilema SP3 consists of “only” 26 individual parts. Using only very noble materials such as titanium and gold. Using less parts is a very diffused “best practice” in engineering as less parts are used; less parts can break. Quite simple to say yet complicated to produce with the minimal tolerances and hard materials.
Once again Montblanc and Ferrari together with Flavio Manzoni and his team have been able to combine all these elements that make the Stilema SP3 another absolute Masterpiece to own and pass on to future generations, just as we do with our cars and watches. Of course, the Stilema SP3 is limited to 599 pieces and only available at selected Montblanc retailers and it comes with a soft pen pouch in black leather and contrast stitching lined in black Alcantara, similar to the bucket seats in a Ferrari.
Remember Dostoevsky’s quote about beauty that will once save the world? Well, the Stilema SP3 as well as the Daytona SP3 are maybe not the most indispensable objects in the world. But their creation has helped to make the world a more enjoyable and less boring place.