Goodbye to Gino Paoli: the passion for cars, Ferrari and accidents

Some of the messages of condolence for the passing of Gino Paolian authentic legend of Italian music, who passed away on the night between Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 March 2026 at the age of 91. Born in Monfalcone, but raised in Genoa, a city to which he has always remained deeply attached, he was one of the most important Italian singer-songwriters of the twentieth century, author of masterpieces such as The sky in a room And Salt flavour. In addition to music, to which he dedicated his entire life, Paoli had many others passionswho always lived fully, among which there was certainly that for engines. A love for cars, which has crossed and marked the singer-songwriter’s life in many ways: from the numerous accidents in his youth, through the car challenges with Luigi Tenco and the large collection of sports cars, up to the television commercials for Fiat.

Gino Paoli’s cars

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As told in a 2018 interview given to colleagues at The evening courier, for Paoli the car represented “a long love story”. A passion that led him to get behind the wheel of some very fascinating models, many of which were on display in his garage. With the proceeds of the first album he gave himself the first real jewel of a long collection, one Austin-Haley 3000 MKII Roadsterof which Paoli said he had melted the engine shortly after purchase. Over the years he then led aAlfa Romeo Giulietta Spiderof whom he was very fond, and one Ferrari 275 Gtswhich he destroyed in 1965 by crashing into a tree in Milan. Today the replica of that car that belonged to the famous artist is exhibited at the Ferrari Museum, as part of the “The Greatest Hits” exhibition. Among the sports cars, one was then added to Paoli’s collection Lamborghini Miura and some Porsches. Over the years the singer-songwriter has also driven a Lancia Flaminia GT Coupé Touring, some Mercedes and BMWs to travel on tour and a Mini Cooper, purchased already in the 1960s, when very few were seen in Italy. Over time he then moved on to more functional cars, including hybrids Lexus Rx400hof which Paoli appreciated its comfort and low environmental impact.

accidents

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In the 1960s, in a particularly difficult personal period (in 1963 he attempted suicide by shooting himself in the heart), there were also many accidents involving the singer-songwriter. In addition to the crash of 1965 with the Ferrari 275 Gts, Paoli also risked his life in another episode that occurred in Milan, in via Palmanova, three years earlier. At the wheel of a rented Fiat 1300, the artist caused a head-on collision in which died the friend Vittorio Faberlyricist and arranger of some of his songs. A clash that cost, in addition to the human drama, the withdrawal of his driving license and a seven-month prison sentence with the benefit of parole. “Now I think going fast is crazy,” he told de colleagues in 2018 The Corriere della Serainviting those who run too much to let off steam on the track, without endangering public safety.

From races with Tenco to commercials for Fiat

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In addition to the vast collection of cars and the accidents in which he was involved, the history of Gino Paoli and that of the car are intertwined in many ways. Paoli himself recounted how between Pegli and Genoa he often challenged another giant of Italian music, Luigi Tencoin speed races. If the competition was balanced in the car, there was none for anyone on two wheels. “I won on the motorbike: the wheels of his Rumi always slipped into the tracks…” he had always reported to his colleagues The Corriere della Sera. However, it was in 1992 that Gino Paoli linked his voice and his image to a brand and a model in particular: the Fiat Cinquecento. Launched in 1991, the super small car from Fiat was the subject of a promotional campaign the following year which involved Gino Paoli himself, who composed and performed the song for the Cinquecento commercial. Good morning five hundred timesalso appearing in the dedicated video clip.