Nuccio Bertone
Encyclopedia
Giuseppe Bertone, called "Nuccio", (July 4, 1914, Turin
, Piedmont
– February 26, 1997, Turin) was a famed automobile
designer and constructor. He took over Carrozzeria Bertone from his father, Giovanni
after World War II
, growing the small business to a carbuilding and designing powerhouse.
After racing Fiat
s, O.S.C.A.
s, Maserati
s, and Ferrari
s, Bertone moved to construction, agreeing to build his first car, a series of 200 MG
s, at the 1952 Turin Motor Show. He drew attention at the Paris Motor Show that year with an Abarth
concept, and was chosen to design the replacement for the Alfa Romeo
Disco Volante
. These so-called BAT
(Berlina Aerodinamica Technica) cars used the Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint
chassis. Bertone is also responsible in designing the famous Lambretta GP/DL range of scooters and the J series.
Two years later at Turin, Bertone introduced the Storm Z concept based on a Dodge
chassis alongside his latest BAT concept and a prototype of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, which would become the company's main product for the coming years. Bertone built more than 31,000 bodies in 1960, including Fiat 850 Spiders, Fiat Dino
s, Simca 1200S
coupes, the Alfa Romeo Montreal
, and Lamborghini
s. His 100th design was a special Ford Mustang
, introduced at the 1965 New York Auto Show and commissioned by Automobile Quarterly
. From 1972 to 1989 built the Fiat X1/9
.
Bertone summed up his philosophy when introducing the Fiat 850
:
Bertone's Ferrari
designs were a radical departure for that company and drew the ire of rival Pininfarina
. His two 250GT coupes
were only a foreshadow to the controversial 308GT4
of the 1970s.
In 2006, Bertone was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit, taking his place alongside other automotive icons, including Henry Ford, Giovanni Agnelli, Louis Renault and the Michelin brothers.
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
– February 26, 1997, Turin) was a famed automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
designer and constructor. He took over Carrozzeria Bertone from his father, Giovanni
Giovanni Bertone
Giovanni Bertone was an Italian automobile designer, known for establishing the Carrozzeria Bertone business.-Life and career:Bertone was the sixth of the seven sons from a farming family...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, growing the small business to a carbuilding and designing powerhouse.
After racing Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
s, O.S.C.A.
O.S.C.A.
Officine Specializzate Costruzioni Automobili - Fratelli Maserati SpA was an Italian brand of sports car automobiles, usually abbreviated to O.S.C.A., OSCA or Osca.- History :...
s, Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
s, and Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
s, Bertone moved to construction, agreeing to build his first car, a series of 200 MG
MG (car)
The MG Car Company is a former British sports car manufacturer founded in the 1920s by Cecil Kimber. Best known for its two-seat open sports cars, MG also produced saloons and coupés....
s, at the 1952 Turin Motor Show. He drew attention at the Paris Motor Show that year with an Abarth
Abarth
Abarth is an Italian racing car maker founded by Austrian-Italian Carlo Abarth and Italian Armando Scagliarini in Turin in 1949. Its logo depicts a stylized scorpion on a red and yellow background.- History :...
concept, and was chosen to design the replacement for the Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
Disco Volante
Alfa Romeo Disco Volante
The Alfa Romeo Disco Volante known also as 1900 C52, is a concept car series with production starting from 1952. The cars were racing car concepts with mechanics from the Alfa Romeo 1900 and made in collaboration with Milan based coachbuilder Touring. The engine was a slightly tuned 1900 engine ...
. These so-called BAT
Alfa Romeo BAT
The Alfa Romeo BAT is an Italian concept car. The car originated in a joint collaboration project between Alfa Romeo and the Italian design house; Bertone that began in 1953...
(Berlina Aerodinamica Technica) cars used the Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint
Alfa Romeo 1900
The Alfa Romeo 1900 is a sports sedan designed by Orazio Satta for the Alfa Romeo company in 1950. It was Alfa Romeo's first car built entirely on a production line and was also Alfa's first production car without separate chassis and first Alfa offered with left-hand drive...
chassis. Bertone is also responsible in designing the famous Lambretta GP/DL range of scooters and the J series.
Two years later at Turin, Bertone introduced the Storm Z concept based on a Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
chassis alongside his latest BAT concept and a prototype of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, which would become the company's main product for the coming years. Bertone built more than 31,000 bodies in 1960, including Fiat 850 Spiders, Fiat Dino
Fiat Dino
The Fiat Dino is an exotic front-engined, rear-drive sports car manufactured between 1966 and 1973. It was an intermediate step towards creating Ferrari's "Dino" and the two are often confused...
s, Simca 1200S
Simca 1200S
The Simca Coupé 1000 and its successor, the Simca 1200S were small, rear-engined two-door coupés sold by Simca between 1962 and 1971...
coupes, the Alfa Romeo Montreal
Alfa Romeo Montreal
The Alfa Romeo Montreal is a 2+2 coupé automobile produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1970 to 1977.-Concept car:The Alfa Romeo Montreal was introduced as a concept car in 1967 at Expo 67, held in Montreal, Canada. Originally, the concept cars were displayed without any model name,...
, and Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
s. His 100th design was a special Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
, introduced at the 1965 New York Auto Show and commissioned by Automobile Quarterly
Automobile Quarterly
Automobile Quarterly is a hardbound, advertising-free periodical publication that started in Spring 1962 with the sub-title "The Connoisseur's Magazine of Motoring Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow"....
. From 1972 to 1989 built the Fiat X1/9
Fiat X1/9
The Fiat X1/9 is a two-seater mid-engined sports car designed by Bertone and manufactured by Fiat from 1972-1982 and subsequently by Bertone from 1982-1989....
.
Bertone summed up his philosophy when introducing the Fiat 850
Fiat 850
The Fiat 850 is a small longitudinal-rear-engined rear wheel drive car which was produced between 1964 and 1973.-Overview:Its technical design was an evolution of the very successful Fiat 600. The internal name for the Fiat 600 development project was "Project 100" and consequently, the internal...
:
- "Our role is the production of car bodywork on which we impose the styling trends, build prototypes, develop the design, the production methods, and the tooling. Naturally, we produce them in quantity."
Bertone's Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
designs were a radical departure for that company and drew the ire of rival Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
. His two 250GT coupes
Ferrari 250
The Ferrari 250 is a sports car built by Ferrari from 1953 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series included several variants. It was replaced by the 275 and the 330.-Similarities:...
were only a foreshadow to the controversial 308GT4
Ferrari GT4
The Ferrari 308 GT4 and 208 GT4 were mid-engined V8-powered 2+2 cars built by Ferrari. The 308 GT4 was introduced in 1973, supplemented by the 208 GT4 in 1975, and replaced by the Mondial 8 in 1980 after a production run of 2,826 vehicles...
of the 1970s.
In 2006, Bertone was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit, taking his place alongside other automotive icons, including Henry Ford, Giovanni Agnelli, Louis Renault and the Michelin brothers.