Gruppo Bertone#1970s

Giovanni Bertone started a carriage manufacturing business in Turin, Italy, at the age of 28. Along with three workers, he built horse-drawn vehicles. In 1914, Bertone's second son, Giuseppe, nicknamed "Nuccio", was born. The outbreak of the First World War forced Giovanni Bertone to close his company. In 1920, a new plant was opened near the Monginevro 119 in Turin. Twenty people were on the payroll. One year later, a contract on a torpedo-styled body based on the SPA 23S chassis was signed by the company.{{cite web|url=https://www.carrozzieri-italiani.com/listing/spa-23-s/|title=SPA 23 S Bertone|website=carrozzieri-italiani.com|access-date=8 April 2024}} Then, the FIAT "501 Sport Siluro Corsa" was designed.

During the 1920s, Giovanni Bertone began doing bodywork on the Fast, Chiribiri, Aurea, SCAT, and Diatto chassis. Vincenzo Lancia nicknamed him "Bertunot"; he commissioned Bertone to create cars for the "limited series". Giovanni Bertone produced torpedo and saloon bodies for FIAT and Lancia and for Itala, Diatto, and SPA. Alongside sports models like the 1928 Ansaldo 6BS, Giovanni Bertone also designed cars like the Fiat 505 limousine and the Itala 51S, both in 1924. He later designed the Lancia Lambda VIII Series in 1928. In 1932, Giovanni designed the Lancia Artena, which was produced until 1936. In 1933, Nuccio Bertone officially began working in his father's company. The company moved to Corso Peschiera 225. Gruppo Bertone now had fifty members of staff. In 1934, Bertone created the Fiat 527S Ardita 2500.{{Cite web |last=Andreas |date=2020-06-10 |title=Bertone: the untold story of italy's most controversial coachbuilder |url=https://www.carrozzieri-italiani.com/the-story-behind-bertone/ |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Carrozzieri-italiani |language=en-US}}

With the outbreak of the Second World War, Bertone reacted to the crisis by turning to manufacturing military vehicles. The company created vehicles such as the Bertone ambulance on a Lancia Artena base. The chassis Fiat 2800 cabriolet was manufactured; it was built on commission for race driver and motoring journalist Giovanni Lurani Cernuschi. Nuccio Bertone also created cars like the Lancia Aprilia Cabriolet, the Fiat 1100 Stanguellini racing car, and the Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica (BAT) concept cars.

In 1956, they produced the Abarth 750 Record; it was built on a Fiat 600 chassis and tested on the high-speed track at Monza. Abarth 750 Record sets ten world records, including doing {{convert|4000|km}} at an average of 156.36 km/h and covering 10,125.26 km in 72 hours. In 1957, the company expanded to start the production of the NSU Sport Prinz. Construction work began in Grugliasco for a new plant that became operative in 1959 with a workforce of 550. At the end of the 1950s, Bertone created the Giulietta Sprint Speciale, the Aston Martin DB2/4, and the Maserati 3500 GT.

Giorgetto Giugiaro came up with five variations of five GT models: the Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint, in coupé and cabriolet versions; two Ferrari 250 GTs, one named 'Wax' after the commissioning client; and the others for his personal use, the Aston Martin DB4 GT 'Jet' and the Maserati 5000 GT. At the same time, two new industrial partnerships were worked on with the Simca 1000 Coupé and the BMW 3200 CS limited series. The ASA 1000 GT, better known as the "Ferrarina", or "little Ferrari" (as the project originated with Enzo Ferrari), was a commercial failure upon its release.Varisco, Franco (2004). ASA: l'epopea della Ferrarina (in Italian). Vimodrone (Milano): G. Nada. {{ISBN|8879113348}}. OCLC 56973852 The Iso Rivolta GT 300, the Iso Rivolta GT 340, and the Iso Grifo were also created in the 1960s. Giorgetto Giugiaro designed a prototype cabriolet of the latter and a racing version known as the A3C. The Grifo years were also the years of the Chevrolet Testudo, driven personally by Nuccio Bertone to the Geneva Motor Show in 1963. The following year, they created the Alfa Romeo Canguro, followed in 1965 by the Alfa Romeo Giulia GT.

In 1965, Bertone launched the Fiat 850 Spider. The commercial success of this model led Nuccio Bertone to increase the company's production capacity to 120 units per day. Between 1965 and 1972, nearly 140,000 were produced, the great majority of which were sold in the United States. With the Fiat 850, the company increased its production volumes, from 13,000 units produced in 1966 to nearly 30,000 in 1968.

At the end of the 1960s, they formed a partnership with Ferruccio Lamborghini. The first vehicle to come out of this was the Lamborghini Miura. The Miura was followed by the Marzal in 1967 and the Espada in 1968. In the same period, two other coupés appeared: the Alfa Romeo Montreal and the Fiat Dino Coupé, both out in 1967. At the Paris Motor Show of 1968, Bertone presented the Carabo concept car, based on an Alfa 33 chassis. By 1970, Bertone had a workforce of 1,500 staff, and the Grugliasco factory covered an area of {{convert|267000|sqm}}. The partnership with Lamborghini led to the development of the Lamborghini Espada. The design was inspired by the Jaguar Pirana. After his initial success with the Espada, he went on to design the Lamborghini Jarama and the Lamborghini Urraco.

In 1972, Giovanni Bertone died. In that year, as a tribute to the company's founder, the Maserati Khamsin and the Fiat X1/9 were released. Based on the Fiat 128 chassis but with a mid-rear-engine layout, the X1/9 was in production from 1972 to 1988, with 160,000 units manufactured. The company also began working for Volvo on the 264 TE. The Volvo 262C was presented at the 1977 Geneva Motor Show. From the start of the 1980s, the Fiat Ritmo Cabrio and the Fiat X1/9 were produced and sold directly under the Bertone brand. In 1982, Marcello Gandini turned out the Citroën BX. A new commercial agreement drawn up with General Motors Europe in 1986 saw the production of the Kadett Cabrio handed over to Bertone. In 1993, the Opel Astra Cabrio and the Fiat Punto Cabrio began production. Next year, Bertone presented the Zero Emission Record (ZER); Gruppo Bertone was also awarded the ISO 9001 quality certification.

File:Auto 2024, Zurich (PANA0563).jpg

By 2009, a worsening financial situation caused Bertone to sell its Grugliasco plant, along with its manufacturing activities, to FIAT.{{cite web|date=18 March 2014|last=Gibbs|first=Nick|title=Bertone enters bankruptcy proceedings|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/10705046/Bertone-enters-bankruptcy-proceedings.html|work=www.telegraph.co.uk|publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited 2014|access-date=21 March 2014}} Bertone underwent a major restructuring process. By then, the Bertone workforce had dropped to roughly 300 people, mainly engineers and designers. The financial situation continued, prompting Bertone to sell off some of its concept cars in 2011.{{cite web|last=Sutcliffe|first=Steve|title=Bertone: end of an era - picture special|url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motoring/bertone-end-era-picture-special|work=www.autocar.co.uk|publisher=Haymarket Consumer Media|access-date=21 March 2014}}{{cite web|last=Jay|first=Ramey|title=Italian design house Bertone nearing bankruptcy|url=http://www.autoweek.com/article/20140317/carnews/140319810|work=www.autoweek.com|publisher=Crain Communications, Inc.|access-date=21 March 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140322021316/http://www.autoweek.com/article/20140317/carnews/140319810|archive-date=22 March 2014|url-status=dead}} After having ceased trading because of financial difficulties, Bertone, on 18 March 2014, confirmed that it would be declared bankrupt if a suitable buyer was not found by the end of April.

In May 2013, the license rights to the brand were granted by Bertone Cento to Bertone Design.{{cite web |last=Stevens |first=Mike |title=Bertone Bankrupt: Search For Saviour Ends, But Name To Live On In Milan |url=http://www.themotorreport.com.au/59357/bertone-bankrupt-search-for-saviour-ends-but-name-to-live-on-in-milan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052937/http://www.themotorreport.com.au/59357/bertone-bankrupt-search-for-saviour-ends-but-name-to-live-on-in-milan |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=5 December 2014 |work=www.themotorreport.com.au}} They also formed a partnership with Citroën, but since the 2013 acquisition of the name, a car prototype or series was never made.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.bertonedesign.it/en/about-us/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012200034/http://www.bertonedesign.it/en/about-us/ |archive-date=2017-10-12 |access-date=3 October 2017 |publisher=Bertone Design}}

In June 2016, the Bertone brand was acquired for more than {{Currency|2.6 million|EUR|passthrough=yes}} by AKKA Technologies, an engineering company. The rights to use the brand, however, were shared with Bertone Design which does not have the authorization to use it in the automotive field.{{cite news |title=La Akka Italia, azienda di Collegno vince all'asta il marchio Bertone |url=https://torino.repubblica.it/cronaca/2016/06/30/news/la_akka_italia_azienda_di_collegno_vince_all_asta_il_marchio_bertone-143103595/?refresh_ce |access-date=28 November 2022 |agency=torino.repubblica.it |publisher=torino.repubblica.it |date=30 June 2016}} Starting from November 2018, AKKA Technologies sold the license to use the Bertone brand in the electric automotive sector to Flymove Holding Limited UK, which in May 2019 proceeded with the definitive purchase of the brand for all applications and sectors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorionline.com/2019/07/12/flymove-brand-bertone/|title=Bertone, the English Flymove assumes full and complete management of the brand|access-date=16 December 2019|archive-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216133001/https://www.motorionline.com/2019/07/12/flymove-brand-bertone/|url-status=dead}} They relaunched Bertone through the presentation of new models of electric cars designed by Carlos Arroyo Turon (former Bertone Designer) and which use the battery swap system.File:Bertone GB110, Auto 2024, Zurich (PANA0576).jpg

The AKKA Technologies group subsequently sold the Bertone brand to Ideactive, a company owned by Mauro and Jean-Franck Ricci.{{cite news |title=Bertone Hypercar To Use Fuel Made From Plastic Waste, Debuts December 21 |url=https://www.motor1.com/news/626315/bertone-hypercar-december-12-debut/ |access-date=9 January 2023 |publisher=Motor1.com |date=2022-12-13}} In 2022, the two Ricci brothers revived the Bertone brand. The first in a series of limited edition vehicles, the GB110, was launched in December 2022.{{cite web |title=Bertone |url=https://www.coachbuild.com/index.php/encyclopedia/coachbuilders-models/category/bertone |website=Coachbuild.com |access-date=9 January 2023}}{{cite web|access-date=2022-12-21|author=Manuel Lehbrink|date=2022-12-21|title=Der Bertone GB110 ist ein neues Hypercar mit 1.100 PS|url=https://de.motor1.com/news/627720/bertone-gb110-hypercar-premiere-2022/|website=de.motor1.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2022/12/bertone-gb110-is-a-1085-hp-mystery-hypercar-that-runs-on-garbage/|title=Bertone GB110 Is A 1,085-HP Mystery Hypercar That Runs On Garbage|date=December 21, 2022|website=Carscoops}} In June 2024, the Bertone GB110 was publicly unveiled at Top Marques Monaco.{{cite web |title=Bertone GB110: Debut, Features, and Specs |url=https://www.motor1.com/news/724128/bertone-gb110-debut-features-specs/ |website=Motor1 |access-date=1 September 2024}}

{{columns-start}}

{{column}}

{{columns-end}}

File:Lambretta Luna Range.jpg

• Lambretta Luna Range: Lui/Vega/Cometa (1968)
• Lambretta GP/DL (1969)

• BMW C1 (2000–2003)
• Fiat Punto Cabrio (1995–1999)
• Mini Cooper GP (2006)
• Volvo 262C (1977–1981)

• Giovanni Bertone (1912–1945)
• Mario Revelli di Beaumont (1933–1954)
• Giovanni Michelotti (1950–1954)
• Franco Scaglione (1952–1959)
• Giorgetto Giugiaro (1959–1965)
• Marcello Gandini (1965–1979)
• Marc Deschamps (1970s–1974; 1979–1992)
• Luciano D'Ambrosio (1992–2001)
• Giuliano Biasio (1980–1990; 1997–2006)
• David Wilkie (2007–2008)
• Jason Castriota (2008–2009)
• Michael Vernon Robinson (2009–2013)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120207170528/http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/229357/ AutoCar (November 26, 2007) "Bertone's on the brink"]
• [http://www.automotiveworld.com/WVMA/content.asp?contentid=65024 Automotive World (November 27, 2007) "Carrozzeria Bertone files for bankruptcy protection"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129195814/http://www.automotiveworld.com/WVMA/content.asp?contentid=65024 |date=January 29, 2009 }}.

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110926215337/http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080102%2FFREE%2F485295663%2F1530%2FFREE AutoWeek (January 2, 2008) "New white knight emerges for Bertone"]

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071016062115/http://www.bertone.it/ Official website]
• [http://crazywheels.spb.ru/68.html Posters for 100 years anniversary of Bertone]

{{Automotive industry in Italy}}

{{Coachbuilders of Italy}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bertone, Gruppo}}

Category:Engineering companies of Italy

Category:Coachbuilders of Italy

Category:Italian automobile designers

Category:Convertible top suppliers

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1912

Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Turin

Category:Italian companies established in 1912

Category:Motorcycle manufacturers of Italy

Category:Design companies established in 1912

Category:Design companies disestablished in 1914

Category:Design companies of Italy

Category:Car manufacturers of Italy