Cars
The myth of Italian coachbuilders: Bertone
Explore Carrozzeria Bertone's pivotal role in shaping automotive design. From crafting horse-drawn carriages to iconic collaborations with Alfa Romeo and Lamborghini, delve into the legacy of Italian craftsmanship in the automotive industry.
Just like Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance, Turin, already the capital of Italy in the 19th century, became the beating heart of automotive design a century later. It will be a journey through time that allows you to understand why collecting is so closely linked to the country of Italy.
Our journey begins with Carrozzeria Bertone, founded in Turin in 1912 by Giovanni Bertone to initially build horse-drawn carriages but, since its arrival, also for the new horseless carriages, known as automobiles. The first collaborations with car manufacturers date back to the 1920s, immediately after the end of the First World War, with coachbuilding for SPA and Lancia.
In 1934 Bertone exhibited the first car with the characteristic 'B' badge, which would soon become famous, at the Milan Motor Show. It was a Fiat Ardita named 'Superaerodinamica' due to its sleek lines that were decidedly unusual for the time. It was in that year that his 20-year-old son Giuseppe, nicknamed 'Nuccio', joined the company and would give the company a resounding international breakthrough after the war.
