Nicola Bulgari, the Italian who saved the America of the automobile
28 February 2020 4 min read 6 images
The motorization of the world as we know it commenced with the magnificent American cars of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Why? Because they were produced in large numbers, therefore with all the precision of modern industries, and came with great quality and refinement even if they were intended for the general public.
If you take a look at the important collections, however, you soon realize that these cars are missing. Everyone is busy chasing rarities, forgetting the beginning of the great car adventure entirely. Combining an acute sensitivity for beauty and culture derived from his profession of a great jeweller and a passion for automobiles, Nicola Bulgari – who does not know the magnificent shop on Via Condotti in Rome? – decided to collect the great American cars of those years, restoring them with a team of technicians who, over time, became a sort of “academy”.
In addition to restoring and maintaining the cars of the “The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage” located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, young technicians are given the opportunity to learn the sophisticated techniques of the past and acquire valuable skills for the future of car collecting.
In addition to the buildings of the collection, Bulgari also created a road that stretches a couple of miles, acquiring an abandoned drive-in area so that his approximately 300 cars are always in perfect working order. Isn’t it strange that an Italian who comes from the automotive wonderland made this choice? No, on the contrary, that part of American history was fundamental across the Atlantic too, helping develop refined brands such as Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Maserati which came onto the market and brought with them a unique message of European technology and elegance.
CLASSIC CAR MATCHER