Common point between an Alfa romeo GT, a Citroën BX, a Fiat Panda and a Lancia Stratos? All are signed Bertone. The Italian coachbuilder, which celebrates its 110th anniversary in 2022, has produced masterpieces, but also more versatile creations. Panorama of his work in captioned photos.
When we think of the Italian coachbuilder Bertone, whose shop was founded in Turin in 1912, we immediately think of haute couture creations, such as the 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero or the 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo. It’s good for the image, but ready to drive, in other words production vehicles, are much more important commercially.
Lamborghini Miura (1966)
Among the flagship achievements, we can not help but ogle the side of the Lamborghini Miura (1966) or the Bertone coupe from Alfa Romeo from 1965. But the Italian company – which continued its activity until 2014 – also has to its credit much less emblematic achievements because it was necessary to “run” the shop.
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Bertone’s Citroëns
Citroën BX (1982)
The French brand Citroën has often relied on the know-how of the transalpine coachbuilder and especially on the talents of its style center. Evidenced by the BX, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, or its big sister the Citroën XM. Two cars which by their look clearly stand out from the crowd. More consensual, the Citroën ZX was also sketched in Italy.
Another lesser known achievement, and for good reason, is the only collaboration between Bertone and the Czech brand that gave birth to the Skoda Favorit, produced between 1987 and 1995. Adventurer, jack of all trades, Bertone has never been sectarian especially when he designed the Daewoo Espero in the 1990s, at a time when Korean manufacturers were not yet on the rise. We can even find him, from certain angles, false airs of Citroën Xantia, another realization signed Bertone.
Bertone’s chinoiseries
Bertone has also collaborated with Chinese manufacturers Changhe and Chery on city cars destined for the local market. Bertone also worked on low-volume bodies for the Opel brand, such as the Kadett Cabriolets of the late 1980s, the first generation Astra Cabriolet as well as the second version, both coupé and convertible.
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