Bertone 1912-2012

by Enrico Leonardo Fagone ANNIVERSARY THE FUNCTION OF SHAPE BERTONE 1912-2012 In 1994 while I was engaged to realize the first car-design monograph issue of Ottagono, the most prestigeous industrial design magazine published in Italy since 1967, Nuccio Bertone, who gave a relevant contribution to that work, said: “As an object, the car has been the most significant product of the industrial civilization. n 1994 while I was engaged to realize the car design scenario, we can confirm that an in- first car-design monograph issue of Ot- creasingly high number of car makers are now tagono, the most prestigeous industrial de- recovering icons and models of the past to of- Isign magazine published in Italy since 1967, fer their customers real “custom-made” lim- Nuccio Bertone, who gave a relevant contribu- ited edition or small series cars. tion to that work, said: “As an object, the car has been the most significant product of the In the past few years the motor vehicle sector industrial civilization. No means of transport recorded a general homologation to parame- has proven io be as flexible, independent and ters that up to some time ago, allowed io dis- at the same time as costly for the overall bal- tinguish the various brands considering their ance sheet of sociery. As a product, despite reliability, technological development and the pro blems of our time, the car is neverthe- above all formal identity. The demands of less completely irre placeable and indispens- increasingly varied and different customers able. From a pro duct and design point of view that were in contrast to such an homologat- the car represents a particular sphere of appli- ing trend forced sector industries to find new cation of the most ample design culture. It is model typologies and to differentiate the vari- often claimed today that cars all resemble one ous models giving categories that have always another; this is in part true, especially in the been labelled as “niche” once a more precise general oroundnessu and in the details which and strategic role. Such phenomenon is con- are con ceived by the designer, but which are firmed by the presence on the market of spe- suggested by the laws of aerodynamics and cific kinds of vehicles (just think above the in- by the need to express actual/psychological creasingly widespread coupé-cabriolet models security. What will the future look like? It is or to the constant increase - as regards both not easy io predict it, since the architecture of dimensions and functions - of the SUV and the car can 6e very influential.” cross-over vehicles), and it is even more strik- ing and clearer if we take into consideration FERRARI 250 GT PROTOTYPE Probably if we see today at the contemporary cars with high technical and construction con- (1959) 046 047 FERRARI 250 GT PROTOTYPE (1959) “As an object, the car has been the most significant product that cars all resemble one another; this is in part true, espe- of the industrial civilization. No means of transport has proven cially in the general oroundnessu and in the details which are io be as flexible, independent and at the same time as costly con¬ceived by the designer, but which are suggested by the laws for the overall balance sheet of sociery. As a product, despite of aerodynamics and by the need to express actual psychologi- the pro¬blems of our time, the car is nevertheless completely cal security. What will the future look like? It is not easy io pre- irreplaceable and indispensable. From a product and design dict it, since the architecture of the car can be very influential.” point of view the car represents a particular sphere of applica- tion of the most ample design culture. It is often claimed today NUCCIO BERTONE 048 049 tents and characterised by a strong brand’s mass producing cars. A number of special ver- Alfa Romeo Bat5 identity. In addition to the most famous and sions of models from the Fiat Group, General (1953) prestigious designers such as the internation- Motors, and other manufacturers were made ally well-known italian fiirms who have recent- by Bertone. The one hundred years of activ- ly designed one-off custom-built cars on com- ity of Bertone covers almost the whole his- mission, meeting the client’s demands, even tory of the birth and evolution of “an italian numerous car makers are now reviving past line” in automobile manufacturing. A consis- icons and models to produce limited-edition tent and original line of develop ment, from vehicles that break the traditional standards the research in io aerodynamic forms in the of present models to offer real “tailor-made” BA T (Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica) pro- cars, always according to personalization pos- totypes of 1953 to numerous designs for se- sibilities. dans and sports cars for Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Lancia, Ferrari, Fiat, Jaguar, and Lamborghini, “What will the future look like? I mean- said passing through some of the most im portant again Nuccio Bertone- the architecture con- prototypes in the development of the auto- ceived by mechanic engineering. The de signer mobile: Marzal, Na vajo, Sibilo, Ramarro, Gen- is consulted more today than in the past, con- esis, Nivola, Blitz, Zer, Karisma, Bertone has To the ephemeral character of vague experimenta tion or the cerning the suggestion of modifica tions which always considered the transfer of the experi- help him in his work, and he therefore colla- ence gained in the production of prototypes vagaries of fashion, Bertone has contrasted a sensitivity and borates actively with the archi tect or engineer. and concept cars ìnto mass production to be skill in design that has often been able to test the alimits of The position of the engine, all in the front or of vital importance. The creative and inventive technical and manufacturing possibilities. Nuccio Bertone has in the rear, the central engine, the wheel posi- capacities of the designer have coincided with tion, the pace, etc., are all imperative design a determination to explore the world of the always stressed the importance of allowing young designers restrictions which condition and limit the role car not just on the level of aesthetics but also and stylists to express their own creativity. A way of operating of the de signer. Aerodynamics has be come on a more complex level of function. These that is still a mark of the activity of Bertone: a precise inten- increasingly important. Now that the average basic orientations have permitted Bertone to coeffi cients have reached a level of 0.30 and stimulate the automobile industry on more tion that finds confirmation in the most recent proposals of the below, we have understood that il is useless than one occasion and to gain wide approval Turin-based company. to ex asperate this concept to the detriment of for its proposal of a conception of the car that other design elements. Great attention is paid always takes future scenarios into consider- to aerodynamic studies in or der io improve the ation. To the ephemeral character of vague problems connected with comfort (swishes, experimenta tion or the vagaries of fashion, whistling, etc.) and numerous other restric- Bertone has contrasted a sensitivity and skill tions referred to circulation and the regula- in design that has often been able to test the Lamborghini Marzal tions established by the different countries. alimits of technical and manufacturing pos- (1967) Italian car body manufactur ers have a tradition sibilities. Nuccio Bertone has always stressed as fore runners in the field of design trends. the importance of allowing young designers We have had to contin uously create and in- and stylists to express their own creativity. vent solu tions and ideas which would earn us A way of operating that is still a mark of the a place in the avant-garde of innovation. “. activity of Bertone: a precise intention that finds confirmation in the most recent propos- The Bertone coachbuilder’s workshop was als of the Turin-based company. founded in Turin by Giovanni Bertone in 1912. Specializing first in the construction of car- There are probably two ways that we can sum- riages and then, from the twenties onward, of marize the 100 years of Bertone’s activity. automobiles, the company began production Firstly the historical continuity of a tenacious on an industrial scale after the war. In 1961 and high-yielding industrial program and sec- the Grugliasco plant came on line and is still ondly the company’s ability to adapt the de- 050 051 “What will the future look like? I mean - said again Nuccio Bertone - the architecture con- ceived by mechanic engineering. The designer is consulted more today than in the past, concerning the suggestion of modifications which help him architect or engineer. The po- in his work, and he therefore sition of the engine, all in the collaborates actively with the front or in the rear, the central engine, the wheel position, the pace, etc., are all imperative design restrictions which condition and limit the role of the Lamborghini Marzal designer. Aerodynamics has (1967) become increasingly important. Now that the average co- efficients have reached a level of 0.30 and below, we have understood that it is useless to exasperate this concept to the detriment of other design elements. Great attention is paid to aerodynamic studies in or- der io improve the problems to circulation and the regula- connected with comfort (swish- tions established by the differ- es, whistling, etc.) and numer- ent countries. Italian car body ous other restrictions referred manufacturers have a tradition as forerunners in the field of design trends.

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