Abarth/Bertone Collaborations

Cars

Abarth Biposto

With people like Marcello Gandini and Giugiaro manning the studios, Bertone was arguably the definitive coach builder in that incredibly creative period between 1965-75.

While the great era of futurist Supercars like the Miura and the Countach owes everything to the inner workings of Bertone at that time, the company made some significant innovations as far back as the early 1950s.

Collaborations with Abarth are some of the most interesting.

1956 Fiat Abarth 750

One look at the Abarth 1500 Biposto (top), which was penned by Franco Scaglione while a junior designer at Bertone, can confirm its influence on the BAT concepts for Alfa – and the subsequent swathe of futurist Americana that emanated from Detroit for the rest of the decade.

Abarth 750 Coupe and Roadster

But you can see from the outrageous aero slickness in the Fiat 500 – based record-attempt car that there was more to the house of Bertone than scalloped wheel arches, chrome fins and nonfunctional flourishes.

And what about the seldom seen 750 (above) from 1956? How about this for a sort of Batman-like take on the Sunbeam Alpine?

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One Response to “Abarth/Bertone Collaborations”

  1. Barneyg

    Always been a big Abarth fan. Had trouble insuring my old 500 Abarth – you guys came through in the end…