23 replies to this topic

[RTH]

Autocar has the story

A great coach builder with a very long history of building beautiful bodies, it seems came within a whisker of bunkruptcy.

http://www.autocar.c...AllCars/229813/

At one point the Russian owner of the now failed TVR said he was to get Bertone to build TVRs in Italy

[vintageautomobilia]

I may be woefully out of date (or misinformed), but I thought Ford owned Bertone.

[D-Type]

Originally posted by vintageautomobilia
I may be woefully out of date (or misinformed), but I thought Ford owned Bertone.

Are you perhaps thinking of Ghia, which Ford do own?

[David M. Kane]

D-Type:

You are correct, they now use this facility as part of their design unit. When I visited there in the early '80s they were building all of the prototypes used for the International Auto Shows.

[vintageautomobilia]

Yes, I knew Ford owned Ghia, but for some reason I thought they had acquired Bertone also. I guess I was mistaken. (I thought I was mistaken once, but I was wrong! )

[Towil]

Originally posted by David M. Kane
D-Type:

You are correct, they now use this facility as part of their design unit. When I visited there in the early '80s they were building all of the prototypes used for the International Auto Shows.

Ford sadly closed down this historic site in favour of a short lived ídeas studio in the centre of London. The branding is still used on some models of higher specification, but when I visited the site in Turin about 3 years ago it was looking very derelict and was in fact boarded up

[Seppi_0_917PA]

Bertone goes under. The legendary styling house Bertone has filed for bankruptcy – and has few assets left to sell.

"It looks like the end of the road for Italian styling house Bertone..."

[BRG]

Sad, but is there really any market for specialists like Bertone any more?

[kayemod]

"It looks like the end of the road for Italian styling house Bertone..."

 

Or Bert One as Henry Manney III always referred to them in R & T.

 

Ford were mentioned earlier in this thread, I read a recent report that they were going to use the name of another legendary Italian styling house on future "Upmarket Fords" if that isn't tautology. I wonder how many of the select buyers of Vignale Mondeos and the like will be able to pronounce the name properly, as every TNF fule kno it's Vin yah-lay of course, or something close to that. I think we had a TNF pronunciation thread at one time, as a past Alfa owner, it's always puzzled me how Italians call them Alfa Ro-mee-ohs, while almost the entire rest of the world refer to them as Alfa Ro-may-ohs, and don't get me started on the correct way to say Porsche.

[BRG]

I think we had a TNF pronunciation thread at one time, as a past Alfa owner, it's always puzzled me how Italians call them Alfa Ro-mee-ohs, while almost the entire rest of the world refer to them as Alfa Ro-may-ohs, and don't get me started on the correct way to say Porsche.

That's curious.  When we speak of Shakespeare's famous tragedy, it is Ro-mee-oh and Juliet (or Guillietta if you are an Alfa fan) but the car is always called Alfa Ro-may-oh.  Never thought about that before - it is illogical, Captain!

[arttidesco]

That's curious.  When we speak of Shakespeare's famous tragedy, it is Ro-mee-oh and Juliet (or Guillietta if you are an Alfa fan) but the car is always called Alfa Ro-may-oh.  Never thought about that before - it is illogical, Captain!

 

I'd never though of it either, thanks for the cameo post

[Catalina Park]

Ford were mentioned earlier in this thread, I read a recent report that they were going to use the name of another legendary Italian styling house on future "Upmarket Fords" ...

At one stage it seemed that every top line Ford had a GT badge, then it was Ghia, then Tickford, Jaguar, etc.

[kayemod]

At one stage it seemed that every top line Ford had a GT badge, then it was Ghia, then Tickford, Jaguar, etc.

 

More recently they've been badging their more expensive vehicles as "Titanium". Back in the 60s & 70s, ferrous oxide would have been nearer the mark.

[D-Type]

To get back vaguely on topic, how is Bertone pronounced?  Burr-tone,  Burr-toe-knee,  Bare-toe-knee, Burr-toe-nay, Bare-toe-nay or wot?

[kayemod]

To get back vaguely on topic, how is Bertone pronounced?  Burr-tone,  Burr-toe-knee,  Bare-toe-knee, Burr-toe-nay, Bare-toe-nay or wot?

 

Numero quattro I think.

[Duc-Man]

Wasn't Bertone part of GM for a while?

[RTH]

More recently they've been badging their more expensive vehicles as "Titanium". Back in the 60s & 70s, ferrous oxide would have been nearer the mark.

Now at Ford in future top range it is going to be Vignale. Pronounce that as you will too !

[Catalina Park]

Reminds me of the Austin A40 Farina.

[Magoo]

Sad, but is there really any market for specialists like Bertone any more?

 

 

Yes, but it's a totally different business now (digital) and some companies made the transition better than others. Actually, the automakers contract out more design work than ever, but it's not just the pretty bits, it's the nuts and bolts of body engineering and design -- impact management, interior components, etc. Comprehensive engineering services, in other words.

 

Bertone seemed to be well positioned in that regard but then Nuccio Bertone died around 15 years ago and it seems like the company never recovered.

[GMACKIE]

Now at Ford in future top range it is going to be Vignale. Pronounce that as you will too !

What's the bet it will be called Vig-nail.

[Repco22]

What's the bet it will be called Vig-nail.

You mean like the Holden E-kwip? 

[GMACKIE]

You mean like the Holden E-kwip? 

Or Volkswagen Toe-rag.

 

OwyagownRodorright?

[arttidesco]

What's the bet it will be called Vig-nail.

I remember the film Wignail and I featuring a clapped out Mk II Jag is there any relation ?

[Repco22]

Or Volkswagen Toe-rag.

 

OwyagownRodorright?

ToppathewozzaGreg! [wave.]