Bertone ordered to auction six cars from museum collection

A selection of six cars forming part of the official museum collection of Carrozzeria Bertone will be auctioned off at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. Following the turbulence within the struggling design house in 2009 – including selling its manufacturing arm to the Fiat Group – the disbandment of the museum collection has been ordered by a bankruptcy court. The auction is also a symbolic action: it marks the first time that any Bertone vehicles have been offered for sale to the public.

Documenting part of the craftsmanship and styling of Bertone will be a selection of cars including the unconventional 1967 Lamborghini Marzal prototype, as driven by Prince Ranier and Princess Grace at the start of 1967 Monaco Grand Prix, and the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero – the first prototype of the mid-engined Stratos production supercar and hugely successful rally car.

The 1963 Chevrolet Testudo, which sports a transparent one-piece windscreen and roof cover, and the 1974 Lamborghini Bravo, an ultra low-slung car sporting several styling cues from the Lamborghini Countach, will also be offered for sale. Rounding out the Bertones in the auction guidebook are the 1980 Lamborghini Athon and the 1978 Lancia Sibilo unveiled at that year's Turin motor show.

The court-ordered sale is being arranged by RM Auctions. "We are delighted to be aligned with the illustrious Bertone brand and truly honored to have been selected to bring some of their most famous and extraordinary creations to the open market for the very first time," said Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe.

"These cars represent a highly significant slice of Bertone's creative history, as well as a unique opportunity to purchase some of the best-known and most influential dream cars ever built."

The collection of Bertone pieces will join a line-up of over 30 other automobiles consigned to the evening sale, which forms an official part of this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este weekend. With an average value per car approaching €1million, the offering is considered one of the most spectacular collections of automobiles offered in recent auction history.

The auction is scheduled for the 21st May. For details see the RM Auctions website:
RM Auctions Homepage

By John O'Brien