Thursday 31st March 2011

Bertone Classics Up For Auction

Six legendary concepts for sale at Villa d'Este

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Lancia Straos HF Zero

Difficulties for Bertone sadly mean that its museum is to be disbanded. But one person’s loss is another’s persons’s opportunity.

Or, in the case of the cars to go for auction at the upcoming Villa d’Este event on the shores of Lake Como, an opportunity for six people.

This is because the legendary Carrozzeria is flogging six of its finest concepts with RM auctions on 21st May.

Lancia Sibilo

Up for grabs are the 1967 Lamborghini Marzal, 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero, 1963 Chevrolet Testudo, 1974 Lamborghini Bravo, 1980 Lamborghini Athon and 1978 Lancia Sibilo.

Estimates range from 1m-1.8m euros (£880k-£1.5m for the Marzal – which was driven by Prince Rainier and Princess Grace at the start of the 1967 Monaco GP, to 60k-100k euros (£53k-£88k for the Lancia Sibilo, a star of the 1978 Turin motor show (bit of a bargain there, we reckon)...

You can check out the rest of the lots at the RM Auctions website.

Chevrolet Corvair Testudo	Lamborghini Marzal
Lamborghini Athon	Lamborghini Bravo

[FourWheelDrift]

I had a Lamborghini Marzal and Bertone Stratos..................Matchbox cars

[Twincam16]

Some of my all-time favourite designs there. Such a pity Bertone's in financial bother - my favourite carozziera, so innovative and daring like no other.

They need a big construction contact to stay alive - hopefully someone can recognise this and allow them to style a convertible or something. Just something to keep them going so they can go on turning out concepts like that

[Ved]

Is that Bravo an pie eating Esprit copy?

[Roberty]

Ved said:

Is that Bravo an pie eating Esprit copy?

No IIRC It's based on a Jalpa, as is the Athon.

Looks great

[jdw1234]

Those cars are absolutley awesome. I echo the matchbox memories mentioned above!!

Also, Michael Jackson turning into the Stratos in Moonwalker!

I wish I was rich, I would love to own some of them.

[andy74b]

The Lamborghini Bravo must have been rebadged a ferrari 308gt4. Very similar.

[Twoshoe]

FourWheelDrift said:

I had a Lamborghini Marzal and Bertone Stratos..................Matchbox cars

And me!

Wasn't the Stratos HF Zero used in the Pink Panther cartoon series on tv in the 70s?

[RicksAlfas]

Roberty said:

No IIRC It's based on a Jalpa, as is the Athon.

Looks great

The Bravo was shown in 1974 so is based on Urraco mechanicals.
(I know the Jalpa was too, but that was launched much later).

It was the first time the classic teledial wheels were shown - later used on the Walter Wolf Countach which begat the LP400S.

Good looking car I think.

[robsco]

That Corvair Testudo is a wonderful piece of design. Like a futuristic blend of Toyota 2000GT and E-Type design cues. Special mention for the absolutely wonderful Alfa TZ as well. That would be very high on the lottery list.

[ZOLLAR]

No idea why but I always loved the Lamborghini Marzal, it alway looked very spacious



I doubt it was though

[Smartass]

I had the Matchbox Merzal in Orange. I never knew what it was up 'til now

[Fury1630]

OK, a prize to the first person to successfully parallel park the Stratos HF Zero

[Fury1630]

Twoshoe said:

Wasn't the Stratos HF Zero used in the Pink Panther cartoon series on tv in the 70s?

No.

[FourWheelDrift]

robsco said:

That Corvair Testudo is a wonderful piece of design. Like a futuristic blend of Toyota 2000GT and E-Type design cues. Special mention for the absolutely wonderful Alfa TZ as well. That would be very high on the lottery list.

But if it is based on a Chevrolet Corvair I wouldn't like to drive it

[Midgster]

Twoshoe said:

Wasn't the Stratos HF Zero used in the Pink Panther cartoon series on tv in the 70s?

I see where you are coming from, but no!

[Roberty]

RicksAlfas said:

Roberty said:

No IIRC It's based on a Jalpa, as is the Athon.

Looks great

The Bravo was shown in 1974 so is based on Urraco mechanicals.
(I know the Jalpa was too, but that was launched much later).

It was the first time the classic teledial wheels were shown - later used on the Walter Wolf Countach which begat the LP400S.

Good looking car I think.

Far point, they are the same wheels as the 1976 Silhouette, another Uracco derivative that later spawned the Jalpa.

[McAndy]

Sad times. I'd been hoping to visit their museum in the not too distant future and see these wonderful machines! Stunning.

[robsco]

FourWheelDrift said:

But if it is based on a Chevrolet Corvair I wouldn't like to drive it

Well it would make a nice ornament. 300bhp will be here soon to challenge your statement.

[Rawwr]

Midgster said:

I see where you are coming from, but no!

I don't know why the words 'Elton' and 'John' just popped into my head.

[tomedian]

I remember a pub landlords daughter "Danny" giving me a model of the Bravo..... oohh "thanks for the the memories"

It is interesting that toy manufacturers mass produce model cars that never make production, could this be consumer marketing survery, based on selling 10,000 models, the Board say "yes" start the machines for real