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Sunday, December 7, 2014

Back to 70s with the five Bertone works

Bertone is one of the famous Italian coachbuilders who work around the premium sports cars that have exotic designs, but unfortunately has been declared bankrupt in June 2014. As already known that Bertone has worked with a variety of renowned automotive manufacturers such as Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, and others.
Ready-made bodies on trollies; in 1962 approximately 20 cars was transported like this every day at the Bertone plant. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2SdYhrU)
They cooperate in the creation of many sports cars that have a unique and futuristic design in accordance with the trends in that time. On this occasion we tried to present an article that tries get you to know the Bertone best sports car in 1970s, here they are:

1. 1967 Lamborghini P200 Marzal
Lamborghini P200 Marzal is a sports car that is done jointly by Lamborghini and Bertone and first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1967.

This sports car uses a V12 engine in-line six-cylinder that has a capacity of 1,964 cc, which is derived from a 3,929 cc engine is an engine concept that will not be seen again in another Lamborghini car. The machine was then mated to a 5-speed transmission system and capable of producing power up to 175 hp.
1967 Lamborghini P200 Marzal. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1trkkXe)
The P200 Marzal has four seats with gullwing doors. And for the car's interior was designed by Marcello Gandini also displays a futuristic feel, with a hexagonal honeycomb theme on the dashboard and center console. This theme is also carried over even in a general form as in the seat cushions and backrests.
Rear side view of 1967 Lamborghini P200 Marzal. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/15M2VDD)
In 2011, a unit of 1967 Lamborghini P200 Marzal has successfully auctioned at an amazing price, which is €1.5 million or equivalent to 6 units of Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4.

2. 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo
The 1968 Alfa Carabo concept marked a revolutionary stage in supercar design, with its hydropneumatic-powered scissors doors – later adopted on the Lamborghini Countach – and multi-coloured one way glass windows.

Penned by Marcello Gandini, from Bertone, the Carabo (which means beetle) was unveiled in October 1968, at Porte de Versailles in Paris.
1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1rJbaoy)
It was based on the Chassis of the mid-engined V8 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 and was an experimental design aimed at solving aerodynamic issues first appeared on the Lamborghini Miura, which suffered from front-end lifts at high speed.
Rear side view of 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/15M30aC)
The Carabo engine made 230 hp of power at 8,800 rpm, which made it possible to achieve a top speed of 250 kph (155 mph).

3. 1971 Lamborghini Countach LP500 Prototipo
Only 3 years after Bertone released the first wedge-shaped Alfa Romeo Carabo concept, Lamborghini got their turn with the Countach in 1971. Among all the prototypes with this universal shape, Lamborghini became the most prolific when the car was put into production in 1976. The car was named after it's 5000-litre V12 which stood for Longitudinale Posteriore 5000.

Marcello Gandini, who had shaped both the Miura and Espada was responsible for the Countach design. The low profile wasn't too far off his Lancia Stratos 0 from just a year earlier, and Lamborghini remained much more true to the Bertone concept than Lancia ever did.
1971 Lamborghini Countach LP500 Prototipo. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1vxh696)
Unique traits of the concept included forward-swinging doors from the Carabo and a periscope rear view mirror, both which were retained for production.
Rear side view of 1971 Lamborghini Countach LP500 Prototipo. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1y0S5jW)
Paolo Stanzani had the task of making a usable supercar underneath Marcello Gandini's impossibly low design. He elected to run the gearbox forward of the engine to provide direct gear changes. This raised the height of the engine for the driveline, but made the Countach look even more purposeful with its muscular rear stance.

4.  1973  NSU Trapeze
The NSU Trapeze was designed by Bertone and first displayed at the Paris Motor Show in October 1973. The car featured a mid-mounted NSU RO80 engine, positioned length-ways with rotating piston. The engine was mounted length-ways, to optimise weight distribution, and to get round the problem of engine-bulk in the cockpit.

The seats were laid out in a trapezium formation. The rear passenger seats were out of line with the front seats, which enhanced Driver's visibility. The design resembles the Lancia Stratos, with its wrap-around windscreen and small side windows.
1973 NSU Trapeze. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1FGC8U8)
And the fact that the rear passenger seats were out of line with the front seats, also made for enhanced visibility. The two front seats, set very close together, allowed the passengers in the back to stretch out their legs fully in the space created between the front seats and the door. The work on vehicle comfort was later teamed with a passive passenger safety project: the space between the front passenger and the door represented an element of safety in the case of side impact.
Rear side view of 1973 NSU Trapeze. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1tsBoMD)
This was Bertone’s contribution to the safety debate, in a market where the manufacturers, restricted by the strict American DOT legislation, often opted for original solutions at the cost of flexibility and aesthetic quality. In design terms the Trapeze recalls the Stratos, with its compact proportions, enormous wrap-around windscreen and small side windows. The prominent bumper running round the entire vehicle was a solution taken up successively on some vehicles destined for mass production..

5. 1978 Lancia Sibilo
Bertone presented the Lancia Sibilo concept based Stratos concept car in 1978 were exhibited at the Turin Motor Show. As with any other coachbuilder concept during the 1970s. Sibilio developed with the intention that future sports car will come, it is expected as this concept car.

Visually this Sibilo car-shaped wedge-shaped silhouette and sharing models with Stratos. Fitted with gold-colored wheels that contrasts with the color of dark brown-colored car, it does look futuristic model coupled with a model window.
1978 Lancia Sibilo. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1xYVdwJ)
Sibilo used an engine taken from the Stratos stradale namely 2.4-liter V6 engine that produces power of 192 hp at 7,000 rpm and torque of 167 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm. The concept is to make it more functional but the Lancia cars never published performance specifications.
Rear side view of 1978 Lancia Sibilo. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1FIL65b)
This suggests that the design of this Sibilo Lancia not be seriously considered for production. However, an interesting note that some features of the car are some of the existing instrument cluster are approximately the same that is used in cars today's high-end.*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WORLDCARFANS | CAR STYLING]
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