Vision Forged - In the world of classic cars, some of the most fascinating stories don’t come from big-name manufacturers or legendary race tracks. They often start in small workshops, fueled by personal ambition and a love for engineering. Back in 1966, in a quiet village in the Haut-Doubs region of France, a man named Bernard Lionel decided to build something completely his own. Not just any car, but a mid-engined GT that would go on to become one of the most unique homemade sports cars of its time: the BLF Berlinette.
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| The BLF Berlinette was conceived and built in 1966 by Bernard Lionel in a quiet village in France’s Haut-Doubs region as a fully handmade, mid-engined GT that would become one of the most unique homebuilt sports cars of its era. (Picture from: Jano1206 in Flickr) |
From the very first glance, this car demands attention.
The bold,
wide stance and swooping curves give off an unmistakable 1970s GT vibe, even though it was actually built in the mid-'60s.
Dressed in a deep,
eye-catching shade of blue,
the BLF Berlinette looks both sleek and muscular, with proportions that feel purposeful rather than decorative.
The low-slung body is made of fiberglass,
shaped over a hand-crafted tubular frame chassis. Everything about it tells you this was not a quick weekend project—it was something thought out, tested, and refined with care.
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| The BLF Berlinette features a fully opening rear engine canopy that offers clear visual and mechanical access to its powertrain—a design choice rarely seen outside serious racing machines. (Picture from: Pinterest) |
One of its most dramatic features is its gullwing doors, which lift upwards rather than swing out. Not only do they look cool, but they also hint at the builder’s ambition to create something special.
The rear end features a full engine canopy that opens entirely, giving clear access to the heart of the car—both visually and mechanically. It’s a design decision rarely seen outside of serious racing machines.
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| The BLF Berlinette was on display at Retromobile 2012 in Paris, where its rare design and handmade details drew the attention of classic car enthusiasts. (Picture from: Forum.AutoACardasiac) |
The front end is just as unique.
With a pair of dual headlights sunk into dark housings and a sharply sculpted nose, it has a slightly aggressive character.
Large wheel arches flare out over the wide tires, giving the car a planted, confident stance. Everything about the exterior says this was built to move, not just to be admired.
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| The 1966 BLF Berlinette features a sharply sculpted nose, dual headlights set in dark housings, and dramatic gullwing doors that lift upward. (Picture from: Pinterest) |
Inside,
things are simple and focused. This isn’t a luxury cruiser—it’s a driver’s car.
The seats sit low in the chassis,
close to the ground,
with a no-frills dashboard and a compact steering wheel that puts you in full control. Visible tubing from the chassis snakes around the interior, giving the whole cabin a raw, mechanical feel.
The racing bucket seats pop against the otherwise minimalist layout, showing that style wasn’t completely ignored, even in a home-built GT.
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| When the engine bay is opened, it reveals a raw display of straightforward engineering, with a maze of intake pipes, wiring, and hand-welded headers—free of plastic covers or unnecessary frills, offering a clear view of how everything comes together. (Picture from: Forum.AutoACardasiac) |
But the real highlight lies at the back. Underneath the large rear canopy sits a mid-mounted 4-cylinder engine sourced from the Renault R8 Gordini. Known for its performance in compact racers of the time, this engine brings the BLF Berlinette to life with its twin carburetors, sporty character, and eager throttle response. When the engine bay is opened, it reveals a maze of intake pipes, wiring, and hand-welded headers. It’s raw, straightforward engineering—no plastic covers, no unnecessary frills—just an honest look at how everything comes together.
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| The 1966 BLF Berlinette powered by a mid-mounted 4-cylinder engine sourced from the Renault R8 Gordini. (Picture from: Forum.AutoACardasiac) |
The transmission is manual, adding to the driver-focused experience, and the lightweight chassis means the car doesn’t need huge power to feel quick. It’s nimble, responsive, and likely a thrill on twisty back roads. The use of GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) for the body kept the weight down and allowed for freedom in shaping the curves and contours.
While very little documentation exists about
the BLF Berlinette, some have noted its similarities to
the later Jidé GT. However,
the BLF actually came first, and that puts it in a special position as an early example of French homegrown GT innovation. There was no factory team behind this car—no brand heritage to uphold. Just one man, some tools, and a dream of building something that could rival the best of its era.
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| The 1966 BLF Berlinette was showcased alongside its creator, Bernard Lionel, during the Retromobile 2012 event held in Paris. (Picture from: Forum.AutoACardasiac) |
Decades later, the car made a rare public appearance at the Retromobile 2012 show in Paris. Visitors were stunned not just by the car’s appearance, but by the story behind it. Even more surprising, Bernard Lionel himself was there, standing beside the very car he had built by hand nearly 50 years earlier. It was a powerful reminder of the creativity that once thrived in small garages across Europe.
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| The 1966 BLF Berlinette showed off its capability on the track at the Classics Days 2016 Magny-Cours. (Picture from: ElGuy08_11 in Flickr) |
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What makes the BLF Berlinette so memorable isn’t just how it looks or what powers it. It’s the fact that it exists at all. Built far from any spotlight, this one-off prototype continues to impress with its bold design, clever engineering, and the quiet determination of the man who made it real. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FORUM.AUTOCARADASIAC | CLASSIC AND RECREATION SPORTS CARS IN FACEBOOK | C.C.C.P. - CUSTOM CARS. CONCEPT CARS. CRAZY CARS. PIN-UPS. IN FACEBOOK | EL.GUY08_11 IN FLICKR | JANO2106 IN FLICKR ]
