Fiat 500 Barchetta Bertone

Vehicle Overview

The Fiat 500 Barchetta Bertone, a significant early creation by Nuccio Bertone, emerged in the post-war period as a testament to his burgeoning talent in automotive design and racing. Built on a Fiat 500 chassis, this barchetta marked Bertone’s debut in motor racing in 1947. While not initially successful on the track, its design later influenced a series of iconic sports tourers by Stanguellini. Nuccio Bertone, joining his father’s Carrozzeria Bertone in 1947, harbored ambitions as both a driver and a designer. His first project, derived from a 1936 Fiat 500 Topolino “Balestra Corta,” resulted in a barchetta that foreshadowed stylistic elements found in his subsequent designs for Lancia, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and others. The car debuted in the 750 cc Italian Sport Championship at Vercelli Circuit, finishing 12th overall. It later competed in the prestigious Mille Miglia, notably as part of the Stanguellini team. Sold to engineer Carlino Francesconi, the Fiat 500 Barchetta Bertone achieved commendable results in the 1948 Mille Miglia, finishing 46th overall and 2nd in the Sport 750 category with an average speed of 89.735 km/h. The car continued to perform well throughout the 1948 season and participated again in the Mille Miglia in 1949 and 1950, showcasing its endurance and reliability. Stylistically, the barchetta featured Bertone’s distinctive “fish mouth” design language at the front, a motif conceived by Mario Revelli di Beaumont. This design approach was also evident in other Bertone creations of the two year period 1947-48, including the Stanguellini 1100 Berlinetta Speciale and the Healey Cabriolet, which were showcased at the 1947 Mostra della Carrozzeria Italiana, and on other models such as the Nardi-Danese Marco Cabriolet and the Fiat 1500 E Bertone. The Fiat 500 Barchetta Bertone thus not only left a mark on the racetrack but also contributed significantly to shaping Bertone’s signature design ethos during the pivotal years of Italian automotive innovation.

Photo courtesy of Ruote da Sogno