Bertone Masterpiece: 1959 Fiat-OSCA 1500 Aerodynamica Berlinetta
Fiat began its earnest pursuit of aerodynamic designs in the 1930s. Using mechanical platforms developed for more pedestrian cars, the company either styled its creations in-house, or outsourced work to coachbuilders. Occasionally, the impetus reversed, and coachbuilders purchased Fiat platforms to produce experiments of their own, without Fiat’s explicit commission. The pursuit of aerodynamic efficiency was not confined to Italy, or even Europe: American designers were on a similar track, introducing fuselage-shaped bodies, airy greenhouses, fins, and angled windshields and grilles. Refining these trends, Franco Scaglione at Bertone subdued wind drag with his astonishing Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica (BAT) Alfa Romeos, constructed in the mid-1950s. Fins sculpted upwards and inwards allowed BAT 7 to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.19. No doubt, today’s jewel from Bertone, built on a Fiat-OSCA platform, was an expansion of the BAT exercise, albeit in a more practical package. Our tried and true Araknid78 sent us this exotic tip – thanks!
While Bertone’s studio was busy releasing a steady flow of spectacular cars into the ecosystem, Fiat had partnered with the Maserati brothers to license their four-cylinder engine, sold by the brothers’ newly organized company, Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili (OSCA). The cast iron block is mated to a twin-cam alloy cylinder head; the cams are chain-driven. The front cover is aluminum as is the oil pan. The rods, pistons, and crank are forged, not cast. Displacing 1491 ccs and fitted with a Weber, the high-revving little motor generates 90 hp. The original block was cracked, so this is a replacement engine, of the correct type, and rebuilt. We note that the builder (Marcovicci-Wenz Engineering in Ronkonkoma, New York) is no longer in business, and the time frame associated with this work is – as best as we can tell – about twenty years ago. The original block accompanies the sale. Around the same time the engine was attended to, the brakes, suspension, clutch, and exhaust were restored. The underside of the car is every bit as impeccable as its topside.
The seller corresponded with Bertone to discover how the car was originally delivered, since it had been “customized” over the years to the taste – or lack thereof – of various owners. The seller’s own shop and staff performed much of the work on the car, as it was restored to its factory silver over blue with white piping color scheme. The Nardi steering wheel and unique gold-faced gauges, the delicate grab bar and gear shift – all are quintessentially Italian. That said, this car was meant to be driven; it was not a mere concept car.
The prospective new owner of this car can ponder the price against the fact that he would own the only Fiat-OSCA 1500 Aerodynamica Berlinetta in existence, and that it is ready to roll down the highway of his choice. The car will be sold by Bonham’s at their Audrain Concours auction on October 4th, in Newport, Rhode Island. The estimate is $400k to $500k. Comparables are scarce; we’ll have to say value is in the eye of the beholder.
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Comments
Meh, something Robby the Robot might drive? Looks ridiculous, and being a Rambler/AMC fan, I realize that takes guts, but I want to thank the author for a very well written description that I doubt many here give a hoot about. With the diminishing number of comments for even what I consider the most beautiful cars, this doesn’t stand a chance. Perhaps the Italians feel the same way about our ’63 Grand Prixs.
Did you forget to take your medication Howard?
If you want to talk about cars I personally don’t give a hoot about…well that would be Mustangs and Corvettes. And yet there’s and endless stream of them on this site.
But I can give a hoot about a car this rare and interesting and, yes, quirky. And Michelle is always a good read.
Hi Rex, ever think it’s the medication that makes me think this way? Ms. Rand is cool, she wouldn’t do this if she felt intimidated by my half baked comments, but seriously, I can agree some about Mustangs and Corvettes, I tire of them too, but like it or not, it’s what is keeping this site active. It’s what the mainstream wants. My only gripe with the author, is she doesn’t feature old trucks enough, and I’m sure she would if the staff let her( hint hint to staff) To feature a car like this is interesting, if not just for it’s looks, but I enjoy plausible listings, I live in America for a reason, and the cars we drove are a big part of that. This? Got nothing to do with medications, just not our type, is all.
And several other American muscle cars!
Scaglione was a brilliant designer. I’ve loved every car he penned. One thing I’ve noticed about all, whether the three BATs, Alfa Sprint Speciale or this one, is that each looks better in person than in photos.
Michelle has done her usual brilliant work here, leaving me with one question: was this car commissioned by Fiat or was it a Bertone/private customer’s project?
If the former, shame on Fiat for not ordering up hundreds of copies. If I had the dosh, I’d be bidding. At least I wouldn’t have to fend off Howard A.!
First, thanks for the compliment, RayT, appreciate it. Second, your question is a really interesting one. Did this flow from Fiat, or did it flow from Bertone. I am not sure we will ever know – but I am going to guess it was the latter. I say that because the BAT cars were Alfa products, and this is not, and Scaglione along with everyone else in the world was Having Fun With Fiat Platforms back in the day. My bet is that Bertone bought a few OSCA platforms and made this up as one of their many styling exercises. I did learn that a 1200 OSCA version was also produced, but absolutely no word on what happened to it. You’ll see I covered a Fiat X1/9 not long ago – that derived from a pretty useless “car”, the Runabout. In that case, Bertone used the Runabout to convince Fiat of production value – ie, a mid engine mass market car. It could be that Scaglione was swanning the Aerodynamica around in Agnelli’s offices to see if he could get something like his BAT cars produced in meaningful numbers, since Alfa wasn’t going to do that….. ah, it’s fun to guess, eh?
I tend to agree with your conclusion, Michelle. After all, Fiat was getting a lot of extra no-cost publicity from Abarth and many others, so the “Why buy the cow…?” adage applies pretty well.
About the B.A.T.s: I know a bit about them (and briefly drove two), and know when Bertone approached Alfa, the company laid on three of their old-and-in-the-way 1900 chassis for B.A.T.s 5, 7, and 9d, and that was about the extent of their cooperation. The ancient long-stroke engines necessitated the high cowls of the three cars, and left them with pretty agricultural driving dynamics. If only they had the then-new Alfa 750 underpinnings….
The subject car’s design does have hints of the B.A.T.s, as well as a nose hinting at the later Duetto. It even looks a bit like a more extravagant Giulietta Sprint Coupe. The latter is no surprise, as that was a Bertone/Scaglione creation as well.
And several other American muscle cars!
Stunningly beautiful. Has a very organic look to it. Kind of reminds me of a Piranha.
This one does have a “fishlike” quality about it. In fact, I can picture a drunk, back in the day, thinking this must be an Amphicar, hopping in, and finding out the hard way, that he was wrong.
I think it’s amazeballs!
I see Duetto in the chin.
Got a moosh,got a moosh, and a little fandango.
I thought it was, “Got a moose! Got a moose! And do a fan-tango!” I need to get my hearing checked!
It’s “Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?”
(Freddy sure could sing)
To be a truly car “nerd”, you have to have a least one Fiat or Alfa in your life. (I’ve never owned a Fiat), And this one is unique. The current owner either spent bucket loads on it, or it was a “Sunday driver”. If I was the next owner, only change would be twin Weber’s.
And I can’t resist, Michelle did you have to fight to be the one to write this up? Seeing as you are a Fiat owner?
Naw, no one else took it, ha!
Lol, Figured as such.
Oddly, I can more than afford this, including moving it to Australia, and it’s further maintenance, just need a reason why.
I think it’s a really cool car,but not $400,000 + cool.
If it sells,do you think the new owner will ever actually
drive it on the street?
When a car in this column is low production, old, and European I make a bet that M. Rand has done the review. I usually win my bet and get an automotive history lesson too. Read the write up about Traction Avants with references back to Lambda and asides on monocoque construction as an example. And knee action shocks! Who knew?
The BF columns are daily tutorials for me. All of them.
Then the readers weigh in with facts, detail and spirited discussion, bon homie and wit.
Hard to beat.
The interior is a triumph of clean design and beautiful in blue.
So a mini BAT.
Absolutely stunning, creative approach that as usual, Italians lead the way!
Love this car; its asking range is appropriate yet may be on the low side.
Heck, why not create a goofy little car if you can get away with it?
Pretty snazzy – especially for a ‘59 Fiat. Squint hard, and you can see an early 911/912.
I’m not in the market for a 1/2 million dollar car, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate one. I really like the overall vibe of this car, but find a couple design features to be over the top- but isn’t that the point? Much more interesting to me than a K car with 12 miles on it.
Definitely agree! Especially given the time period it was designed in.
If you’re after comparisons, maybe the “Index Of Efficiency” Le Mans cars of that sort of time would be a good starting point? Mostly small French and Italian manufacturers – and Lotus – built aerodynamic cars with small engines that were amazingly quick.
I want to like this, but front-end giving too much SP250 angry catfish vibe.
Like (nearly) everyone here already said, this thing is gorgeous!
An excellent write-up as well, Michelle.
So glad the staff “let” you take this one….
And yes, I’ll agree with the “Less Mustangs and more like this” crowd.
So true. I watch BAT every day and never watch or comment on Mustangs. Corvettes, or any other so called muscle cars.
LOT 118
1959 Fiat-OSCA 1500 Aerodynamica Berlinetta Coachwork by Carrozzeria Bertone, Design by Franco Scaglione Chassis no. 118S*000628 Engine no. 0004 (See Text)
Sold for
US$401,000
inc. premium