Stile Bertone, the company owned by Nuccio Bertone, son of original founder Giovanni, who started the business back in 1912, was declared bankrupt on June 4 and is now looking for buyers to either snap it up as a whole entity or cut it up into little pieces and sell off what’s left of its heritage en detail.
Wards Auto tells us “the decision came after the company failed to present a credible plan or a buyer that would justify keeping Stile Bertone alive in the interest of its many debtors, despite a more than 6-month effort to do so.”
Playing an important part in the equation were the €31 / $42 million in debt that it had encumbered itself with in less than five years, in spite of the fact that business didn’t seem all that bad for them, as they did have orders and noted an increased workload (back in 2010).
Moreover, on top of losing its collection of cars, its buildings and owned lands, the company is also set to lose rights to the Bertone name – the licensing agreement for it expires at the end of 2014; renegotiation attempts will have to go through Bertone Cento, a separate company also owned by members of the same family.
Why are we sad to see this side of the Bertone business go? Well, the studio was responsible for some of the best-known automotive shapes of the 1950s and 1960s, the most famous of which being the Lamborghini Miura, an undeniable head turner half a century after its creation.
Hopefuls are now looking to the sky and praying for the miraculous takeover of Stile Bertone by a philanthropists/businessman of sorts, one who will have the necessary vision-related and financial qualities to give it purpose again.
By Andrei Nedelea
Note: Bertone Mantide coupe concept pictured
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