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Bertone Bella - In the eye of the beholder

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Created on January 24, 2025

Text:

Paul Krüger

Photos:

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Bertone Bella (1999) - almost triangular side window that forms a visual unit with the windshield

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Bertone Bella (1999) - The "Scudetto" lies almost horizontally on the hood and is the starting point for all body lines

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Bertone Bella (1999) - The wheelbase corresponds to that of the Alfa Romeo 166, only the rear overhang has been greatly shortened

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Bertone Bella (1999) - A skeptical look: The LED headlights are concealed in the upper slits at the front. The front apron is somewhat reminiscent of the '91 Pontiac Firebird

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Bertone Bella (1999) - Powerful to plump rear end. What look like decorative strips next to the rear window are the rear lights

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Bertone Bella (1999) - interior in bright red. The left rear seat has been converted into a load compartment, with the front wheel of "La Bestia" underneath. Instruments and center console are taken from the Alfa Romeo 166 (slightly individualized)

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Bertone Bella (1999) - Design drawings with variations of "Scudetto" and rear section

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Bertone Bella (1999) - Design drawings for interior and rear section

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Summary

When do we consider something beautiful? In view of its name, the Bertone Bella virtually begs this question. You can no longer tell that an Alfa Romeo 166 is underneath the two-door car, which looks like it has been drawn with a knife. Our article introduces the one-off presented in 1999 and shows it in historical photos.

This article contains the following chapters

Tradition without the old familiar
Am I beautiful?
A 2+2 for three
Sounds good and drives even better

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

"If every detail is extremely average in every respect, then we are talking about a beautiful woman," Max Barsini reveals the secret of female attractiveness, which he intends to immortalize on the screen on the beach in Santa Monica a good 35 years ago. When asked what it is about cars, the antagonist played by Patrick Bauchau in the Columbo episode"Self-Portrait of a Murderer" would certainly not have such a clearly defined answer. After all, he is a painter and not a coachbuilder. On the other hand, the Centro Stile of Carrozzeria Bertone knows and has demonstrated this knowledge countless times. Lamborghini Miura, Iso Grifo, Dodge Zeder, Mazda R130, Lancia Kayak, even the coupé of the Opel Astra G... the list is long. It therefore seems puzzling that at the beginning of 1999 they christened a sharp-edged provocation with the name "Bella" - "the beautiful one" - of all things. The first impression is very clear: mistake. Because the golden gray coupé has nothing at all average about it.

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