If you thought there was something familiar about this car you'd be right. Remember the spectacular Bertone-designed "BAT" Alfas of the late 1950s? Like most Italian-designed cars of the period they were years ahead of their time. Not necessarily practical but sparkling with design cues that set the tone for the future. The car you're looking at is the BAT 11 concept from the Bertone studios, a modern rendering of the historic design icon. Owned by Gary Kaberle of Michigan and based on the Maserati Gran Turismo platform, itself a long-wheelbase version of the Alfa 8C, the BAT 11 will make a special appearance at the 2009 Concorso Italiano. Sharing the stage will be the 1955 Ghia Streamline X "Gilda". Named after Rita Hayworth's character in the movie Gilda, it is an experimental car that first appeared at the 1955 Turin Motor Show, the result of a collaboration between Chrysler design chief Virgil Exner and Ghia designer Luigi Segre. It has subsequently been fitted with a single-stage gas turbine engine. Concorso Italiano will be held at the Laguna Seca Golf Ranch in Monterey, CA, August 14, 2009.
I remember the original BAT. Italians KNOW design! Even when they build a retro, it is years ahead!
July 1, 2009 @ 11:55 pm