Description
This Fiat 850 Bertone Berlinetta Racer is an old acquaintance of ours: a few years ago we sold this exact Bertone Racer to Guus van Eijk. Both definitely need an introduction.
The Fiat 850 Bertone Berlinetta Racer is a beautiful coupé based on the Fiat 850 Spider. That is quite special, usually the convertible version is developed from a coupé base. This Bertone was delivered new in Italy and came to the Netherlands via a Belgian collector. Of the number of Bertone Berlinetta Racers produced, only 2890 were made in this version, which makes the Fiat rare and exclusive…
Guus is the owner of Autobedrijf Guus van Eijk and a specialist in the field of maintenance, repair, overhaul and restoration of Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati. Customers with special Italian cars know where to find Guus' company. These customers often have more cars and a variety of brands in their collection. This is why Guus can certainly also excellently serve the customer with a British aristocrat such as an Aston Martin or a Bentley, or a lover of German sports cars, such as a Porsche. We have known Guus and his team in this role for years.
We sold the Fiat 850 that is now shining here, to Guus a few years ago. The car was then painted dark blue and was equipped with the well-known extra chrome brackets on the bumpers. The car was in a neat condition but was certainly not perfect. Guus came to look at the Bertone and the deal was quickly sealed. We predicted to Guus, because we have known each other for a while now, that he would overhaul the car completely. Guus certainly wasn't sure about that yet...
Guus soon discovered that the original colour of the Bertone was not dark blue but orange, specifically the colour that was also used on the Lamborghini Miura. In his restoration workshop, the car was examined in detail, plans were made for a technical update and the decision was made to give the car its special colour back. So it became a fairly comprehensive restoration after all…
Guus: “Bertone built exclusive cars such as the Lamborghinis and it seemed appropriate to me to use the colour Arancio Miura (Orange) so that the Bertone Berlinetta Racer would appear in its original colour again. The names that Bertone used for the paint colours date from the period that various Lamborghinis were built by Bertone. It is nice that Bertone used parts for different models in the production, for example the door handles, headlights and seats from the Lamborghini Miura were also available for the Bertone Berlinetta Racer. I fitted the period correct Miura lookalike wheels and sprayed them gold like a Miura, so very cautiously you could say that my Bertone Berlinetta Racer is now the Miura's little brother.”
The interior has the Miura theme and the original Miura upholstery has been applied. Many improvements have also been made to the bodywork. For example, both bumpers have been replaced, but also the windscreen, the headlights and associated rings, the door handles and locks, and all window and door rubbers have been renewed. The brakes have been overhauled, with the master cylinder, the brake pads and the brake hoses being replaced. Four new tires have been mounted on the aforementioned Miura lookalike rims
The engine has also been thoroughly overhauled, with the cylinder head gasket, the valve stem seals, the timing chain, and all seals and gaskets being replaced. The bearings and pistons have been inspected and the carburetor has been overhauled. The engine radiator, the heater radiator, the water pump and all water hoses of the cooling system and the heating have been replaced.
The gearbox also received attention, with the axle covers of the gearbox and the clutch being replaced. Finally, the wishbone bushings and wheel bearings have been replaced at the bottom, and the fuel tank has been treated against rust.
The Fiat 850 Bertone Berlinetta Racer is in top condition again and will certainly not disappoint the lover of a small exclusive Italian sports car.
