The Bertone Nuccio shouldn’t work. Built during the Italian coachbuilder’s final throes in 2012, this angular oddball emerged as a centennial celebration that inadvertently became a farewell and one of the company’s most iconic models ever. Where most swan songs feel forced or sentimental, the Nuccio carries the weight of authentic desperation, and that’s precisely what makes it compelling.
Named after Nuccio Bertone, son of founder Giovanni, this one-off concept draws heavy inspiration from the legendary 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero while simultaneously housing Ferrari F430 internals. The result is a 44-inch-tall wedge car that manages to be both homage and contemporary, filtered through design director Michael Robinson’s vision of what a modern supercar could become. This highly significant vehicle is now up for auction from RM Sotheby’s, but you’ll likely have to take out a second (or third) mortgage to buy it.
The Anatomy of Extremes
The Nuccio’s proportions are what draw the eye. The wraparound windscreen, which is narrower at its base than its peak, creates an almost architectural presence, while the chunky A-pillars flow seamlessly into the B-pillars in one continuous arc. Robinson drew inspiration from tensile roof structures and, oddly enough, crocodiles for the pronounced peaks along the roof rails. The orange-and-gray color scheme feels retro-futuristic, like something designed for Back to the Future Part II’s vision of 2015.
But Bertone didn’t just build a pretty sculpture. The forward-facing brake lights (a patented innovation) glow blue when decelerating to warn pedestrians ahead. Inside, the analog instruments and aluminum-colored surfaces are almost there to hide the Ferrari DNA lurking underneath.
The result of a three-and-a-half-month timeline, Bertone built everything in-house, transforming a Ferrari F430 into something entirely different while retaining its 4.3-liter V8 and six-speed Graziano automated manual. The Y-shaped aluminum seat braces double as structural elements and visual accents in a way only the best of Italian design knows how to do.
Context and Consequence
Understanding the Nuccio requires understanding Bertone’s position in 2012. The company that gave us the Lamborghini Miura, Lancia Stratos, and countless other icons was struggling financially. This was a Hail Mary attempt to prove relevance in a changing industry.
The concept debuted as a static display at Geneva, then returned as a fully functional car for Beijing. That running version gained conventional headlights above the main light bar, which was a practical compromise that somehow enhanced the design rather than diluting it. Bertone toured the Nuccio globally, from Concorso Italiano in California to events in St. Petersburg, desperately seeking a buyer.
They never found one. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2015, making the Nuccio the final car to bear the Bertone name (the revived company operates under different ownership). The functional prototype sat in storage until Bertone’s asset auction in 2018, when the current owner acquired it for reportedly less than half of earlier estimates.
The Driving Reality
As for the powertrain, the Ferrari V8 gives you 483hp with a 3.6-second 0-to-60 sprint and a 196mph top speed, which all has help from the altered aerodynamics here. At the time of sale, the odometer reads just 18,099mi, mostly accumulated by the donor Ferrari before the conversion, meaning the Nuccio itself has barely turned a wheel.
Spec Sheet
Model: 2012 Bertone Nuccio Concept
Engine: 4.3L Ferrari V8
Power: 483hp
Transmission: 6-speed Graziano automated manual with paddle shifters
0-60: ~3.6 seconds
Top Speed: ~196mph
Height: 44”
Production: 1 of 1
Mileage: 18,099mi
Pricing & Availability
RM Sotheby’s expects the Nuccio to fetch between €400,000 and €500,000 (~$460,000 and $580,000) when the sealed-bid auction closes in July. That’s roughly half what the car reportedly sold for during Bertone’s 2018 asset liquidation, making this potentially the most accessible entry point for a piece of genuine coachbuilding history.
Recap
2012 Bertone Nuccio Concept Auction
Sporting a retro-futuristic styling, Bertone’s Ferrari-powered Nuccio was its final car built back in 2012. With just over 18k miles on the odometer, the one-off concept is now crossing the auction block via RM Sotheby’s, and for just around half a million.
