When Bertone went digging through its archives for the next coachbuilt special, they pulled out something most of us forgot existed. The 1969 Autobianchi A112 Runabout — Marcello Gandini’s wedge-shaped, speedboat-inspired barchetta — showed up at the Turin Auto Show and promptly disappeared into concept obscurity. We know Gandini for the Countach and Miura, but the Runabout inspired the Fiat X1/9 and then got shelved. Now, 57 years later (and after being teased in 2024), it’s back as the first model in Bertone’s Classic Line. Only 25 will exist.
A Bit of History
Giovanni Bertone started building carriages in 1912, and his son Nuccio turned the family shop into one of the most important design houses in automotive history. Miura, Stratos, Montreal, Countach — Gandini and Giugiaro both worked there. The wedge era basically belonged to Bertone.
The original company went under in 2014, but the Ricci brothers picked up the name in 2022 and relaunched with the GB110 hypercar. The Runabout, though, is smaller, weirder, and arguably more connected to what the brand actually used to be.
The Right Kind of Throwback
For the new version, designer Andrea Mocellin kept the forward-leaning wedge profile and coda tronca (that chopped-off tail) but updated everything else. You get pop-up headlights, forged aluminum wheels referencing the original steelies, and a hull-like lower body section running the car’s length. There’s even a compass in the dashboard to drive home the speedboat influence.
The carbon fiber body sits on a bonded aluminum chassis weighing just 2,330 lbs. It houses a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 mated to a six-speed manual transmission that delivers 475 hp and gets you 0-60 in 4.1 seconds with a 168 mph top speed. Moreover, it’s rear-wheel drive with a double-wishbone suspension and three-way adjustable dampers.
Double the Fun
Bertone’s offering two versions: a Barchetta with no roof and Targa with a removable carbon roof. Both get the same hull-shaped cabin with carbon seats, machined aluminum, and a gated manual shifter. Inside, it’s reductionist with a single digital tachometer, mechanical switches, and horizontal dashboard. There’s no infotainment or other driving aids to speak of.
Spec Sheet
Model: 2026 Bertone Runabout (Barchetta and Targa)
Engine: 3.5L supercharged V6
Power: 475 hp
Torque: 361 lb-f
Transmission: 6-speed manual
0-60: 4.1 seconds
Top Speed: 168 mph
Weight: 2,330 lbs
Chassis: Bonded aluminum with extruded architecture
Body: Carbon fiber
Wheels: 18″ front (225/40), 19″ rear (295/30)
Production: Limited to 25 units
Price: €390,000 (~$461,000) before taxes
Pricing & Availability
The Runabout starts at €390,000 (~$461,000) before taxes and duties, with production capped at 25 units total. Bertone’s showing it at Rétromobile 2026 in Paris alongside the original 1969 concept and the GB110, and deliveries are scheduled to start mid-2026. Every car gets personalized through Bertone’s Centro Stile.
Recap
Bertone Runabout
Bertone just brought back its 1969 Runabout concept as a 475-hp, manual-transmission wedge that weighs 2,330 lbs and looks like a speedboat had a baby with a Countach. Only 25 get built.
