Born in Mondovi (CN), Giovanni Bertone was the sixth of seven brothers in a family of farmers. From an early age he showed his interest in mechanics and in particular for passenger cars. At young age he found employment at a wagons workshop as an apprentice. There he touched with his hand the rudiments of construction of a vehicle, which at the time were still almost totally entrusted to animal traction. In 1907 he moved to Turin, where he worked at the school where he was teaching his sister. Turin in those years was the largest Italian center for the young automobile industry. A decade earlier Fiat had been founded and in 1906, a year before the arrival of Giovanni Bertone, Lancia was born. But in those years also other carmakers were blooming, despite the great economic crisis of the late 1900's. In that decade, even some of the first Italian coach builders such as Marcello Alessio emerged in Turin.
I am not a natural flatterer, I like to think that I "tell it like it is", politely I hope. So when I tell you that I am very impressed by the contents of your website, it is just not English politeness. I of course love the subject matter but you deal with it in an energetic and respectful manner. I am overwhelmed by the research that has gone into compiling the list of coachbuilders/bodybuilders for Europe and North America. I have never heard of the vast majority of them.
Congratulations on an excellent website.
- N. Maltby of Car Scene International
We use Coachbuild.com almost daily as our main reference source!
- Schloss Dyck Classic Days
We use Coachbuild.com all the time for references!
- Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
We are very impressed by your website!
- Bicester Heritage UK