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Exotic automakers from Italy come and go, and some are missed more than others. But while names like Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini have remained constant throughout, others have risen and fallen. Bugatti was one such example - revived temporarily by Italian investors before Volkswagen stepped in to bring it back to Alsace - but another is De Tomaso.

Founded (not unlike Pagani) by an Argentine-Italian in Modena, but way back in 1959, De Tomaso produced legendary sports cars like the Vallelunga, Mangusta and of course the Pantera. It even owned Maserati and Moto Guzzi for a time, but it eventually petered off into bankruptcy. Along came a certain Gian Mario Rossignolo - a veteran auto exec in Italy - to scoop up what was left of the company in 2008.

The revival led to the debut of the Deauville concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, but a lack of interest and funds led to the program being sold to a Chinese automaker which appears to have done little with it. Meanwhile it looked for a time that Rossignolo was planning to continue development of a new Pantera, but those plans have reportedly lost momentum as the outfit struggled without enough capital to even pay its workers.

The most astute readers may recall Rossignolo's name coming up in the news about a month ago as well, when his other business - Prototipo SpA - sold the Nardo Technical Centre to Porsche. Whether the proceeds from that sale end up giving Rossignolo enough to pay his staff and possibly turn the Pantera program around, however, or if they'll only prove sufficient to repay his debts, remains to be seen.

De Tomaso down for the count originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>de tomasogian mario rossignologianmario rossignoloprototipo sparossignoloThu, 10 May 2012 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20234033/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/10/de-tomaso-down-for-the-count/20234033/article-detail.xml 20234033 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/de-tomaso-logo-1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/de-tomaso-logo-1.jpg <![CDATA[Fiat back in the mix as Bertone manufacturing unit goes up for sale]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/14/fiat-back-in-the-mix-as-bertone-manufacturing-unit-goes-up-for-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/14/fiat-back-in-the-mix-as-bertone-manufacturing-unit-goes-up-for-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/14/fiat-back-in-the-mix-as-bertone-manufacturing-unit-goes-up-for-s/#commentsFiled under: ,


Bertone Mantide - Click above for a high-res image gallery

You could say that Fiat's on a bit of a spending spree lately. While everyone else is struggling to trim expenditures and sell off divisions, Fiat's been buying them up. So after moving in at Chrysler's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and making offers for GM's European and Latin American operations - including Opel and Vauxhall - it should come as no surprise that the Italian automaker is at it again, this time placing a non-binding offer to acquire Carrozzeria Bertone.

The offer is one of five currently being entertained by Italy's oldest coachbuilder and the courts administering its bankruptcy. Among other bidders reported are Domenico Reviglio (the Gruppo Prototipo chief who was slated to buy the company last year), former Lancia CEO Gianmario Rossignolo, Chinese automaker FAW and an additional unspecified Spanish concern. It is also not the first time Fiat considered rescuing Bertone after a previous attempt failed over two years ago.

Although the reports remain somewhat ambiguous, it appears that the unit in question is only the contract manufacturing division Carrozzeria Bertone SpA, a separate unit from the Stile Bertone design house under the Gruppo Bertone umbrella.


Gallery: Bertone Mantide


[Source: Automotive News Europe - Sub. Req.]

Fiat back in the mix as Bertone manufacturing unit goes up for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bertonecarrozzeriacarrozzeria bertoneCarrozzeriaBertonedomenico reviglioDomenicoRevigliofawgianmario rossignoloGianmarioRossignologruppo bertonegruppo prototipoGruppoBertoneGruppoPrototiporevigliorossignoloTue, 14 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19097433/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/07/14/fiat-back-in-the-mix-as-bertone-manufacturing-unit-goes-up-for-s/19097433/article-detail.xml 19097433 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/6mantide-580op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/6mantide-580op.jpg -1 2