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1969 BERTONE Runabout

1969 BERTONE Runabout
1969 BERTONE Runabout on Beach

Runabout - Bertone design you can't buy, Why?
Because only one has been made in 1969.

The car which is fully functional has been test driven for over 10,000 km (6,000 miles).

BRETONE Runabout interior
BERTONE Runabout interior

The Autobianchi Runabout was not just a concept car designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone Studio, but also a fully functional prototype.

It was presented for the first time at the 1969 Turin Motor Show and was intended to be a top-less two-seater for "open air" motoring.

The engine itself was that of the FIAT 128, even though the car was presented under the Autobianchi marque.

It featured a 1.1-liter transverse mid-mounted 4-cylinder SOHC engine that produced 55 bhp @ 6,500 PRM and was mated to a four-speed gearbox.

FIAT 128 powertrain
Essentially FWD powertrain installed at the rear of the car.

The car was never intended for production.

This particular vehicle was retained by BERTONE after it was retired from "durability testing" and was part of the BERTONE Museum Collection until 2011.

The car was used as a starting concept for the FIAT X1/9 which was introduced in 1972 and made with few refreshments until 1989.

The original concept was actually intended to be amphibian, that could be driven on land as well as used as tow boat for water skiing.

That was the initial reason for "no doors" in the design.

The wedge shape design took many styling cues from contemporary power-boat designs.
The distinctive head lamps were mounted on the roll over bar.

The powertrain however, proved to be too heavy for proper buoyancy, so the amphibian concept was scrapped, but the vehicle was completed as dry land only roadster.

1969 BERTONE Runabout with 1972 FIAT X1/9 in the background

Following Products were installed in 1969:

SynLube™ "Original Syn!" Motor Oil SAE 5W-50
- used in the 1.1 L engine
SynLube™ SAE 70W-90 Gear Oil
- used in the 4 Speed Transaxle
SynLube™ Grease
- used in the CV Joints
- used in the shift link joints
- used in the throttle links and cable
- used in the suspension ball joints

Vehicle Data

ENGINE

Type	4-cylinder inline Transverse, Mid-Mounted SOHC
Valves	2 per cylinder
Capacity	1,116cc
Carburation	Weber 30 DCNF
Max power	55bhp @ 6,500rpm
Compression	8.8:1

TRANSMISSION

Gearbox	4-speed + reverse All-Synchromesh
Clutch	Single dry plate hydraulically assisted

STRUCTURE

Chassis	Integral chassis/body
Body	Steel
Builder	Bertone
Suspension	Independent, coil springs over telescopic shock absorbers
Brakes	4 wheel discs

PERFORMANCE

Top speed	135 km/h (84 mph)
Acceleration	0-60 mph in 17 sec

Made in USA SynLube™ Lube‑4‑Life^® products are 100% Synthetic non-petroleum colloidal lubricants.

Yet another Prototype vehicle proves that Permanent non-petroleum SynLube™ Lube‑4‑Life^® Functional Fluids are a viable alternative to conventional petroleum based fluids, which must be periodically and frequently changed to maintain vehicle in a good operating condition.