Bertone Nuccio Concept: Rare Ferrari V8 Up for Auction

Don’t you remember some of those jaw-dropping concept cars from the 1970s and 80s that could only be described as futuristic? The Bertone Nuccio concept is a modern equivalent—ultra-rare—and it’s being reborn from the ashes of history. First shown in 2012 as a static display at the Geneva Motor Show, the Nuccio became a functioning vehicle later that year, built on a Ferrari F430’s chassis. And now, after years of hiding out in a private collection, it’s coming out of hiding—and hitting the auction block this July with RM Sotheby’s. For American car enthusiasts it’s a historic mix of Italian design brilliance and real Ferrari performance.

Sculpted Drama: Wedge Design That Still Stuns

Upon first sight of the Nuccio, you'll probably stop. This car is a sculpture in automotive form—sharp angles, a dramatic wedge profile, and that wrap-around windshield makes it feel cinematic. The roofline rises at the back of the car like a crocodile's back, while the whole thing hovers just above the ground; these are not random choices made these decisions to create a driving experience that allows for panoramic visibility and the feeling of being part of a machine. Plus, add the integrated brake-light strip plus the implicit angry demeanor, and you've got art that moves.

Ferrari Heartbeat: Under the Skin of a V8 Supercar

This is not an inert idea—Bertone opted to modify the Nuccio with a 4.3-litre V8 Ferrari F430 engine with a six-speed automated manual transmission with F1-style paddles. This means you can fire up a Ferrari engine for real and drive this sculptural plaything on winding roads. Instead of being encased inside, the Ferrari engine breathes inside, giving it soul and sound. From a collector's point-of-view, the Nuccio delivers much more than style—it delivers genuine excitement and redline theatrics.

Inside the Cabin: Where Comfort Meets Drama

Climb into the Nuccio’s cockpit, and the drama strikes you immediately. Bright red leather envelops the theatrical landscape of toggle switches and mechanical gauges. The center console flows like a waterfall and is punctuated with knurled metal toggle switches that feel appropriately tactile. And yes, it presents an audacious design statement, but the cabin is meant to be driven—not just seen. The seating arrangement hints at long drives in daylight or moonlight where the Nuccio's design and performance give way to the driver's connected experience behind the wheel.

Why This Auction Is a Big Deal for Collectors

An auction is not just an auction; it is the end of an era. The Nuccio has been in hiding since 2018, having only been observed from a distance by its current keeper. But, when it will be offered for bidding this July, expect collectors not to try and capture a minivan, but rather, a living piece of design history. It has an estimated value of between $460,000 to $600,000 so this is an extraordinary possible acquisition for enthusiastic purchasers. In addition, cars with strong pasts and design heritage do not come around often in our U.S collector communities, and functional concepts do not come around like this at all.

Nuccio: The Quick Specs

The Emotional Story Behind the Design

Imagine this: It’s early 2012 in Bertone’s Turin studio: designers are surrounded by sketches, engineers are cutting and welding, and there was an atmosphere to create and to produce in his space. The team toils away for years, carefully crafting a dramatic static model for Geneva, only to then hustle to make it drivable for an official presentation at Beijing - in the span of months. There was a lively sense of anticipation; a blend of excitement, tension, and creativity. Tthere is that perfect combination of passion and artistic flair, mixed with mechanical acumen that breathes life into the Nuccio. To see it in motion again, reminding myself of the perqual moment in the design of the automobile, where fantasy met reality.

Source(Image / Thumbnail): carscoops