The Alfa Romeo BAT
The Alfa Romeo BAT (Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica) is a series of concept cars created by the Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo in the 1950s and 1960s. The BAT cars were designed by Franco Scaglione, one of the most renowned Italian car designers of the time. The cars featured an aerodynamic design which was ahead of its time and was meant to reduce drag and increase speed.
Image Source Sotheby’s
The famous and renowned coachbuilder Bertone was tasked by Alfa Romeo to build an aerodynamic experimentation to measure the effects of streamlining on a car’s performance. Scaglione was tasked with aiding in the creating of the design. The vehicle was dubbed the B.A.T. 5 representing ‘Berlinetta Aerodi- namica Tecnica’. ‘Berlinetta’ means ‘small sedan’ or more precisely, ‘coupe.’ The design featured rear fenders and curved fins, truly a unique design. It was built upon an Alfa Romeo 1900 chassis.
The B.A.T. 7 was created a few years later and was again an experiment in aerodynamics. The B.A.T. 7 was even more radical in design and was adorned with very large curved tailfins.
The final B.A.T. Concept, the B.A.T. 9 was completed in 1955. It continued the experimentation with aero- dynamics but not as exaggerated as the prior models. The body styling took into account future production requirements and is arguably the most attractive of the B.A.T. automobiles.
Today, all three B.A.T. Concept Cars belong to the Cars International Ltd., a specialty dealer located in Canary Wharf, London UK.
Alfa Romeo is an Italian luxury car brand that has been around since 1910. It is known for its excellence in engineering and design, as well as its storied past. Alfa Romeo has produced some of the most iconic cars in the world, with models like the Giulia, Spider, and 8C Competizione.
The brand is synonymous with performance and luxury, making it a favorite amongst car enthusiasts and luxury car buyers alike. Alfa Romeo has also been involved in motorsport, with its cars having success in both Formula 1 and rallying. Alfa Romeo has a long and impressive history, and continues to produce beautiful cars that are highly sought after.
Their lineup of cars includes the iconic Giulia, which is available in sedan, coupe, and convertible body styles. The Giulia is a powerful, sporty car that offers excellent performance backed by a luxurious interior. The Stelvio is a crossover SUV that offers plenty of space for passengers and cargo, as well as a powerful engine and an impressive list of features.
Alfa Romeo also offers a range of performance cars, including the 4C and 8C. The 4C is a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive sports car that offers excellent performance and handling. The 8C is a grand tourer with a powerful V8 engine and luxurious features.
The unique look and feel of the Alfa Romeo BAT is something many people admire and has made this a popular conversation piece. Because these are concept cars and prototypes they’re very rare and don’t come up for sale often. When you do get the opportunity to buy one you’re looking at an incredibly pricy purchase. The last time one came on the market its asking price was almost 15 million dollars. Only 3 exist, one of each type so you can rest assured that despite not buying the best car in the 15 million dollar range, you did buy the only one. No need to worry that somebody else will show up to the car show in the same one.
What are your thoughts on the Alfa Romeo BAT? It is undeniably a unique style and a rarity among cars. Do you wish they would of gone into mass production or do you think their scarcity adds to their mystery and edge?