Nuccio Bertone has entered the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit, and a plate engraved with his signature has been deposited next to those of celebrities who have made motoring history, from Henry Ford to Giovanni Agnelli, Louis Renault and the Michelin brothers. During the evening ceremony to mark this occasion, Nuccio Bertone was described as one of the great protagonists of the car world. As the citation of the prestigious award reads, "For the influence he has had on car design, for having discovered and encouraged some of the world's best designers, for having contributed to the car industry for decades and for having created some of the best cars around, the Automotive Hall of Fame is proud to include Nuccio Bertone among its members".

On 26 February 1997, on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, Nuccio Bertone passed away, leaving the world to grieve "one of the greatest coachbuilders of the century, and international Maestro of Italian style" in the touching words of Fulvio Cinti, motoring journalist and car historian. Now Nuccio Bertone's entrance into the Detroit Hall of Fame is the latest in a series of international awards, among which we should mention the honorary degrees in Doctor of Science from the Art Canter College of Design of Pasadena (USA) and in Architecture from Turin Polytechnic, the Lifetime Automotive Design Achievement of Detroit (USA) and his recent induction into the European Automotive Hall of Fame in Geneva.

THE AUTOMOTIVE HALL OF FAME

The Automotive Hall of Fame, which is today located in the Dearborn district of Michigan is a non-profit organization dedicated to: recognizing outstanding achievement in the automotive and related industries; preserving automotive heritage; and educating future generations of industry participants.
 

On October 18, 1939, a group of men who had dedicated their lives to the progress of the motor vehicle industry, met in New York City to create an organization that would perpetuate the memories of the early automotive pioneers as well as the contemporary leaders in the industry. From the beginning, this organization – originally called “Automobile Old Timers” – was dedicated to honoring automotive people from all industry segments and from around the world. The organization moved to Washington, D.C. in 1960 and then, in 1971, to Midland, Michigan, about 120 miles north of Detroit. In 1975, the first permanent Automotive Hall of Fame building was opened in Midland. After residing in Midland for 22 years, the present Automotive Hall of Fame building, in Dearborn, Michigan, was opened on August 15, 1997. Over 200 individuals have been inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame and include such pioneers and leaders as Benz, Bosch, Bugatti, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroen, Daimler, Dodge, Durant, Duryea, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Maybach, Olds, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Sloan and Toyoda. Today, the Automotive Hall of Fame welcomes nearly 30,000 visitors a year and recognizes achievement in the automotive and related industries through four recognitions:

Induction: This is the single greatest honour in the motor vehicle industry, intended to honour a career and/or lifetime achievement. To become a “Hall of Famer” the nominee must be either retired or deceased. Recipients must have significantly impacted the development of the automobile or the motor vehicle industry. Typically, four to eight individuals are inducted each year.

Distinguished Service Citation: The Automotive Hall of Fame’s oldest recognition, initiated in 1940, the Distinguished Service Citation recognizes an individual who has significantly improved the industry or their respective organizations. Recipients are currently employed in the industry or recently retired. Five or six individuals receive Distinguished Service Citations each year.

Industry Leader of the Year: Awarded to a single individual each year who has demonstrated outstanding industry leadership.

Young Leadership & Excellence Award: This recognition reflects the Automotive Hall of Fame’s commitment to the future by identifying the next generation of leadership in the industry. To be eligible, nominees must be 35 years of age or younger. Only four individuals are honored each year.