B.A.T. 11 will make its North American debut at the 30th Annual Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance on August 3 in Rochester. This eagerly-anticipated news in the car world, event organizers say, is also big news for Michigan, home to B.A.T. 11 owner, Dr. Gary Kaberle. The debut will shine an even brighter international spotlight on an event that draws top collectors and thousands of visitors and car enthusiasts to the area.
“I am thrilled to be introducing the world to B.A.T. 11 in my home state,” says Kaberle. “Michigan is where I first caught B.A.T. fever as a 16 year-old and sharing my latest dream with everyone here seems not only fitting, but right.” I have been working with Stile Bertone since 2006 on this project and am delighted that it will be part of Meadow Brook’s exciting event.”
B.A.T. 11 has already gained worldwide attention, having appeared on numerous magazine covers and in scores of articles. It is the newest member in the family of Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica concept cars, which many aficionados say are among the most famous cars in the world. B.A.T. 5, 7 and 9 were designed by the legendary Nuccio Bertone and Franco Scaglione in the mid-1950s, built on the Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint chassis and are highly regarded for their futuristic but functional curves.
Each B.A.T. car has its own vivid story. Yet, the histories surrounding B.A.T. 9 and B.A.T. 11 are fundamentally intertwined. Kaberle purchased B.A.T. 9 as a teenager with popcorn-stand money and a loan from his grandmother. He sold it 23 years later to help fund medical treatment for his wife, Debbie, who passed away two years later. Soon after, Kaberle started exhaustive research of the B.A.T. cars. He visited the Scaglione family in Italy and began working with Stile Bertone design director, David Wilkie on B.A.T. 11, a project he calls “Dreams and Design for a Cure” that honors his wife and the B.A.T. heritage.
Visitors to the 2008 Meadow Brook Concours will get an up-close look at the model mockup of B.A.T. 11, a stunning remake with Bertone-inspired advancements in its visor glass, dynamic graphics and sheer cut surfaces. Other 21st century features may include a joystick in lieu of a steering wheel that would allow driving from either side of the car.
“B.A.T. 11 is a design phenomenon with a great pedigree. It’s the perfect complement to our 2008 field of cars representing 100 years of design excellence, says event chairman Larry Smith. “We are honored that Meadow Brook has been chosen for its debut.” Adds Dr. Kaberle, “What’s worth having, is worth sharing. What could be better than sharing a little B.A.T. power to celebrate design and life in Michigan?”
In addition to the exciting debut of B.A.T. 11, Meadow Brook’s 2008 show field will feature 1950-1970 Ferraris and V16’s from the 30’s. The 30th annual event celebrates the 100th Anniversary of GM, Sports Cars, Muscle Cars, and over 225 of the most desirable collector cars coming from 36 states. In the Meadow Brook Hall courtyard enthusiasts can see contemporary supercars as well as marques such as Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini, Corvette, Lotus and Porsche.
For more event information, visit www.mbconcours.org.
[Source: Meadow Brook Concours]
