Ford Zodiac

The Ford Zodiac by Bertone marks an interesting chapter in the collaboration between the Italian design house and the American manufacturer. This partnership, though brief, resulted in a distinctive version of the popular Ford Zodiac, which Bertone was tasked with revitalizing. In this reworking, Bertone applied his signature style that had already gained global recognition, but in doing so, he sought to balance the American design elements with his own minimalist approach. The original Ford Zodiac featured bold design choices, including exaggerated tail fins, pronounced side lines, and a large, sweeping front bonnet. While Bertone kept the front bonnet’s imposing size to accommodate the car’s mechanics, he made strategic modifications to other elements to soften the design. The sharp tail fins were replaced with a more understated downward slope, and the wings were streamlined to create a smoother, more elegant silhouette. The side lines, which originally stood out prominently, were also softened to give the vehicle a more refined look. While the Zodiac retained much of its American character, the Bertone redesign imbued it with a more sophisticated, European flair. This version of the Zodiac embodies Bertone’s signature blend of functional elegance, where bold features were balanced with a more streamlined and less ostentatious finish. The result was a vehicle that kept the spirit of the American original but felt more in tune with the stylistic ideals cherished by Bertone.