For decades, the Bottini family has provided its customers with a service that allows them not only to repair their favorite vintage car, but also to prepare it for the most prestigious events, restoring it to its former glory.
AutoClassicNews spoke with Himara Bottini — a representative of the third generation of the Bottini family — about how the restoration process has changed, without which it is impossible to imagine the work of the body shop and about participation in the retro rally.
-The history of your company began with work on Fiat cars. After a while you had focused on working with Porsche. Have you ever wanted to follow the path of the Ruf family and engage not only in restoration and repair, but also create your own brand?
-Honestly no. Ours is an artisan business that has been handed down for three generations. We provide a repair and restoration service on cars, keeping them as consistent as possible with the original, which is one of the many reasons why collectors come to us. For us it is a mission, and we are passionate about all brands, not only Porsche but also Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat and many others.
-The retro car restoration market in Europe is designed for a client with a different budget and needs. What makes you different from your competitors?
-I did not understand the relevance between the market and what makes us different.
We distinguish ourselves by pursuing as much as possible the originality of the car in all its parts, even in the choice of a single screw, which on a model can be chromed, and perhaps on the same model of the year just following it becomes galvanized. We distinguish ourselves because we have always done this job. We are not autobody repairman improvised as restorers, as we have seen so many of them on the market for some years. We distinguish ourselves because we document ourselves, if we get a model that we do not know we turn to competent people or we rely on paper consultation. We distinguish ourselves because despite the continuous increases in consumables and supplies of all kinds, we continue to do this job with the same passion as always and “only” and exclusively for passion.
-Please, describe an average Carrozzeria Bottini customer.
-Our customers are mainly collectors of classic cars. Their average age is between 50 and 60 years and over. In recent years, however, with the explosion of the young timer phenomenon, the average age has dropped. On average, our customers have more cars they own and most decide to restore a historic car for the sole purpose of bringing it back as beautiful as it originally was. Then they hardly use it to participate in regularity competitions, for example, or in events that could compromise the state of perfection.
-Your family has been worked retro cars for decades. How have technologies, methods of car restoration and repair changed in recent years?
-Technology has changed everything. In our environment it is also quite expensive. You can buy the electric painting oven or the automatic tinting machine. The welding machines are more and more performing, the polishing tools are constantly improving. What has remained unchanged is the artisan aspect of this craft, where the hands still play the main role. As well as knowledge, patience, passion and attention to detail that no technology can replace.
-How has the vintage car market changed recent years? What cars are more often restored and prepared for participation in events?
-The market has totally changed. Once upon a time you could only rely on specialized magazines or books or specialists in the sector. With the advent of the internet and technologies, customers are much more informed, they have tools to check every little detail of a car before buying, and they are much better prepared. Surely the mileage and the number of owners are two of the main characteristics that give value to a car, then there are the color and the equipment.
-Your company received the award for the best restoration of the Lamborghini Miura in Genoa, 1992. Do wins in such events affect the flow of customers?
-Our body shop has received several awards in 75 years of activity. The one relating to the Lamborghini Miura refers to the last century, in every sense. The modern acknowledgments for us are the positive reviews from our customers, the customer satisfaction at the end of the restoration, the number of followers on Instagram* which is growing considerably, and the constant presence on the most important national sector newspapers, and on online international magazines.
-A phenomenon as replicas has gained popularity now. Your company strives to preserve the authenticity of its customers’ cars. How do you feel about creating replicas of famous models?
-I honestly never understood the replicas. I struggle to accept the idea that one day my 911 T can be powered by an electric motor (but if they told me that it is the only possible alternative, I would probably do it) and I am not opposed to restomoods. I appreciate them much more than just a replica.
-Your father was one of the active participants in retro racing in the 90s. When have you been started participating in rallies. Has your father been shared his experience with you and gave you advices?
-My dad has always raced on the track, regularity has never attracted him. When I told him that I wanted to try my hand at this competitive sporting activity, he replied to ask him anything in life, but not to be a passenger in regularity races 🙂 . But he always supported me and generously contributed to my rise in this environment by giving me a 1968 Porsche 911 T first, and then when he saw that I was starting to get good and that I needed a lower coefficient to compete at high levels, I bought a 1957 Triumph TR3, with which I was able to participate in the 2016 Mille Miglia, thus allowing me to realize a dream. I don’t think you can ask for more from a father.
-You take an active part in retro rallies. How did your passion for racing start? Do you remember the emotions after the first rally?
-The passion was handed down to me by dad. I grew up surrounded by cars and I always accompanied him to events and competitions in which he participated. Growing up in the midst of cars doesn’t take it for granted that you give birth to a passion. My sister, who is 4 years older than me, was not affected in the least and still has no interest in this world. My first experience was at Terre di Canossa in 2012, exactly ten years ago. I participated as a correspondent for a newspaper I was working for at the time, and a world simply opened up for me. A totally new world for me where I discovered a different and very funny use of my own historic car, I found the competitive spirit and the pleasure of competing with myself always trying to improve their results, I met many young people like me who had this passion and I made many friends that I still have today. At the first real race I only remember that my legs were shaking and that I was very excited.
-You are one of those women who won rallies several times, despite the serious competition from men. What did these victories mean to you?
-I don’t think that gender difference implies anything for regularity with historic cars. I admit to having won very important national races alongside great and well-known top drivers, and as a driver I admit to having won many cups, but I would like to be clear that I have never reached the levels of the most famous Italian top drivers.
-President of Mille Miglia Beatrice Saottini said in an interview that in the future, the world of retro racing will have equality. Why, in your opinion, the percentage of women participating in races is very small, despite the global trends? What could be done to attract women?
-Honestly, I’ve always wondered that too :). There are many women who participate in regularity races, but as navigators!!! They are many and also passionate and competitive. They love this discipline. Why they never wanted to test themselves as a pilot I don’t know. I must admit that it is not relaxing to take part in these competitions. First of all, there is the responsibility for the maintenance of the car, before and after the races, you must have a place to keep it, you must have a place to train. During these events there is little sleep, and on average in a weekend for a race over three stages, you can even cover more than 1000 km. Then it also depends on where you live, because you have to reach the starting point of the race, and then return home after the fateful 1000 kilometers. If your car is very old, you must have a trolley, load the car on the trolley. The routes are always very demanding, there are races where you can cross ten to 12 alpine passes in two days. In short, those who say that regularity is for old and boring has never participated in a real regularity race registered on a national calendar. I feel privileged to have been able to live all this, but when I started I didn’t have a family and the job allowed me to stay away even 4 days. I was doing two to three races a month. Because I could do it. Perhaps many women cannot «treat themselves» all this time. And then there are the costs.
As I said it is not a question of attracting women, because they are already there. And it’s not even a question of communication because with today’s technologies you can reach any border.
Maybe it’s just a matter of wanting, and for those who are not in the business it could be a matter of time and money.
*Instagram of the Meta recognized as an extremist danger and banned in Russia