Richard Bertolucci founded Bertolucci Body & Fender Shop, Inc., in 1948 and nearly 60 years later it's a thriving business. But Bertolucci's passion isn't repair. It's restoration.
A near-dozen examples of his aging, flawless machines are tucked away in a corner room of the enduring business on the corner of 33rd Street & Stockton Blvd., in Sacramento.
Until recently, the Bertolucci Museum had rarely been promoted. It was known only among customers, family friends and occasional curious passersby.
But the family business recently began mentioning the museum in its print advertisements. As such, interest in the free museum has increased, particularly among old car enthusiasts.
Like the objects in other niche museums, the pristine Chevrolets on display in the Bertolucci Museum reflect the owner's passion for craftsmanship and his appreciation for history.
The vehicles (10 cars, 1 truck and one non-Chevrolet motorcycle) range from a 1957 BelAir convertible to a 1962 Corvette convertible. All of the vehicles were restored by Bertolucci in his home machine shop and then painted in the body shop. They're showcased in a room down the hall from the body and fender repair shop's reception area and near the work garage.
The museum is sparsely decorated, but there's a mural of Sacramento businesses of yesteryear and a neon Chevrolet sign. In the back of the room, there's a tall, restored cylinder gas pump surrounded by an array of perhaps 30 trophies arranged on the floor. And against a side wall, there's a street sign reading, "Chevrolet Ave."
The showpiece cars rest on shiny, eat-off-the-floor clean, fake brick flooring.
"That's the way he likes it," says secretary Michele DeFrances, a 23-year employee who wears a constant smile, laughs often and serves as the museum's unofficial docent. "He will come in and see dust and say, "Go clean those cars.' "
Bertolucci, now in his 70s, doesn't work daily anymore, but he has a disdain for the word retirement. He visits the business often, usually on Tuesday afternoons for employee meetings. He visits with his four daughters, one son and other employees. And he checks in on his Chevys.
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