1954 Fiat 1100/103 Turismo Veloce Charmant Coupe

Coachwork by Vignale

1,089cc OHV Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
2 Zenith Carburetors with Abarth Intake
57bhp at 5,200rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Independent Front Suspension - Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*One of just 12 examples made with exquisite Vignale coachwork
*Highly authentic and original car with great provenance
*Well documented with impressive history file containing original documents
*Eligible for preservation class concours or the Mille Miglia


THE FIAT 1100

The Fiat 1100 was introduced in 1937 and built until 1953. Designed by noted engineer Dante Giacosa, it was a comfortable family car powered by an in inline 4-cylinder engine of 1,089cc displacement, and for the period, its comfort, handling, and performance were prodigious. It featured rear wheel drive with a 4-speed gearbox and unusually for a modestly priced car of the time was built with independent front suspension with a leaf sprung live rear axle.

After World War II, the car was re-introduced with a new name, the 1100E. It also received a bit more power, with 35hp in standard tune. While most of the production was of 4-door sedans, almost all Italian coachbuilders, or 'carrozzerie' created one-off and small series models on the chassis.

Premiered at the Paris Salon in 1953, the TV (Turismo Veloce) was the higher performance version of the newly introduced FIAT 1100/104 Berlina (saloon). Introduced at the Geneva Salon earlier the same year, the latter featured unitary construction of the body/chassis and was powered by an entirely new 1,089cc overhead-valve four-cylinder engine. For the TV, power was raised from 36 to 50bhp, giving the car a top speed of 135km/h. The TV was raced extensively by FIAT's more sporting customers, its most prestigious victories including class wins at the Mille Miglia in 1954 and 1955.


THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This sporting FIAT 1100/103-based 'Charmant' Coupe was built on the performance-oriented TV (Turismo Veloce or Fast Touring) 50bhp chassis. This very car - chassis no.103.049126 -
was designed by Giovanni Michelotti with coachwork by famed carrozzeria Vignale and is one of only examples 12 built. The Vignale FIAT was delivered new to its first owner, Luisa Gaetano, in Messina, Sicily on April 28th, 1954. Beautifully preserved with the odometer reading only 6,012 km since leaving the Vignale Coachworks in 1953, it was discovered in Palermo, Italy in 2012 by FIAT enthusiast Daniele Spataro.

This car was only a derivative of the Fiat 1100/103 Normale, however, the optional factory equipment selected provides performance that bests that of a Turismo Veloce. Equipped with double Zenith carburetors on a Abarth manifold, Nardi exhaust manifold, oil cup and steering wheel, Borrani wire wheels, performance starting coil and an Autovox radio with electric antenna. Gaetano, the first owner, was a wealthy lawyer who did not like the attention the FIAT drew, and thus decided to purchase a more subtle Mercedes-Benz sedan. Gaetano, as opposed to selling the Charmant, decided rather to retain the vehicle and store it in a garage in Palermo. He attempted to preserve his vehicle by placing it on bricks and draining the fluids from the cooling system, fuel tank, oil pan, gearbox and differential. The FIAT remained in the same garage in this state until the unfortunate passing of Gaetano. The Gaetano family sold the car to Daniele Spataro, a collector committed to bringing it back to life. So exciting was the discovery of the lovely FIAT Vignale that Petrolicious made a short-film about it.

Soon after Spataro's acquisition, the Vignale FIAT was completely disassembled, and its components were inspected thoroughly. Since Gaetano had taken the steps he did when storing the vehicle 6 decades earlier, minimal degradation was present on the majority of the componentry of the vehicle. Many original finishes were found to be in strikingly good condition for a vehicle of this age and type and responded extremely well to a detailed cleaning, clear coat and thorough reconditioning. Today, the Vignale FIAT is presented as an extremely low mileage, gently used example of a rare and well-kept vehicle. The car's impressive history file includes its original factory service and warranty manuals, copies of original Italian registration documents and other period paraphernalia, as well as photos of the car when discovered and records of recent refurbishment work done, while in the hands of a prominent US collector. The full tool kit in its original canvas bag is also with the car. The charming FIAT showed just 6,063 kilometers on the odometer at the time of cataloging, and the light patina on the surfaces combined with the slight wear on the delicate fabrics and finishes, combine to evoke a sense of time travel back to a simpler, more elegant place in time. Eligible for the legendary Mille Miglia run, this rare and highly original Vignale FIAT is a true gem which deserves serious consideration.