1950 Fiat 1100 Cabriolet

heroldius (65)in #cars • 6 years ago

Always at Amelia Island (Florida) in March, but other sale, this time with Bonhams. With a coachwork by Stabilimenti Farina, this elegant and rare 1950 Fiat 1100 Cabriolet will heading to auction during this sale for about $US 150,000.

An opportunity to discover this model and the Italian automotive coachbuilder behind this beauty.

History of the Fiat 1100

The Fiat 1100 is an example of the effort of the Italian motor industry to resume its car's production after the World War II. During the war, all the factories were bombed by the Allies, especially FIAT (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) with the destruction of this new Mirafiori plant closed to Turin.

So many Italian coachbuilders started to design new bodies for used vehicles, the chassis of the Fiat 1100 was perfect, easy to adapt new body. This model was designed by Stabilimenti Farina, coachbuilder founded by Giovanni Carlo Farina in 1906 (until 1953). Many employees became famous including his brother Battista Farina (Pininfarina), Pietro Frua, Alfredo Vignale...

But for Enzo Ferrari, the coachwork of the Fiat 1100 looked like Ferrari 166 Inter Cabriolet and he persuaded Stabilimenti Farina to not use this design. So few were produced... Now only four are still on the road.

Specification

With its 1,089cc OHV inline 4 cylinder engine with a single twin-choke Weber carburetor, the Fiat 1100 produces 52 hp at 5,200 rpm et can reach 120 kmh.

After a great restoration (more than 3,000 hours), this rare Fiat 1100 Cabriolet finished in Light Metallic blue with a Dark Blue interior, is a great example of the Italian coachbuilding of the 50's.