1908 Fiat 50 HP Touring

Fiat, was founded in Italy in 1899 making it one of the oldest car manufacturers still surviving. It was successful from its beginning and experienced steady grown. By 1908, when this car was built, it was one of the largest car manufacturers in Europe. This 1908 model was a large, powerful, expensive luxury car. Its 7.4-liter 6-cylinder engine produces 50 horsepower and is capable of cruising at 50 MPH, very high for 1908. It has a 4-speed transmission and chain drive to the rear wheels.

This Fiat came to the United States as a race car. Later the race body was replaced by this touring body by Quinby Coachbuilders. Quinby started as a carriage builder in the 1800s and soon became one of the largest carriage builders in the United States. In 1902 they started making car bodies and became very successful specializing in bodies for imported luxury foreign chassis such as Benz, Daimler, Isotta-Fraschini, and Mercedes.

The current owners have owned this car since 1952 when it was purchased from the D. Cameron Peck Collection. Prior to D. Cameron Peck the car was owned by Charles Chayne, chief engineer for Buick from 1936 to 1951, and then GM chief Engineer and VP until his retirement in 1963. The current owners have toured this car throughout the United States and Canada, including 9 transcontinental tours and even took it on a tour around Northern Ireland.