1954 Fiat 8V Coupe

This example left the Fiat factory for Torino on June 10th of 1953. It was then given its Zagato coachwork featuring a first series body and given several special features such as the absence of air outlets and a thin aluminum strip on the hood scoop. It was designed and built for competition and painted in Italian Racing Red. Many of the Fiat 8V cars were used in competition, as their potent engine made them very successful in the two-liter class.

The first owner of this car, chassis number 106000061, was Erik Jossipovic of Trieste, Italy. Over the next two years, the car was raced extensively with the support of the Milan-based Scuderia Madunina. It made its competition debut at the Coppa Felice Bonetto in March of 1955 where it finished 5th in the Gran Turismo Speciale class. It raced at the XII Salita delle Torricelle before making its first appearance at the Mille Miglia. It wore race number 439 and was piloted by Jossipovic and Placido Durrigoni. Sadly, it did not finish the race.

In June the car was entered in the Trieste-Opicina where it finished 15th overall. In July it raced at the Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti where it finished 37th overall. The final outing for this car in 1955 was in October at the XVI Treponti - Castelnuovo. In 1956, it raced at the IV Coppa Vigorelli e Alborghetti. In April it raced for the second time in the Mille Miglia, this time wearing racing number 330. It finished 69th overall, completing the endurance race in 14 hours and 57 minutes. It was then entered in the XVI Bolzano-Mendola where it came in 12th in the Gran Turismo category. Its final European outing was at the X Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti and the VII Coppa InterEuropa.

Near the close of the 1950s, the car was exported to the United States and sent to its new owner, Mr. Benjamin Barber. It was sold in 1960 to Austin K. Wildman Jr. of Scottsdale, Arizona. While in his care, the engine was damaged and removed. The car was sold in 1967, and by the mid-1970s, the car had been fitted with Ford 302 V-8 engine.

In the mid-1990s, the car was re-fitted with its original engine and sold to its next owner who began a comprehensive restoration. By 2007, the car was in the ownership of Jean Laurent-Bellue. That year, it was taken to Tecnica Auto in Pari where it received extensive mechanical work. The following year, it was sent to Jim Stokes in England where it was given a limited slip differential. Later that year, it was imported into the United States.

This 8V has its original competition-style seats, a Nardi steering wheel, correct Plexiglas anti-turbulence strips on the door frames and Borrani wire wheels wearing Pirelli tires.

In 2009, this Fiat 8V was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was expected to sell for $875,000 - $975,000. Sadly, a willing buyer able to satisfy the vehicles reserve was not found and the lot was left unsold.

In 2010, the car returned to auction. It was offered for sale at Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach sale where it was estimated to sell for $675,000 - $750,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $682,000 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2019