1935 Fiat 508 Sport Spider

The Mille Miglia road race began in 1927 and quickly gained popularity, both for spectators and racers alike. In 1932, Fiat produced light two- and four-door sedans that were an ideal platform for tuning by the many shops and tuners.

The Sport Spider 508 S was a two-seater roadster based on the Balilla and created by Carrozzeria Ghia for the Fiat factory. The vehicle came in two versions, one with cycle-fenders and a lightened chassis and the other with full-flowing fenders. The cycle-fender version was called the Coppa d'Oro or 'gold cup.' Only a few were produced but they did well in the Mille Miglia and other European rallies, hill climbs, and race events. It is believed that fewer than 10 original Coppa d'Oro Balillas exist in modern times.

This example, chassis number 082606, is one of the original Coppa d'Oro models. It has a period Siata-modified engine that displaces 995cc and produces 43 horsepower. It weighs just 1377 lbs and has a four-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

The car has been given a cosmetic and mechanical restoration that was performed in Brescia, Italy, and took three years to complete. US awards include Best in Class at the Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance and Best of Marque at Concorso Italiano in 2006.

The car is painted in Rosso Ferrari paint and rides on polished stainless steel bolt-on wire wheels with correct Fiat hubcaps. The interior is in red leather piped in black.

In 2011, this vehicle was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction in Scottsdale, Az. where it was estimated to sell for $125,000 - $150,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $121,000 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2011