1969 Fiat Shellette Coupe

Noted yacht designer Phillip Schell teamed up with auto designer Giovanni Michelotti to produce the Shellette as a tender for yachts. This was a vehicle that could be easily transported and offloaded to carry cruisers on day trips and run errands. It is then returned to the vessel and sailed to another port.

It is based on the Fiat 850 with 47 horsepower. The Shellette has wicker seats and surrey-style top and streamlined fiberglass body. Only some 80 examples were built by Michelotti. This is a highly original example with under 10,000 miles on its odometer. It has been repainted and comes with a new top, matching canvas covers for the wicker seats, Coco floor mats, seat belts and a Nardi wood rim steering wheel. Some of its distinctive features are the woven wicker covered dashboard, brightly varnished wood trim and sills and a fitted wicker basket between the seats.

This Shellette is an original example that was reportedly imported new to the United States by a friend of designer Phillip Schell. The first owner retained the car for over 40 years and used it sparingly, traveling less than 10,000 original miles when discovered in largely original condition by Chris Costanza of New Hampshire in spring of 2012. Mr. Costanza undertook some restoration measures on the car, which still benefitted from a paint respray conducted by the original owner in 1991. The mechanicals were freshened, the well-preserved wicker interior components and wood trim were cleaned and detailed, new Sisal carpets were fitted, and a new blue and white-striped Sunbrella top with Tenax German snaps were installed. The car has a Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel, original wicker dashboard, and new Coco floor mats.