Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
Fiat stunned and surprised the motoring world at the 1952 Geneva Motor Show when it introduced its next competition car, the Supersonic with 2-liter 8V, or in Italian terminology, the OttoV. This Fiat could not be called a V8 because Ford Motor Company had copyrighted that term. It is named after the two-liter, 70 degree, aluminum, V-8 engine, whose short-stroke enabled it to achieve high-revs producing a steep power curve. Code named Tipo 106, Fiat had been developing the V-8 engine since 1945 with the intention of fitting it into a mass-produced model.
Designed for motor racing, it became very successful, winning the 1954 2-liter GT Championship of Italy. The design was the brainchild of Dante Giacosa, who produced a light alloy V8 with a very narrow 70-degree angle between the cylinder banks while the chassis was of tubular steel construction. During its two-year production period, just 114 8Vs were constructed, and they were mostly hand-built by Fiat, Ghia, or Zagato. The Supersonic 8V was the work of Carrozzeria Ghia and its futuristic design appealed to buyers who were in the auto styling business. Just 14 8V Supersonics were built.
Fiat's in-house designer Dante Giacosa began work in 1951 on a new high-performance sports car, the legendary 8V, a two-liter V8-engined two-seater. To accommodate the fully independent suspension, Giacosa designed his frame from welded sheet metal, and the coachwork paneling was then welded to this structure. Chassis fabrication was contracted out to specialist manufacturer Siata. Fiat's V8 was designed from two four-cylinder blocks mounted on a common crankcase. To keep the engine low in height, the angle between the cylinder banks was 70-degrees. Breathing through three Weber carburetors, the engine achieved 115 bhp, more than a match for the competition.
Fiat built 34 examples in their Lingotto shop, which usually carry a 'Carrozzerie Speziali' badge. The remaining 80 cars were outsourced to the Italian design houses between 1952 and 1954. No two cars are alike. Carozzeria Zagato built 30 that they labeled 'Elaborata Zagato.' Ghia design house produced around 40 examples, of which the Giovanni Savonuzzi-penned 'Supersonic' was the most stunning. Ghia built 12 Supersonic bodies; eight on Fiat 8V chassis, three on Jaguar chassis and one on an Aston Martin. The aluminum-bodied car made its debut at the 1953 Paris Show, where the press called it 'la plus bella voiture du salon' (the most beautiful car in the show). This example is the only one built with a hood scoop.
Designed for motor racing, it became very successful, winning the 1954 2-liter GT Championship of Italy. The design was the brainchild of Dante Giacosa, who produced a light alloy V8 with a very narrow 70-degree angle between the cylinder banks while the chassis was of tubular steel construction. During its two-year production period, just 114 8Vs were constructed, and they were mostly hand-built by Fiat, Ghia, or Zagato. The Supersonic 8V was the work of Carrozzeria Ghia and its futuristic design appealed to buyers who were in the auto styling business. Just 14 8V Supersonics were built.
Fiat's in-house designer Dante Giacosa began work in 1951 on a new high-performance sports car, the legendary 8V, a two-liter V8-engined two-seater. To accommodate the fully independent suspension, Giacosa designed his frame from welded sheet metal, and the coachwork paneling was then welded to this structure. Chassis fabrication was contracted out to specialist manufacturer Siata. Fiat's V8 was designed from two four-cylinder blocks mounted on a common crankcase. To keep the engine low in height, the angle between the cylinder banks was 70-degrees. Breathing through three Weber carburetors, the engine achieved 115 bhp, more than a match for the competition.
Fiat built 34 examples in their Lingotto shop, which usually carry a 'Carrozzerie Speziali' badge. The remaining 80 cars were outsourced to the Italian design houses between 1952 and 1954. No two cars are alike. Carozzeria Zagato built 30 that they labeled 'Elaborata Zagato.' Ghia design house produced around 40 examples, of which the Giovanni Savonuzzi-penned 'Supersonic' was the most stunning. Ghia built 12 Supersonic bodies; eight on Fiat 8V chassis, three on Jaguar chassis and one on an Aston Martin. The aluminum-bodied car made its debut at the 1953 Paris Show, where the press called it 'la plus bella voiture du salon' (the most beautiful car in the show). This example is the only one built with a hood scoop.
No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.
1953 Fiat 8V Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Fiat 8V
(Data based on Model Year 1953 sales)
1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia Chassis#: 106.000053 Sold for USD$2,425,000 2023 RM Sothebys : New York | |
1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia Chassis#: 106.000043 Sold for USD$2,260,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1953 Fiat 8V Berlinetta by Zagato Chassis#: 106.000026 Sold for USD$2,900,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1953 Fiat 8V Coupe by Ghia Chassis#: 106.000042 Sold for USD$1,105,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia Chassis#: 106 000049 Sold for USD$2,040,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1953 Fiat 8V Berlinetta Chassis#: 106.000011 Sold for USD$1,251,580 2021 RM Sothebys : St. Moritz, Switzerland | |
1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia Chassis#: 106.000041 Sold for USD$2,040,000 2020 RM Sothebys : The Elkhart Collection | |
1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic Chassis#: 106.000043 Sold for USD$1,625,000 2019 Bonhams : Quail Lodge Auction | |
1953 Fiat 8V Berlinetta Elaborata Chassis#: 106.000022 Sold for USD$1,485,000 2017 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia Chassis#: 106 000049 Sold for USD$1,375,000 2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island | |
1953 FIAT 8V SUPERSONIC Chassis#: 106.000049 Sold for USD$1,815,000 2015 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction | |
1953 Fiat 8V Cabriolet by Vignale Chassis#: 106.000050 Sold for USD$1,218,560 2015 RM Sotheby's : Villa Erba | |
1953 Fiat 8V Coupé by Ghia Chassis#: 106 000042 Sold for USD$946,000 2014 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona | |
1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic Chassis#: 106.000035 Sold for USD$1,760,000 2013 Gooding and Company - The Amelia Island Auction | |
1953 Fiat 8V Chassis#: 106.000065 Sold for USD$750,000 2012 Gooding & Company, Amelia Island, Fl | |
1953 Fiat 8V Elaborata Chassis#: 106.000022 Sold for USD$1,127,500 2011 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions | |
1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic Chassis#: 106.000035 Sold for USD$1,705,000 2011 The Scottsdale Auction - Gooding & Company | |
1953 Fiat 8V Series II Berlinetta Sold for USD$400,000 2010 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions | |
1953 Fiat 8V Chassis#: 106000095 Sold for USD$200,640 2005 Bonhams - Les Grandes Marques a Monaco |
Fiat 8Vs That Failed To Sell At Auction
1953 Fiat 8V's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia | 106.000041 | 2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey | $1,800,000 | $2,200,000 | |
1953 FIAT 8V ELABORATA | 106.000022 | 2016 Scottsdale, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa | |||
1953 Fiat 8V Coupe | 106*000051* | 2015 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island | $1,600,000 | $2,000,000 | |
1953 FIAT 8V COUPE VIGNALE | 2013 ARTCURIAL MOTORCARS À RÉTROMOBILE | ||||
1953 FIAT 8V Coupé | 106000065 | 2010 Bonhams Automobiles d'Exception á Rétromobile | $530,000 | $650,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $1,496,278 range.
2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Chassis#:VF9SA15BX6M795013 Sold for $1,490,000 2023 RM Sothebys : New York | |
1913 AMERICAN UNDERSLUNG TYPE 56-A TRAVELER Chassis#:3817 Sold for $1,490,000 2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1978 Ferrari 512 BB Competizione Chassis#:24131 Sold for $1,490,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
2005 Porsche Carrera GT Chassis#:WP0CA29825L001185 Sold for $1,490,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1997 Porsche 911 Remastered by Gunther Werks Chassis#:WP0AA2990VS320607 Sold for $1,501,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Berline by Murphy Chassis#:2377 Sold for $1,490,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
2020 Ford GT Heritage Edition Chassis#:2FAGP9EW2LH100022 Sold for $1,490,000 2022 RM Sothebys : The Youngtimer Collection - Miami | |
1959 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster Chassis#:19804210002448 Sold for $1,485,000 2022 Mecum : Monterey | |
1988 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#:WPOZZZ95ZJS900207 Sold for $1,496,548 2022 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques a Monaco | |
1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe Chassis#:CSX 2469 Sold for $1,490,000 2021 Worldwide Auctioneers : The 14th Annual Auburn Auction | |
1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Chassis#:5915 GT Sold for $1,490,000 2021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction | |
1961 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pininfarina Chassis#:2533 Sold for $1,490,000 2021 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction | |
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Chassis#:198.040.5500533 Sold for $1,495,500 2020 RM Sothebys : The Elkhart Collection | |
1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti Chassis#:5379 Sold for $1,496,000 2020 RM Sothebys : Shift/Monterey | |
2020 Porsche 935 'Martini' Chassis#:WP0ZZZ99ZKS199102 Sold for $1,501,609 2020 RM : The European Sale featuring the Petitjean Collection | |
2017 FORD GT Chassis#:2FAGP9CW5HH200013 Sold for $1,485,000 2020 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, AZ | |
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach Chassis#:WP0CA2A12FS800292 Sold for $1,490,000 2019 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island | |
2015 McLaren P1 Chassis#:SBM12ABA5FW000292 Sold for $1,490,000 2019 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
2010 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 'Sang Noir' Chassis#:VF9SC2C27AM795238 Sold for $1,500,000 2019 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso Chassis#:5117 GT Sold for $1,485,000 2018 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach |
1953 Fiat 8V
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery
• Other Fiat 8V model years