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1954 Fiat 8V

Fiat's early engines had four cylinders, often of enormous proportions. They produced their first six-cylinder engine in 1907 and a V-12 from 1921 to 1922. Despite this vast portfolio of engines, they did not produce an engine with eight cylinders until 1952.

The Fiat 8V, or Otto Vu in Italian, was built for two years with 114 examples constructed. Top speed was in the neighborhood of 124 mph. The two-seater coupe had a fully independent suspension with most of the coachwork handled by the factory. 63 were penned by Fiat's chief designer Fabio Rapi, 34 first series cars, and 29-second series cars. Some of the bodies were given unique (often one-off) coachwork by Ghia, Pinin Farina, Vignale, and Zagato. Zagato bodied 30 examples, labeled 'Elaborata Zagato,' with distinctive features such as a thin aluminum strip on the hood scoop, and the absence of air outlets. No fewer than fifteen 8Vs wore coachwork by Ghia, and at least 14 of them were the 'Supersonic' coupe penned by Giovanni Savonuzzi. Using his aeronautical background, he created streamlined bodies that became the ultimate expression of 'Jet-Age' styling.

Mechanical Specification

The 70-degree V configuration, eight-cylinder alloy engine displaced 1996cc, had two twin-choke Weber 36 DCF 3 carburetors, developed 115 horsepower, and was developed by Dante Giacosa. It had a finned aluminum sump, polished intakes and ports, a forged crankshaft, and tubular stainless-steel exhaust manifolds. The early Type 104.000 engine had an 8.5:1 compression ratio, 104 horsepower, and a top speed of nearly 120 mph. The improved 104.003 version used different camshaft timing that resulted in a boost in power to 113 hp at 6,000 RPM. The final version was the 104.006 which used 8.75:1 compression, a revised fuel system and camshaft timing, resulting in an increase in power to 125 hp at 6,600 RPM. The tubular chassis used an all-round independent suspension, a four-speed manual gearbox, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Aside from the differential, the 8V did not share any parts with the other Fiat automobiles, however, many parts were made by Siata, including the chassis, and used in their cars. Thanks to its lightweight frame and relatively potent engine, the Otto Vue had an impressive performance and reactive handling.

Fiat introduced the 8V at the 1952 Geneva Motor Show and quickly earned a reputation for its elegant styling and unique power plant. From the beginning, it was envisioned for competition use and proved highly successful with many notable results including winning the 2.0-liter class of the Italian Championship in 1954.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

Toward the close of 1951, Fiat designer Dante Giacosa created a new high-performance sports car, the legendary 2-liter 8V, or Otto Vu in Italian. Designed to take on the 2-liter class of the Italian sports car championship, the Fiat 8V made its debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March of 1952. Only 114 examples of Fiat's 8V were built, the first of which featured Fiat's own body by chief designer Fabio Luigi Rapi. The cars were built at Fiat's Lingotto factory and were identified by a Carrozzerie Speziali badge. The most famous and highly collectable of the Fiat 8Vs are the 30 or so with coachwork by Zagato.

The Fiat 8V made its debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March of 1952. A high performance coupe, it was intended to bring prestige to Fiat's line of economy cars. About 40 of them were fitted with lightweight alloy bodies by Carrozzeria Zagato of Milan. The cars were powered by a 1996 cc overhead valve V8 of 105 hp, and raced successfully against the Alfas and Maseratis in the mid-fifties.

The particular car shown is one of only five 8V 'double-bubble' coupes bodied by Zagato, and was raced by Elio Zagato himself (his height is said to be the origin of the unusual roof-line!). Following its restoration, it participated in the 1990 and 1991 Mille Miglia and later on the Colorado Grand.

Coupe
Chassis number: 106000061
Engine number: 000112

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 Dan Vaughan

Supersonic Coupe by Ghia

Dante Giacosa began work on a new high performance 2-liter V8 powered sports car in the early 1950s. It featured a fully independent suspension, welded sheet metal frame, and bodywork that was welded to the frame. The engine was two four-cylinder blocks mounted on a common crankcase. It was given three Weber carburetors and was capable of producing 115 horsepower.

This is the very first car of just 15 Fiat 8V Ghia Supersonics that were built. The Supersonic design was penned by Giovanni Savonuzzi for an Alfa Romeo 1900 that raced in the 1953 Mille Miglia, and its beautiful styling has been captivating people ever since. This highly original example has only been driven a little more than 17,000 miles from new. Sold new to Paul Fargo, it was purchased by Paul Lazarus in 1953 and remained in his stewardship for more than 55 years, until 2011, when it passed to Benny Caiola before being acquired by its present owner in 2013. It was shown in period and featured in several publications. It is in a remarkable state of preservation, a fact that was recognized when it was honored as the winner of the Postwar Preservation Class at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

by Dan Vaughan

Supersonic Coupe by Ghia

Launched at the 1952 Geneva Auto Show the displayed V-8 Fiat could not be called that because at the time the Ford Motor Company had a copyright on the term 'V8' so the car was called the Fiat 8V (or Otto Vu). The car is named after the peculiar 2-liter, 70 degree, aluminum, V-8 engine which almost looks lost in the engine compartment. Its short-stroke enabled it to achieve high-revs producing a steep power curve.

Code name Tipo 106, Fiat had been developing the V-8 engine since 1945 with the intention of fitting it into a mass-produced model.

Fiat built 34 examples in their Lingotto shop, these examples usually carry a 'Carrozzerie Speziali' badge, the remaining 80 cars were outsourced to the famous Italian design houses between 1952 and 1954, thus no two cars are alike and each has a unique style. Carozzeria Zagato built 30 that they labeled 'Elaborata Zagato.' Ghia and Vignale also produced their own renditions of which most were coupes, but some spyders were made as well. A one-off fiberglass-bodied example currently resides in the Fiat Museum.

The standard engine specification produced 105 horsepower at 5600 RPM, Fiat offered a factory option with twin Weber carburetors producing 115 horsepower. The engine and gearbox are fitted into a steel tube chassis with Fiat 1100 suspension components attached to each corner. With the body welded or in the case of the aluminum bodies cars mechanically attached to the chassis made it a semi-unitary construction.

This car was first shipped to K.T. Keller, Chrysler chairman. He subsequently sold it to a three-time Gold Cup-winning hydroplane racer, Lou Fageol. For some inexplicable reason, Fageol though he could design better than the famed Giovanni Savonuzzi and he modified the car dramatically. Among other things, he added fins from a Chrysler Imperial and installed a twin-supercharged 1957 Chevrolet Corvette V8.

In 1979 the current owner bought it from a friend and was determined to restore the car to its original configuration. He spent years tracking down the parts needed. One day his telephone rang and the California caller asked if he did indeed own what had been Fageol's car. The owner said he did and the caller said he had the original engine. This claim seemed highly doubtful until the caller read off the numbers and they matched the research. The engine had been stored under a workbench in nearby Ann Arbor for all those decades. It was quickly reunited with the Supersonic.

Elaborata Coupe by Zagato
Engine number: 000174

Fiat first showed its new 2-liter, V8-engined sports car at the 1952 Geneva Auto Salon. The 8V or 'Otto Vu' was developed specifically for racing in the hotly contested 2-liter class in the Italian sports car championship; there Fiat faced stiff competition from Maserati, Ferrari and Lancia. Fiat's chief designer, Fabio Luigi Rapi, was responsible for the 8V's factory-built bodies, but it was Milanese coachbuilder Zagato who made headlines; Zagato modified five factory-bodied 8Vs and, after these were sold, they built another run of 25 during 1954.

The car is 100% original as it left the factory in 1954. This car is one of those five lightweight 8V Elaboratas. It was raced by its first owner, Emanuele Quartara of Genoa, between 1955 and 1958. Throughout its life, the car has been well maintained and conserved and has all its original components. The 8V's current owner has participated in several rallies, including the Mille Miglia and the Gran Premio Nuvolari.

Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: 000042

The 8V motor was developed by Dante Giacosa at Fiat for sports car applications. Approximately 125 8V (2-liter, 8-cylinder) motors were produced and supplied to various Carrozzeria including Zagato, Vignale, and Siata. The car is powered by the 114 horsepower, 1966cc overhead V8 engine coupled to a four-speed gearbox. The suspension consists of a four-wheel coil spring independent suspension and has four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes riding on a 94.5-inch wheelbase. No fewer than fifteen 8Vs emanated from the Ghia workshops. At least 14 of them were the 'Supersonic' coupe penned by Giovanni Savonuzzi.

This vehicle was sold new in Turin on June 10, 1953. It is not clear whether it was supplied direct to Ghia or was handled by a local dealer. It was the only one to receive this body style.

Supersonic Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: 000040

The Fiat 8V chassis was built between 1952 and 1954 and is one of the marque's most legendary motor cars. Ghia built 14 extravagant 'Supersonics' penned by Giovanni Savonuzzi. Building upon his aeronautical background the streamlined body became a classic example of the 'Jet-age' styling. This car was first sold in the US to Lou Fageol, a flamboyant businessman and hydroplane racer. He added his own American style chrome bumpers and entered this car in the 1955 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it won first in class. Fageol sold the car in 1959 and equipped with a Chevy engine, it was used as a daily commuter for years until the car was put away for nearly 2 decades, partially dismantled and in need of a total restoration. Its current owner discovered the car in need to a total restoration. Its current owner discovered the car in 2012 and began a restoration that has just been completed.

Coupe
Chassis number: 00058

Out of the one-hundred and fourteen 8Vs produced from 19562 to 1954, just 20 were Zagato Berlienttas.

This Fiat 8V or Otto Vu is one of the great Italian sports cars of the 1950s, the second pre-production Zagato 8V made, and was first shown at the 1952 Geneva Auto Show. Named after their 2-litre, narrow-angle V8 engine designed by Dante Giacosa, Fiat outsourced most 8V bodies to Italian Carrozzeria like Vignale, Ghia, and Zagato and each has a unique style. The 8V was promoted as a competition car and many were prepared for racing and sold to racing clientele. In total, 114 Fiat 8Vs were produced to meet international homologation regulations.

This example (the second pre-production Zagato 8V (0057 being the first)) was delivered as a rolling chassis to the Zagato works on July 31, 1953. After it was fitted with a body, it was campaigned from July 1954 to October 1954 by Elio Zagato himself. He recorded many class victories in Italian races. He won the 1954 Bari three-hour race for 2-litre sports car, and the highlight of its career was when it competed in the sixth running of the Coppa InterEuropa two-hour race in September, where Zagato took the overall victory in 1954 with a new distance and lap record. it was sold in February of 1955 to Paolo Colombo, who continued to race the coupe very successfully. The car also was run in the 1955 Mille Miglia. In recent years it was meticulously restored. The 2015 Pebble Beach Concours was the first time this Fiat 8V had been shown since its racing days over five decades ago. It returned to the Pebble Beach lawn in 2022 as part of the Otto Vu class.

Coupe
Chassis number: 106 000063

The Fiat Tipo 106 Otto Vu was introduced at the Geneva Auto Salon in March 1952, and just 114 of the 2-liter, 8V-engined cars were delivered before production stopped in 1954. About 63 Otto Vus were built with factory bodies and the rest were bodied by other caochbuilders. Zagato built 30 of these cars, including 6 with its famous 'double bubble' roofline.

This car is from the first series of production and has several individual features, including twin wipers, a body side crease between the wheel wells, no side vents and a slight hump on the air intake on the hood. The finished car first raced in Italy in 1955, driven by Elio Zagato himself, and it later took part in three Mille Miglias, winning its class in 1957. Its current owner bought the car in 1998 and it has been driven in almost every Mille Miglia Retrospective since then.

Berlinetta by Vignale
Chassis number: 000066

After two successful racing seasons, the 8V project began to wind down. They had produced 114 examples and decided to make the last and second series rolling chassis available to their sport customers. They assigned 25 chassis to La Zagato Srl of Milan, 15 chassis to Ghia and ten to Vignale and one to Pinin Farina.

Chassis #0066 was delivered to the Fiat Lingotto warehouse in January of 1954. That December, Mario Bonacina commissioned the bodywork to Vignale, at an approximate cost of $2,400. It was completed in April of 1955 and delivered through a dealer in Milan. Giovanni Michelotti designed the body for #0066. The styling was a derivative of an Aston Martin built for the king of Belgium.

The car was debuted at the XXXVII Turin motor show in April of 1955. It was then to compete in the Mille Miglia race, ten days later, where it suffered a DNF. Bonacina sold the car in June of 1956. It arrived in California in 1958.

It has spent most of its life in California, first with Shelly Pfeiffer of June Lake and then with Dan Simpson of Glendora. It suffered some engine issues in the early 1960's that saw it being powered by a four-cylinder Chevrolet engine temporarily. In 1994 the original engine was reunited with #0066. Simpson took on the challenge of finding the original engine and getting the car back on the road. In 1994 that reunion finally took place and the car was rebuilt. It was acquired by its current owner in 2012 and he has restored it.

Berlinetta Series II
Chassis number: 106.000089

This Fiat 8V Berlinetta is one of 29 examples of the second-series cars that were given factory coachwork to a design penned by Fabio Rapi and featuring the unique 'stacked' headlamps. The car was completed in early March of 1954 and delivered new to the Rome-based Fiat dealership of Vincenzo Orsini. The car's first private owner was Antonio Triglia who purchased it near the end of March 1955. Like many 8V vehicles, this example was entered into competition by its owner, mostly contesting local road rallies. In April of 1957, Triglia contested the Bologna–San Luca point-to-point race.

By October of 1960, the car had been sold to another resident of Rome, Francesco Molino. In 1979, it was re-discovered in the United States in Wisconsin. In 1992, the current California-based collector acquired the vehicle and during their ownership, it was given a restoration and finished in red over tan leather upholstery. The car is currently powered by a correct-type Tipo 104 engine, from a contemporary Siata 208, equipped with two Weber carburetors and a ram-air intake duct.

Features that have been added include the Les Leston steering wheel and pair of split chrome bumperettes.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: 0078

This Fiat 8V, or 'Otto Vu,' is one of the 114 built by Fiat between 1952 and 1954. This 8V chassis was completed in May 1954, but coachwork by Zagato was not finished until January 1956. Drawing on experience with the Fiat 1100E, a successful former competitor, Zagato developed a special design for the 8V - an aerodynamic aluminum silhouette with flush door handles, plexiglass windows, a large air intake on the hood and two on the fenders, an iconic 8V front grille with integrated spotlights, and the legendary double-bubble roofline. In April 1956, the car's first owner, Mario Muselli, entered the 8V in the Mille Miglia, finishing 9th in the GT 2.0 class. Thereafter, it was campaigned through 1962, winning many class firsts, establishing a solid race history.

The curvaceous and glorious Fiat 8V was given its name due to its eight-cylinder engine in 'vee' configuration. The engineers had though that the Ford Motor Company had exclusive rights to the name 'V8', which later turned out not to be the case, but the name 8V was already given. The engine displaced just over 120 cubic-inches and produced around 110 horsepower. Fitting the larger engine in the relatively small engine bay was achieved by placing the engine at a 70-degree angle. The eight cylinder engine had been intended to power a luxury vehicle, but soon decided against the idea and did not enter the highly exclusive luxury market.

Production of the 8V Fiat lasted only two years with a total of 114 examples being produced. Most were given coachwork by either Zagato, Vignale or Ghia. Zagato bodied approximately 30 examples with eight being given lightweight aluminum bodies intended primarily for competition. Thirty-four examples were fitted with original Carrozzeria Speciale FIAT bodywork.

The 8V was a disaster in the marketplace but victorious on the racing circuit, capturing important victories at the Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio.

by Dan Vaughan

The Fiat 8V, also known as 'Ottu Vu' in Italian, was first shown to the public at the 1952 Geneva Motor Show. Production lasted from 1952 through 1954 with a total of 114 examples being produced. The car was powered by a V8 engine, and since Fiat thought that Ford held the trademark for 'V8', they dubbed their vehicle the 8V. The design was courtesy of Dante Giacosa and stylist Fabio Lucio Rapi.

Of the 114 examples produced, many were unique. They had been designed for competition, specifically the two-liter class in the Italian Championship. The 2.0-liter V8 engines were fed through two Weber 36 DCF3 Carburetors and produced 105-115 horsepower, depending on configuration. There was a four-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel drum brakes, with an independent suspension comprised of coil springs, telescopic shocks, stabilizer bar and transverse wishbones. The lightweight bodies, especially those from Zagato, were mounted on a traditional tubular steel frame. The factory bodies had two large headlights in the grill with two small lights in the fenders. There was a second series of the bodies, which had changes to comply with GT regulations. These changes resulted in four headlights in the fender.

The Fiat 8Vs did well in competition, especially those created by Zagato. The bodies were lightweight and the engines were highly tuned. In 1954, the Fiat 8V won the Championship and cemented these cars potential in history.

Of the 114 examples produced, 34 had coachwork by Carozzeria Speciale FIAT. Carrozzeria Zagato produced bodies for 32, which were known as 'Elaborata Zagato.' The rest of the bodies, which were mostly coupes with a few spyders, were created by Ghia and Vignale.

by Dan Vaughan