1964 Fiat 2300

Coupe by Ghia
Chassis number: 114BS*129460
Engine number: 114B006

The early years for the Fiat company were spent building big, four-cylinder vehicles that had displacements of six to ten liters. In the early 1950s, fiat produced a V8 model called Otto Vu or 8V. Of the 1960s, the company built some excitement with their six-cylinder 2300 cars. In modern times, the company has built a reputation as a volume manufacturer of small cars.

The Fiat 2300 was introduced in 1961 and was the company's flagship of the era. Power was from a 2279cc overhead valve six-cylinder engine and offered 105 horsepower. (With the twin-carb 'S' setup, horsepower rose to 136 BHP). The 2300 had a 2650 mm (104-inch) wheelbase and four-wheel power-assisted disc brakes. A true automatic transmission was available for the first time on a Fiat, but most cars had the standard four-speed manual.

At the 1960 Turin Motor Show, the company introduced a Ghia-designed coupe prototype. Production began in 1962.

This 2300S is a period-correct silver grey example with red leather upholstery. It was purchased in 2005 by the current owner. This Ghia coupe is a radio delete car fitted with twin Weber carburetors and disc brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

At the 1960 Turin Motor Show, the Fiat 2300 Coupe was exhibited as a Sergio Sartorelli design concept on Carrozzeria Ghia's stand. Ghia initially intended to build the 2300 in house at their facilities, but construction was later assigned to OSI as Ghia was unable to supply the volumes needed for production. Power was from a 2,279cc overhead valve six-cylinder engine offering 105 horsepower, or 136 bhp for the twin-carburetor 'S' version. It was an overhead valve straight-six with a cast iron block and aluminum cylinder head. It had a single twin-choke downdraught carburetor, and the 'S' version used two twin-choke horizontal carburetors.

Introduced in 1961, they were a logical successor to the 2100 that was produced from 1959 to 1961, and a larger sibling to the 1959 to 1968 Model 1800. The 2300 rested on a 2,650mm wheelbase, had unibody construction, and four-wheel power-assisted disc brakes. The suspension in the front was comprised of double wishbones, sprung by torsion bars, with hydraulic dampers and an anti-roll bar. In the back was a solid axle with leaf springs, hydraulic dampers and an anti-roll bar. Most of the 2300 models and all of the 2300S coupes were fitted with the all-synchromesh 4-speed manual transmission. An overdrive and a Saxomat automated clutch were optional. In 1966 a Borg Warner 3-speed automatic replaced the Saxomat option.

The Ghia styling was similar to the ASA and Ferrari 250 GT of the same era. The interior was luxurious with padded leather seats, a Nardi steering wheel, and other amenities.

Production of the Fiat 2300 lasted from 1961 through 1969.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Ghia

The Fiat 2300S started as a project car for the 1960 Turin Motor Show, with a design by Ghia's Tom Tjaarda. Fiat Management spotted the car and decided they would like to produce a luxury Grand Tourer. Floorpans were sent to Ghia, which hand-built the bodywork, and the engines to Abarth, which tuned, installed and road tested everyone.

Technically the model was advanced. The six-cylinder Lampredi-designed engine added a second Weber carburetor, raised compression, and fitted a high lift camshaft. This ultimately produced 136 horsepower and propelled the car to 115 miles per hour. The car has dual-circuit servo-assisted disk brakes on all four wheels. The front suspension is a double wishbone and torsion bar, the rear live axle and leaf springs.

The Coupé is a luxurious four-seater with electric windows, Veglia instruments, and a Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel. This car was originally delivered in Germany as the model was never available in the U.S. Market.

Fiat had launched the 2100 station wagon aimed at the U.S. market in the 1950s, but it wasn't a successful sale either in the U.S. or Europe. Instead Ghia took the 2100 platform and transformed it into the 2300 design. One of the most rare ‘niche' Fiat models, the 2300/2300S Coupé was introduced in 1961 and was produced until 1969. First launched at the 1960 Turin Motor Show by Ghia, the 2300 was introduced originally as a prototype sports coupé. Going on sale in 1962, the production version, based on the newly introduced Fiat 2300 sedan, was first shown in 1961. Renowned Pininfarina designed the 2300 Saloon while Sergio Sartorelli manager of Ghia's Design division designed the Coupe.

Riding on 104.3-inch wheelbase, the 2300 replaced the Fiat 2100. With a curb weight of 2,833 pounds, the 2300 measured 176.6 inches in length, 63.8 inches in width and had a height of 57.9 inches. The 2300 Saloon became the first Fiat to be available with a fully automatic gearbox that replaced the Saxomat clutch as an optional extra in 1966. Four-speed all-synchromesh gearboxes were used in all 2300S coupés and most 2300s models.

Ghia developed the coupé body, but he lacked the production capacity for the volume he hoped for so he had no choice but to subcontract the production to OSI. Sharing its core components with the 2300 saloon, the coupé body was welded to the standard floor platform of the saloon. They shared the same wheelbase, but the saloon had a shorter track than the saloon. The final drive gearing for the coupé was bumped up to 3.9, which resulted in 20.9 mph per 1,000 rpm.

The 2300 has often been nicknamed the ‘poor man's Ferrari' as it embodied true ‘Grand Touring' style and grace and performance combined with the powerful induction road and exhaust sound. The interior of the 2300 featured four full–size seats and large doors and plenty of luxurious extras like power windows, a cable-operated 'hand throttle' and a passenger foot-brace and opening body vents to keep your feet cool. The aerated vinyl seats were composed of upholstery on chromed metal frames instead of factory-option leather. A Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel was prominently displayed like typical Ferrari's of the era.

The dashboard had a full array of Veglia instruments and plenty of bells and whistles like an alarm bell that alerted the driver if any of the warning lights go on above 2500 rpm. The alarm monitored the oil pressure, water-temperature, handbrake and choke warning lights. The windscreen wipers could be activated by the panel switch or via a floor switch incorporated in a foot-pump that activated the screen-wash. There were two horns, one air horn for regular motoring and one ‘beep-beep' horn for after 10pm when towns of Italy banned the use of air-horns.

Powering the Fiat 2300 was a powerful 2,279 cc OHV inline-six engine that produced 136 hp and capable of achieving 120 mph. Carlo Abarth tweaked Lamredi's design by adding a second twin-draft Weber carburetor and a ‘hotter' camshaft, which boosted the engine production from 105 bhp up to an impressive 136 bhp. Twin-carbs were featured on the 'S' version. The spunky little Fiat featured power assisted brake discs for all four wheels combined with twin servos that apply the power to stopping.

In 1965 the second generation of the Fiat 2300 arrived with a few visual upgrades and improved equipment. The performance now was 130 hp and modifications included new side moldings and louvres and hubcaps. The interior featured more chrome in the door cutouts, red warning lights in the door front sides, dashboard wood and artificial leather seating instead of fabric.

The Fiat 2300 had a top speed around 120 mph and could achieve 0-60mph in about 10 seconds. It had an estimated 20-23 miles per gallon consumption. Production ended in June of 1968 and an estimated 7,200 models were produced with around 70 of these going to the United Kingdom. In the early 1960's one could purchase one of these models for around $4,882.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_2300

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20131231/CARNEWS01/131229922

http://www.zuckerfabrik24.de/fiat/fiat2300_coupe.htm

http://www.fiatmotorclubgb.org/Cars/2300s.htm

by Jessican Donaldson