To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Amelia
Island event, 6 - 7 March 2020.
Estimate:
$50,000 - $70,000
- Restored by Bacchelli & Villa
- Interior restored by well-known Italian firm Lupi
- Finished in eye-catching Periwinkle Blue over navy and light
blue
- Retains its matching-numbers engine
Based on an everyday sedan, Fiat's second attempt at a sports
tourer sold very well in Europe and the United States. It was
introduced in 1959 as a two-seat cabriolet called the 1200 with a
58 hp four-cylinder engine and as a 1500 S with an 80 hp twin-cam
version of the same basic powerplant. Models were upgraded to 1500
and 1600 S with more powerful engines in 1963. Some 43,000 such
cars were produced though 1966. The early history of this vehicle
is not known, but it is believed to have been brought stateside by
a prior owner residing in Nevada.
Finished in Periwinkle Blue over a contrasting navy-and-light-blue
interior, this numbers-matching example was the beneficiary of a
documented restoration completed in 2015 by Auto Sport (now
Bacchelli & Villa) in Modena, Italy. A receipt showing the final
cost of restoration is available for inspection. The Fiat is fitted
with a navy-blue canvas top, boot, and carpets. The interior was
done by the well-known Italian firm Lupi as part of the
restoration. Fiat's novel swivel buckets seats are also
featured.
Included are the jack and spare wheel that matches those on the
car. Having been driven just 88,500 km over its life, the consigner
proudly states, "It runs and drives like new from the factory." The
Fiat has been shown locally, but never on a national level. It
received Best of Show honors at the Festival Italiano in Ho-Ho-Kus,
New Jersey, and the Best European Car award in Ridgewood, New
Jersey, both in 2017. Along with period-correct wide whitewall
tires, this makes for a very striking combination which always
elicits admiring comments.To view this car and others currently
consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am20.
