To Be OFFERED AT AUCTIONEstimate:
€1,200,000 - €1,400,000
- One of just 114 8Vs built
- Retains its original engine
- Known history in England since 1965
- Acquired by the current owner in 2007
- Used and enjoyed on both road and track, including the 2015
Goodwood Revival and 2016 Vernasca Silver Flag
- Fitted with a synchromesh 8V gearbox, original transmission
included in the sale.
Please note this car is titled as 1965 (first date of
registration).
Please note that this lot will need to be collected in Chobham,
U.K.
Fiat's legendary 8V, or Otto Vu in Italian, was built for two years
only, in 114 examples, and it remains one of the marque's most
legendary motor cars to this day. Out of the 114 built, 63 were
penned by Fiat's chief designer Fabio Rapi, 34 first series cars
and 29 second series cars. It was the star of the Geneva Salon in
March 1952, and it goes without saying that this new Fiat got lots
of attention from the motoring press. With its potent new power
plant developed by Dante Giacosa, the 2.0-litre Tipo 104 all
aluminium engine featured a finned aluminum sump, forged
crankshaft, polished intakes and ports, and tubular stainless-steel
exhaust manifolds. With a tubular chassis and independent
suspension all round this was truly a very special automobile.
Envisioned for competition use from the very start, it proved
highly successful and the car to beat with some notable results
including winning the 2.0-litre class of the Italian Championship
in 1954.
Chassis number 000104 has spent the majority of its life in the
U.K., the country from where it is offered today. Having been
originally delivered to Austria, it was shipped new to Steyr after
being completed by Fiat on June 22, 1954. It remained in
continental Europe until 1965, having been exported to the U.K.
from Germany. Upon its arrival, it was registered in the U.K. by
Anthony Roy Nichols of Norwich on January 11, 1965. Amazingly, the
car's original 1965 logbook is included in the history file,
describing it as a red coupe fitted with engine 104.000 000156 (the
engine fitted to the car today).
By 1971, the 8V had passed to a Commander Allison in Berkshire.
That same year, the car was purchased by David Baldock. According
to correspondence in the history file, the 8V was painted
silver-grey and not running at the time of his purchase, but he was
able to return it to running order without much effort. Keeping the
car for two years, he sold the car onto Peter Gant, a classic car
dealer in Hastings, who in turn sold the car to Robert Mansfield.
Mansfield kept the car for thirty years, before selling to John
Baker of Cheltenham in 2003.
In 2007, the 8V was acquired from John Baker, which had been
partially restored by Baker and was still in need of completion.
The car was sent to specialists IN Racing in Nottingham to be
finished and was completed roughly a decade ago. Intended to be
restored and enjoyed as a road car, the consignor's chance meeting
with the now Duke of Richmond at Donnington resulted in an
invitation for the car to be raced in the Fordwater Trophy at
Goodwood Revival in 2015, where it placed 15th. The following year,
the car was driven by the vendor to Italy where it competed in the
Vernasca Silver Flag hill climb and driven home, a round trip of
over 3,000 km and testament to the car's reliability. Prior to its
participation at the Goodwood Revival, the car was fitted with a
custom-made, synchromesh gearbox for ease of use, and the original
unit is included in the sale.
Enthusiast owned and enjoyed for decades while in the U.K.,
including in the thirteen-year custodianship of it consignor, this
8V is in great condition and offers a range of possibilities to its
next owner, as it would surely be ripe for entry into a variety of
vintage races and tours, or for spirited road use. To view this car
and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM
website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/0420.