1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia

over 3 years ago

Almost a week without posting but each time I had some time to do it, Broadcast Timeout errors... The fork ?

I'm going to get back on track with this stunning 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic, a little-known model because only 15 of them were built, soon to offer at auction through RM Sotheby's during the Elkhart Collection.

During the summer, I wrote a post about Fiat 8V Coupé and I was curious about this model designed by Carrozzeria Ghia but I don't find good pictures of this wonder. Perfect to explore the different models based on the Fiat 8V chassis. With only 15 Ghia Supersonics, the expected price is very high, between $US 1,750,000 and $US 2,200,000. Ouch !!!

History of Fiat 8V

The Fiat 8V or Otto Vu (in Italian) was produced only 2 years until 1954. Fiat decided to call the new model 8V and not V8 because they believed that Ford had exclusive rights to the name V8. But no...😀 In the US magazine Road & Track in 1952, the car is described as "the biggest surprise of the year". Because it was the first powerful sports car produced by Fiat after the World War II, the company was best known for the Topolino, a mass-produced small car.

On the chassis of the 8V, Fiat encouraged custom coachwork. On the 114 examples produced, we find the most famous coachbuilders of the time :

🚗 34 by Fiat's Reparto Carrozzerie Special (Special Bodies Department of Fiat),
🚗 29 examples by the Italian designer, Luigi Rapi ⬇️ for the Second series ** ,

🚗 30 by the Italian coachbuilder Zagato ⬇️ known as Elaborata Zagato (my favorite version 😀),

🚗 some examples done by Ghia including 12 Supersonic versions,
🚗 and even a cabriolet version, 3 examples of Demon Rouge done by Vignale.

With its lightweight and aerodynamic coachwork, the Fiat 8V was the star of the Salon in Geneva but the commercial success wasn't there. But on the racetrack, it was a different story with important successes at the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio and the victory of the Italian Championship in 1954 in the 2.0-litre class.

The Supersonic, the jet age design was created by Giovanni Savonuzzi working for Ghia. First this body equipped an Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint ((participation in the 1953 Mille Miglia). The Fiat 8V Supersonic was presented during the 1953 Turin Show for the American market.

How do you like this design?

This example was sold to Henry de Segur Lauve, Detroit designer behind the original Corvette prototype who found the design of this car superb during the 1983 Paris Auto Show. But as he used everyday, the engine failed. Fiat, in spite of the surprise that a driver was using this car in his everyday life and not on the racetrack 😀, sent a new engine.

Specification

The Fiat 8V is equipped by an overhead-valve light alloy V-8 engine with four-wheel independent suspension :

Dessin moteur.jpg

Source : hemmings.com. I really like these drawings...

This example is finished in beautiful garnet over tan interior, a beautiful example well maintained. But with the expected price it seems normal 😀

Sale


Model :	Fiat 8V Supersonic
Where :	RM Sotheby's Elkhart Collection
When :	23-24 October 2020
Asking Price :	$US 1,750,000 - $US 2,200,000