1953 Fiat 8V (Otto Vu) Cabriolet by Vignale
- Engine
- 1,996cc OHV V8, 115 bhp
- Colour
- Italian racing red
The Fiat 8V (Otto Vu) was produced in only 114 examples across two years, making its Geneva Salon debut in March 1952 to widespread acclaim. Chassis 000050 was despatched as a bare chassis to coachbuilder Alfredo Vignale in July 1953, where stylist Giovanni Michelotti penned an exclusive cabriolet body — the sole open example among ten 8V chassis bodied by Vignale. First delivered in the United States, likely to a Florida owner in 1954, the car was later discovered in the Utah desert in the early 1990s and subsequently restored to red-over-tan specification.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €1,120,000 (≈ $1.23M)
- 1954-09-01 →Acquisition unknownJohn Harriganpartial documentation
Florida resident believed to be the first American owner; period photographs show the car with heavier bumpers, a different dashboard, and painted wire wheels during this period.
- Date unknownFactory deliverySig. Leonepartial documentation
The cabriolet body was designed exclusively for this individual; their ultimate fate and how long they retained the car is not recorded.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownEarly American ownernone documentation
An unidentified US-based owner modified the car with lightweight competition-style bumperettes, a revised dashboard layout, and a five-speed Alfa Romeo gearbox in place of the original Fiat unit.
- Date unknownPrivate saleDon Williamspartial documentation
Discovered the car abandoned in the Utah desert and commissioned a full restoration to Italian racing red with tan leather and chrome wire wheels; also sourced and fitted a replacement engine numbered 000184.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownProminent European collectorpartial documentation
Current consignor; the car was recently serviced prior to being offered at auction.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Modification
At some stage during US ownership, the original heavy bumpers were swapped for lightweight competition-style bumperettes, the dashboard layout was altered, and the original Fiat four-speed gearbox was replaced by a five-speed Alfa Romeo unit.
According to Don Williams, these changes were already present when he acquired the car, pointing to an earlier American owner as responsible.
- —Restoration
Full restoration carried out by Don Williams after discovering the car in the Utah desert; finished in Italian racing red with tan leather upholstery and chrome wire wheels. A replacement V-8 engine (number 000184), believed to be a factory substitute unit from another chassis, was sourced and fitted.
The car was acquired without its original engine, a situation described as common for US-based 8Vs owing to the scarcity of specialist service facilities.
- —Service
Routine servicing carried out shortly before the auction consignment by the most recent European owner.
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