1954 Fiat 1100/103 Turismo Veloce Charmant Coupé by Vignale
- Engine
- 1.089L OHV inline-four, twin Zenith carburetors on Abarth intake manifold, 57 bhp at 5,200 rpm
A 1954 Fiat 1100/103 Turismo Veloce 'Charmant' Coupé bodied by Carrozzeria Vignale to a Giovanni Michelotti design, one of only twelve constructed. Delivered new in Messina, Sicily, in April 1954, the car was parked in a Palermo garage by its first owner and remained essentially untouched for roughly six decades before its rediscovery in 2012. Subsequently disassembled, inspected, and carefully reconditioned, it retains extraordinary originality with just over 6,000 km recorded.
Ownership
- 2021-01-21Auction saleSold US$170,000
- 1954-04-28 →Factory deliveryLuisa Gaetanofull documentation
Wealthy lawyer based in Messina, Sicily who rarely drove the car; eventually stored it in a Palermo garage on bricks with all fluids drained to preserve it. Retained ownership until death, after which the family arranged a sale.
- → 2012InheritanceGaetano familypartial documentation
Inherited the car following Luisa Gaetano's passing; it remained in the same Palermo garage in stored condition until the family sold it.
- 2012 →Private saleDaniele Spatarofull documentation
Italian FIAT enthusiast who located the car in Palermo and undertook a thorough disassembly and reconditioning; the discovery was the subject of a short film by Petrolicious.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownProminent US collectorpartial documentation
Recent custodian during whose ownership further refurbishment work was carried out; records of this work are included in the history file.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2012Restoration
Following acquisition, the car was fully disassembled and every component inspected. Surfaces and original finishes found to be in remarkably sound condition were cleaned, clear-coated, and reconditioned rather than replaced, preserving maximum originality.
The minimal deterioration was attributed to the careful dry-storage measures taken by the original owner decades earlier.
- —Service
Additional refurbishment work carried out while the car was in the ownership of a prominent American collector; documentary records of this work are retained in the history file.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.