1957 Fiat 1100 TV/1200 Stanguellini-modified Bertone Spider America (one-off show car)
- Engine
- 1.2L OHV inline-four, dual Weber carburetors, 59 bhp
The Bertone 'Spider America' is a one-of-a-kind coachbuilt prototype built in 1957 on a Fiat 1100 TV chassis uprated to 1200 specification and further developed by Stanguellini. Bodied by Franco Scaglione — whose Alfa Romeo BAT cars influenced its prominent tail fins — it was shown at the Turin Auto Salon in 1957 before travelling to events in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Buenos Aires. After decades of obscurity, the car was rediscovered in 1994 and restored to concours standard, subsequently appearing at Villa d'Este and Pebble Beach.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$275,000
- 1957 →Factory deliveryNuccio Bertonefull documentation
Bertone commissioned the one-off bodywork under a specific production number; the acquisition of the base Fiat 1100 TV and its subsequent modification by Stanguellini are documented in handwritten notes by Bertone himself.
- 1960 →Private saleArgentine ownerpartial documentation
Car was shipped to Buenos Aires for the 1960 auto salon and believed sold into local ownership; exact details of the transaction are uncertain. The car was subsequently forgotten for several decades.
- 1994 →Acquisition unknownCurrent consignorfull documentation
Discovered the car in intact but deteriorated condition and undertook a comprehensive restoration to concours level; assembled extensive supporting documentation including factory records and period press coverage spanning roughly 23 years of ownership.
Competition
- 1957-10-01Turin Auto SalonExhibited as coachbuilder show car
The completed Bertone prototype made its public debut at this salon, presented by the coachbuilding firm as a one-off styled by Franco Scaglione.
- 1958-07-01Concorso d'Eleganza Cortina d'Ampezzo
Event held at the Hotel Miramonti-Majestic; the car's presence there is confirmed by surviving period photographs.
- 1960-12-01Buenos Aires Auto SalonExhibited
The car was shipped to Argentina specifically for this exhibition; a period salon program survives in the current owner's documentation.
- 2004Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'EsteAccepted and presented
Following restoration, the car was accepted to the prestigious Italian concours; it was at this event that Lili Bertone presented the consignor with Nuccio Bertone's original handwritten production notes.
- 2015Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceCited among 20 greatest cars in the show by Motor Trend
The prototype was entered and displayed at the California concours, receiving notable editorial recognition from a major automotive publication.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1957ModificationStanguellini
The base Fiat 1100 TV was factory-uprated to 1200 mechanical specification, then further prepared by Stanguellini for enhanced chassis dynamics before receiving bespoke Scaglione bodywork.
Work carried out under Bertone commission number 8900 prior to the Turin show debut.
- —Restoration
Following its rediscovery in 1994 in an intact but neglected condition, the car underwent a thorough ground-up restoration to full concours standard.
Restoration was commissioned and overseen by the current consignor; the finished result was accepted at Villa d'Este in 2004, indicating completion before that date.
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