1954 Fiat 8V (Ottovù) Second Series
- Engine
- 2.0L all-aluminium V8 (Tipo 104), with finned sump, forged crankshaft, polished ports, and stainless-steel tubular exhaust manifolds
- Colour
- Red
The Fiat 8V (Otto Vu), chassis 000104, is one of only 114 examples produced between 1952 and 1954, featuring a Dante Giacosa-designed 2.0-litre all-aluminium engine and tubular chassis with all-round independent suspension. Delivered new to Austria in June 1954, it later moved to the UK in 1965 and spent the following decades in British ownership. A partial restoration was completed by specialists IN Racing of Nottingham, after which the car was campaigned at the 2015 Goodwood Revival and the Vernasca Silver Flag hillclimb in 2016.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate €1,200,000 – €1,400,000
- —Auction saleSold €905,000 (≈ $996K)
- 1954-06-22 →Factory deliveryAustrian first owner (Steyr delivery recipient)partial documentation
Vehicle was completed by the factory and dispatched to Steyr, Austria; the car subsequently remained in continental Europe for over a decade.
- → 1965Acquisition unknownGerman owner prior to UK exportnone documentation
Car was registered in Germany at some point before being exported to the UK in 1965; no further detail given.
- 1965-01-11 →Acquisition unknownAnthony Roy Nicholsfull documentation
Registered the car in Norwich upon UK arrival; the original 1965 logbook survives in the history file and records the car as a red coupe with its current engine.
- → 1971Acquisition unknownCommander Allisonpartial documentation
Based in Berkshire; owned the car by 1971 before it was sold that same year.
- 1971 → 1973Private saleDavid Baldockfull documentation
Purchased the car in a non-running, silver-grey condition and returned it to running order with minimal effort; retained ownership for approximately two years before passing it on.
- 1973 →Private salePeter Gantpartial documentation
Classic car dealer based in Hastings who acquired the car from Baldock and subsequently sold it on.
- → 2003Private saleRobert Mansfieldpartial documentation
Retained the vehicle for roughly thirty years before selling it on in 2003.
- 2003 → 2007Private saleJohn Bakerpartial documentation
Based in Cheltenham; carried out a partial restoration during his ownership but did not complete it before selling the car in 2007.
- 2007 →Private saleCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Commissioned specialists IN Racing in Nottingham to complete the restoration; fitted a custom synchromesh gearbox and used the car both on road and in competition over a thirteen-year custodianship.
Competition
- 2015Goodwood Revival2015 Goodwood Revival Fordwater Trophy15th
Entry came about through a chance introduction to the Duke of Richmond at Donington; car had a custom synchromesh gearbox fitted prior to this event.
- 2016Vernasca Silver Flag hillclimbDriver: Current vendor
Car was driven to the event in Italy and back, covering more than 3,000 km in total, demonstrating its road-going reliability.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1971Mechanical
Car returned to running condition after a period of non-use; the work required was reportedly modest.
Carried out by or under David Baldock's ownership.
- 2003Restoration
Partial restoration undertaken by John Baker; the scope of work was incomplete at the time the car changed hands in 2007.
- —RestorationIN Racing
Completion of the partial restoration carried out to road-going standard, finishing work begun under the previous owner.
Executed in Nottingham; work was reportedly concluded approximately a decade before the catalogue was written.
- —Modification
A bespoke synchromesh gearbox was installed in place of the original unit to make the car more manageable in competition. The original gearbox is retained and included in the sale.
Fitted prior to the car's entry in the 2015 Goodwood Revival.
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