Description
At the end of the 1950s, the Fiat family introduced a new open-top car with elegant lines, simple mechanics and an affordable price, elements that made it very popular in Europe and also in the United States. Our car is the 1200 cc version, called the 1200 Turismo Veloce Trasformabile. Produced for the US market, where it was registered in 1959, it returned to Italy in 2007, where it is located today. The car features swivelling driver and passenger side seats to facilitate getting in and out of the car. In perfect working order, maintained by our Technical Assistance Workshop, it is in an excellent state of preservation with only a few slight blemishes on the bodywork. The car can only be seen by appointment at our premises. Thanks to our technical assistance and restoration workshop, it is possible to inspect it with our professionals, who will be able to provide any technical details. Historical notes taken from an article in Ruoteclassiche: "Towards the end of the 1950s, a new compact convertible joined the large Fiat family and, presented as the 1100/ 103 TV, it combined elegant lines with simple and inexpensive mechanics. It gained great visibility in Europe but also in the United States, where it was appreciated for its refined styling and affordable price. In the beginning it was the Fiat 1100/ 103 TV, an ordinary and tireless mid-size sedan, that lent its proven mechanics to the new "Trasformabile", unveiled in March 1955 during a memorable edition of the Geneva Motor Show." "The hand of Rapi. The lines of the attractive two-seater were traced by the well-known Fabio Luigi Rapi, at the time head of Fiat's Special Bodywork Department. The car, designated with the design code 'Tipo 103, 400', stood out for its simple but refined silhouette." "The styling. The sleek and streamlined profile was characterised by slightly tapered and protruding rear wings, with a large (vertical) chrome badge close to the wheel arch. The bodywork of the Fiat 1100/ 103 TV Trasformabile was embellished with multiple chrome details, at the time synonymous with prestige, as were the wheels with specific cups in a multi-spoke design. Clearly American-inspired was the particular frieze on the bonnet, a 'V' incorporating the Fiat logo, and also the Panorama windscreen with curved glass, again with a chrome frame. Among the most sought-after details were the direction indicators, encapsulated in the front rostrums of the bumpers. Zen approach. Like many other cars of the period, the rear end was more minimalist and less personal, with small, vertically placed elliptical headlights and a chrome bumper. The cabin echoed the linearity of the exterior forms, here with a touch of exclusivity evoked by the leather trim (extended to the dashboard) and the steering wheel, equipped with the typical chrome horn profile. The instrumentation was also minimalist, featuring only an odometer, rev counter and clock. Brilliant. As the name suggested, the Trasformabile shared much of the mechanicals with the more humble 1100/ 103. By virtue of the acronym TV, Turismo Veloce, the spider was more powerful than the saloon." "The evolution. In 1956, with the second series, the 1100/ 103 "E" engine with 53 hp debuted, along with improved suspension and minor upgrades in trim. The key step, however, came in 1957: with the introduction of the 1100/ 103 "D", the Trasformabile adopted the mechanicals of the new Fiat 1200 "Gran Luce" that replaced the previous 1100/ 103 TV sedan. The engine, designated 103 'G' had a displacement of 1, 221 cc and could deliver 55 hp. Aesthetically, the 1200 was characterised by a front end with circular indicators placed below the main headlights. In all, there were about a thousand Fiat 1100/ 103 Transformables with a 1. 1-litre engine built before the '1200' model." "The dawn of a new era. With a price tag of 1, 250, 000 lire (about 20, 000 euros today), the Turin spider proved highly desirable by making inroads into the ranks of the Italian and foreign bourgeoisie, eager for a jaunty and distinctive but undemanding car. Production ended in 1966, not before totalling 43, 000 examples ... "
