Meet the Fiat 8V: where Italian elegance meets racing spirit.
At the 2024 Techno Classica, I saw a rare Fiat 8V. The Fiat 8V was the big surprise at the 1952 Geneva Motor Show. Even 72 years later, this sports car still impresses. I wasn't familiar with this sports car before. But after this random encounter in Essen, I was convinced: The sports car unveiled in Geneva in 1952 is one of the most beautiful cars of all time. That's why I decided to explore the story behind the Fiat 8V.
Since moving to the Ruhr region in 1995, I've been attending the Techno Classica regularly. The first few years as a classic car fan, and for almost two decades now also out of professional interest. Over this long time, I've seen many beautiful cars in Essen. If I were to make a list, the Fiat 8V would rank very high. With the "otto vu," as Italians affectionately call it, Fiat built a true beauty in 1952 that captivated me even more than 70 years after its debut.
The Fiat 8V was a car by Dante Giacosa!
In Essen, I stumbled across the Fiat 8V, which was previously unknown to me. I took a few photos and started researching when I got home. That's when I learned that the sports car was a creation of Dante Giacosa. Most car enthusiasts associate the engineer's name with the Fiat 500 "Topolino," Italy's "people's car." The 500 practically jump-started personal mobility in Italy. After World War II, Giacosa was responsible for developing the Fiat 1100/103. During that period, he also worked with gas turbines, using the Fiat 8V chassis.
Later, the engineer shaped successful models like the Fiat 600, Fiat Nuova 500, and Fiat 124. All were classic rear-wheel drives, yet in the 1950s, Giacosa was already experimenting with front-wheel drive. However, it took nearly ten years to convince his employer to adopt the concept. Not until 1964 did Fiat introduce the Autobianchi Primula, officially a joint venture with bicycle manufacturer Bianchi, signaling a strategic shift. It's impressive that Giacosa still found the time to create the 8V, earning a place among sports car legends.
The long road to the "otto vu"!
The 8V's story began right after World War II. Wars, as cynical as it sounds, accelerate development. During World War II, the industry learned to optimize production efficiency. Where cars once rolled off assembly lines, wartime goods were produced. When the guns finally fell silent, companies returned to their original products, using their new know-how. Fiat's executives knew that the 1935 and 1937 Fiat 1100 and 1500 models were outdated. So, in 1945, they launched several development projects to modernize their lineup.
The FIAT 8V in Essen, Germany
Dante Giacosa and his team explored various ideas and concepts. This was also due to the management repeatedly adjusting their requirements. Eventually, the decision was made to design the body based on American automotive tastes, aiming at Italian-American customers with dreams of expanding into the U.S. market. The Fiat 1400 debuted at the 1950 Geneva Motor Show, followed by the larger, more luxurious Fiat 1900 two years later. Along the way, management, sales, and engineers considered several engine concepts.
The fourth attempt yielded the perfect engine!
Fiat developed a straight-six, a V6, and an initial V8 engine. The straight-six was too long, and Giacosa doubted the V6's ability to deliver the desired smoothness. The first V8, with a 90° angle, was too wide. Switching to a 70° bank angle finally achieved the desired compactness. To ensure a 90° firing interval, Giacosa offset the crankpins of opposing cylinders by 20°. A single camshaft centrally located between the cylinder banks controlled the overhead valves via tappets, pushrods, and rocker arms, with two valves per cylinder.
Giacosa crafted the V8 entirely from aluminum, reducing weight. A bore of 72 mm and a stroke of 61.3 mm resulted in a displacement of 1,996 cc. The first version of the engine produced 105 hp, with later variants reaching 115 and 125 hp. The initial configuration was tested in a luxury sedan prototype based on an extended Fiat 1400 chassis with a Pininfarina body. This car was also intended for the American market. However, test drives revealed that the engine wasn't powerful enough for a luxury sedan, so Fiat abandoned the internally designated Tipo 105 sedan project.
In early 1952, the Fiat 8V debuted at the Geneva Motor Show!
To avoid scrapping the V8 project, Giacosa proposed using the engine in a sports car, suggesting it could later inspire a luxury sedan. Management agreed, and development was greenlit. To save time, Giacosa outsourced the development to Società Italiana Applicazioni Trasformazioni Automobilistiche (SIATA). The car's design was handled by Luigi Rapi, who expanded on the streamlined style of the 1947 Fiat 1100 S. Former race driver Carlo Salamano, who had been with Fiat since ending his racing career in 1923, took charge of fine-tuning. Fiat unveiled the sports car in Geneva in 1952.
The FIAT 8V in Essen, Germany
At its debut, Road & Track magazine called the Fiat 8V "the biggest surprise of the year." However, only 114 units were produced by September 1954. Fiat itself bodied just 63 units in two series, 34 in the first and 29 in the second, under its in-house Carrozzerie Derivate e Speciali division. The most noticeable difference between the two series is the headlight placement: the first series has two of its four headlights in the grille, while the second places all four in the fenders. The remaining chassis were sold to Ghia, Pininfarina, Vignale, and Zagato, who crafted their own designs, with Vignale and Zagato also producing some open 8V Spider models.
€1,075,000 is a lot of money!
The Fiat 8V displayed at the 2024 Techno Classica in Essen featured an original second-series Fiat body. Delivered in June 1954 with chassis number 000104, it was initially sold in Austria before making its way to Germany and then the UK in 1965. A mild restoration was carried out in 2007, and eight years later, the car appeared at Goodwood. At the Essen event, the car was listed by a Dutch classic car dealer with a price tag of €1,075,000. A lot of money! But for such an incredibly beautiful car, it might just be worth it.
Picture credits: Archiv AutoNatives.de