Rare and unique are the words that best define this 1949 Fiat 1500D Convertible, styled and bodied by the prestigious Stabilimenti Farina. This is not just any early postwar Fiat: it is the six-cylinder Fiat 1500, the refined evolution of the prewar 1500 “6C,” one of the most advanced Italian family cars of the late… Read More Maroon six / 2: 1949 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet by Farina
This Peugeot 203 Barchetta by Barbier is one of those rare postwar French specials that survived as a testament to a period when creativity and racing spirit went hand in hand. Built on the robust Peugeot 203 platform introduced in 1948, Barbier’s barchetta was conceived as a lightweight open sports car for hill climbs and… Read More Blue barchetta: 1951 Peugeot 203 Barchetta by Barbier
Among the icons of postwar Italian motoring, the Alfa Romeo 1900 stands out as a landmark model: the first Alfa built in series with a monocoque body, introduced in 1950 and soon offered in sportier and more elegant versions. The “C” designation of the 1900C Sprint Coupé can be interpreted in two ways: “Corto,” referring… Read More Gracefully styled: 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900C Sprint Coupé by Pininfarina
It is very rare to encounter cars of this level of rarity in such condition; fortunately, this is one of those occasions. The Jaguar Heritage Trust Certificate records that the chassis of this car was manufactured on 25 January 1955 as a left-hand drive unit, delivered without bodywork. The incomplete chassis was shipped to Delecroix,… Read More Rare encounter: 1955 Jaguar XK140 Coupé by Ghia
The Fiat 850 T was introduced in 1964 as a commercial evolution of the Fiat 850 platform. Designed to replace earlier Fiat light commercial models, the 850 T adopted a cab-over-engine layout with rear-mounted mechanicals, using the 843cc four-cylinder engine derived from the Fiat 850 passenger car series. Its compact size and versatility made it… Read More Low-ratio gearbox: 1970 Fiat 850T Hearse by Grazia
Founded in Turin in 1905 (as a car maker, but its actual foundation dates back to 1835 as a train wheels manufacturer), Diatto was one of Italy’s earliest automotive pioneers. Known for building advanced racing and luxury cars, the brand collaborated with figures like Ettore Bugatti and earned a reputation for engineering excellence. By the… Read More Modern but bespoke: 2007 Diatto GT by Zagato
This 1959 Fiat 600 Berlinetta Rendez-Vous by Vignale is a rare and highly desirable piece of Italian automotive history. Designed by the renowned Giovanni Michelotti, this elegant coupe made its debut at the 1955 Concorso d’Eleganza in Campione d’Italia, where it won the prestigious 1st Prize Overall. The example offered here, chassis number 507031, was… Read More Minified style: 1959 FIAT 600 Rendez-Vous by Vignale
And here’s another “Vittoria,” the same name for a car that is neither a Lancia nor built by Bertone: this one is based on a Fiat 1100B and constructed by Balbo, one of the historic coachbuilders from Turin and arguably one of the “top five,” if such a ranking existed. Unlike the car featured on… Read More Pillarless rarity: 1950 Fiat 1100 Vittoria by Balbo
The 1938 Mercedes-Benz 230 Coupe with custom coachwork by Baur offers a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship of two distinct eras. Originally delivered as a sedan in late 1938, this vehicle began its life in Dortmund, Germany, equipped with a six-cylinder chassis and embodying pre-war engineering excellence. However, its story takes an intriguing turn in… Read More Never seen before: 1938 Mercedes-Benz 230 Coupe by Baur
We do not know who built this example of a Barchetta, but we can speculate that whoever did so aimed to participate in the “Sport” class road competitions. In this class, many individuals—often in a highly artisanal manner—engaged in creating small, lightweight cars, frequently based on Fiat 500B and C chassis with bodies crafted by… Read More Twin cam mystery: 1939 Barchetta
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