The German Fiat club exhibited this 1957 Fiat 1200 Granluce Wonderful, first shown by Vignale at the Turin Motor Show. It should be noted that it presents a Targa roof, seven years before Porsche invented it. Three to five cars of this type were built.
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
The 33rd edition of the Techno-Classica motor show, held in Essen, Germany, was once again the focal point of the international classic car scene with more than 1,100 exhibitors.
If the manufacturers’ stands are less grandiose than before, the quality of the vehicles exhibited by the many dealers and brand clubs allows the visitor to get his money’s worth. It also seems that some prices charged in the past have returned to more reasonable values, although there are many exceptions of course.
Finally, it seems that the German public is always fond of little Italians, which allows you to see rarities in this show that you don’t see anywhere else except perhaps in Italy itself. This is what I invite you to discover now.
On the Italian Side
This 1927 Fiat 509 S Mille Miglia was one of the 99 starters of the 1931 edition of the Italian classic with a 57th place at the finish line. In 2016, it took part again, 85 years after.
A 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS Zagato promoting the Gran Premio Nuvolari in Mantova.
What we now call an ‘etceterini’, built in 1947 on chassis and mechanics of a Fiat 1100.
Another example of etceterini is this 1950 Benedetti Giannini 750 Sport bodied by Carrozzeria Lotti of Florence. It took part in the 1952 Mille Miglia.
1956 Maserati 200 S, one of the five examples bodied by Fiandri. First delivered to Gilberto Cornacchia who raced it in period, it was later owned by Maserati collector Matteo Panini.
Competing in the 2 litre category as the Maserati 200 S, this 1956 Ferrari 500 TR will be offered for sale in May at the Villa Erba auction. Estimated between $4.4 million and $4.9 million.
The easily recognizable engine of the Ferrari 500 TR.
This Lancia Astura from the 4th series, built in 1939 for the Italian government and bodied by Pinin Farina, miraculously survived WWII unharmed. It was once owned by ex-F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
In smaller cars, some rarities were also on display like this 1937 Lancia Aprilia convertible by Stabilimenti Farina …
or this 1947 Fiat 1100 “Lingotto” …
and the 1948 Fiat 1100 A Balbo cabriolet.
1947 Lancia Aprilia Pinin Farina cabriolet.
This Vignale bodied Ferrari 195 S, chassis number 0097S, after a short racing existence, was sent to the US where it suffered some fire damage. It is now in concours condition.
1952 Siata Daina Stabilimenti Farina berlinetta of which twenty examples were built and only six are known to survive.
This 1952 Lancia Aurelia B53 coupé Allemano is unique and is the result of the drawings of the then stylist at Allemano, Giovanni Michelotti.
Another targa model is this Fiat 128 modified by Moretti in 1969. In 1970, Moretti launched a small series of targa and coupé models.
1957 Fiat Abarth Zagato, one of 21 of the 1st Series.
In 1959, Viotti proposed his version of the Fiat 600 Granluce in coupé form.
Designed by Pietro Frua and built by Viotti, this 1960 Fiat 2100 cabriolet was produced in three to five units.
This Lancia Stratos HF Group 4 rally car is the most successful privateer Stratos. It won the 1979 San Remo rally driven by Italian Tony Fassina who clinched the Italian rally championship the same year.
This Bruseghini Joker 750 is based on the Fiat 600 D platform. Bruseghini produced some 20 examples between 1976 and 1977.
French and Others
This 1928 Bugatti Type 35C took 4th place at the inaugural Monaco Grand Prix in 1929, driven by Philippe de Rothschild.
The chassis of this Avions Voisin C11, built in 1929, received this Art Deco body called ‘Chartre’ only two years later.
This 1931 Bugatti Type 49 was bodied in cabriolet form by Petera, a coachbuilder from the Czechoslovakia.
1939 Delahaye 135 MS (for Modified Special) bodied by Henri Chapron as a cabriolet De Luxe.
About Chapron, here are two examples of his work on the Citroën DS with this 1966 coupé “Le Dandy”, one of the 49 units built between 1960 and 1968 …
… and the cabriolet variant, called “Le Caddy”, produced in 34 examples between 1960 and 1968.
Displayed by Skoda Germany, a rare 1928 Skoda Hispano-Suiza 25/100 HP. Skoda actually built some 100 luxury cars in license from Hispano-Suiza.
Also from Skoda, this 1959 1100 OHC coupé. Skoda built two of these light (555 kilos) and efficient (92 hp out of a 1089cc 4-cylinder) cars, capable of a top speed of around 200 kph.
This 1956 Austin-Healey 100/4 was raced in numerous California events from the late 1950’s well into the 1960’s, including Torrey Pines, Sacramento, Sears Point and Laguna Seca to name a few.
To finish on a German note, Mercedes-Benz focused on the 600 Limousine, produced from 1963 to 1981, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary and of which the example on display was the last produced. It has been in the factory’s own collection ever since.
Hi Pete,
It is Skoda factory recreation/ reconstruction of the 1100 OHC Coupe from 1960 using many original parts as engine and chassis.
It looked great at the Essen show this year. I was there.
Best regards
Kenneth Andrén
Malmö Sweden
Those are most interesting and unusual wheels on that US-raced AH 100/4. I have been around a lot of British cars over my 70+ years and never seen anything quite like them.
Hugues has outdone himself here on this reporting and photography.
I have never seen these Italian coachbuilt models anywhere before, even in a magazine, and they are pretty astonishing, fascinating even.
After seeing these photos, I wish I was there!
Thank you, Hugues.
This was a fabulous show. I was delighted to find a Model A in fantastic condition but also clearly driven. On the more exotic end, the NSU Prinz II, in perfect restored condition was simply splendid; the ’51 Pegaso in spring green – recently advertised on Dyler – was outstanding; and the 1962 Fiat OSCA with body by Fissore almost followed us home!
Someone on the Rootes group account at Lowey Design must have seen that Vignale “Wonderful” whilest drawing the upcoming Sunbeam Alpine to debut in 1959. Profile is near identical.
A reply to Richard Brown. Here in the eastern US we had several small shops that would take your wire wheel hub and rim and then weld up a sutable center. Most were crude/ugly/ heavy things, but something nicer was possible. I too have never seen those exact wheels, they are probably unique.