These days, Fiat is unlikely to feature on many dream car lists but in 1952, when its 8V Supersonic designed by Italian styling house Ghia broke cover, it was another story altogether.
Before the Second World War, Fiat had mainly been a builder of specialist competition cars but in the late 1940s, the marque changed to become a manufacture of mass-production vehicles, making mobility more accessible for the everyday man.
With the production of smaller city cars such as the Topolino – the forerunner to the iconic 500 – proving to be the marques future, the arrival of the 8V Supersonic caught the automotive world off guard.
When the car debuted, it was dubbed “the biggest surprise of the year” by the motoring press. The 8V sported custom coachwork by Carrozeria Ghia of Torino, of which 15 of the total 40 8Vs produced were designed to Giovanni Savonuzzi’s striking Jet Age specification, which became known as the Supersonic.
The coachwork, originally intended for an Alfa Romeo competition car, featured a curved nose, tailfins and rear lights designed to resemble jet afterburners. At its heart, was a 2-litre V8 engine, which was capable of producing 115bhp. Coupled to a four-speed manual gearbox, the 8V also featured four-wheel coil-sprung independent suspension for an improved ride.
This particular car is believed to be the 1954 Geneva Motor Show car, which was first sold to American powerboat racer Lou Fageol. Having five owners since new over four decades, the car has been restored to its original condition.
This car will be offered without reserve by RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island sale on between the 10 and 11 March. Click here for more details.
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