Fiat 8V Kapi Berlinetta (1953)

By motoring writer – Daniel Matthews

In 1947, Fiat chairman Vittorio Valletta asked engineer Dante Giacosa to design a new car that would be suitable for the U.S. export market. A sedan body style was chosen, and the engine was to be a V6 – later a V8. The engine designs were finished in January 1950 and the first prototype was built, but in the meantime, it was decided that the project would be abandoned and the engine used in a new luxury sports car.

The car in question was the 8V, named after its engine of choice – although, rumours say it wasn’t called the ‘V8’ because Fiat believed Ford held the trademark for the name. Sharing virtually no parts with any other contemporary Fiat model, it used the Tipo 104 engine, a 2.0-litre 70° V8 that through its three revisions produced 104, 113 and 125 bhp respectively. A four-speed manual gearbox, independent suspension all-round and four-wheel drum brakes completed the package, with chassis manufacture being handled by famed tuning specialists Siata.

The 8V was launched at the 1952 Geneva Motor Show, much to public amazement as this was an out of character move for Fiat, the same company known for producing tiny city cars at the time. The coachwork was mainly handled in-house by Fiat’s Reparto Carrozzerie Speciali (‘Special Bodies Department) and penned by Luigi Rapi (hence ‘Rapi’ in this car’s name), but some other examples received bodies by fellow Italian coachbuilders like Ghia, Zagato and Vignale. Over the next two years, approximately 200 Tipo 104 engines were produced, but around 50 were installed in the Siata roadster. Fiat management had since shifted their focus and 8V production ended in 1954 after approximately 114 had been produced. The 8V did, however, continue to win the Italian 2-Litre GT Championship every year until 1959.

This particular car is chassis 0000032, one of just three known cars (and the only running survivor) to have been factory race-prepared by Carrozzeria Speciali Fiat. It was delivered new to Milan, Italy, where it was owned and raced by Scuderia Ambrosiana, finishing 6th in Class and 18th Overall in the 1953 Mille Miglia, and failing to finish the following year. It carried on competing in Italian events until 1958 and was later shipped to the United States by Road & Track magazine founder Bill Brehaut. It passed through several owners before being laid up in 1971. It was unearthed in 1994 by its current owner, Jan de Rau, and treated to a full restoration. Although said to be producing 127 bhp in race form, after the engine was rebuilt, it showed 155 bhp on the dyno! One vivacious Fiat indeed.