The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The Fiat 8V Spider Zagato one-off.
The Fiat 8V Spider Zagato with chassis number 000005 is a remarkable piece of automotive history, notable for its transformation and racing pedigree. Originally built as a coupé by Fiat in 1952, it was initially owned by the industrialist Franco Auricchio from Cremona. The car saw early success in the hands of racing drivers Vincenzo Auricchio and Piero Bozzinio during the Mille Miglia 1952, where they achieved a respectable 5th place in the class for cars up to 2000 cc. Later, the car passed to racing driver Ovidio Capelli, who decided to convert the coupé into a lightweight Barchetta at Zagato’s workshop. This version of the car was involved in a significant accident during a race in Sardinia, leaving it badly damaged. In this damaged state, Capelli sold the car to the Leto di Priolo brothers. The Leto di Priolo brothers then entrusted Zagato once again to work their magic on the car. Zagato crafted a new and distinct Spider body, giving rise to what is now known as the Fiat 8VZ Spider. This version of the car gained fame when Massimo Leto di Priolo raced it in the Grand Prix of Sweden on August 7, 1955, competing in the GT class for cars up to 2 liters. Impressively, Leto di Priolo secured a 2nd place finish with the vehicle in its new Spider configuration. Today, the Fiat 8V Spider Zagato, chassis number 000005, resides in a private collection, cherished for its rich racing history and unique Zagato craftsmanship. It is believed that a second Spider with a similar body might have been built by Zagato, adding to the allure and rarity of these special Fiat 8VZ Spiders crafted by the renowned Italian coachbuilder.
In March 1952, Fiat surprised the world at the Geneva Motor Show with the Fiat 8V. A two-seater sports car that was also designed as a racing car. What was surprising was that Fiat had not shown any interest in re-entering the racing scene up to this point.
