Fiat 1200 Wonderful

Vehicle Overview

The Fiat 1200 Wonderful is a rare and innovative coupé designed by the renowned Italian design house Vignale in 1957, showcasing a remarkable blend of Italian flair and technical ingenuity. Built on the standard Fiat 1200 chassis, the Wonderful was a vision of post-war automotive luxury and innovation. It was first introduced at the 1957 Turin Motor Show and, as the name suggests, it was a truly exceptional creation. The most groundbreaking feature of the Fiat 1200 Wonderful was its removable roof panel, which would later become known as the “Targa top.” Designed by Giovanni Michelotti, the Targa roof allowed the driver and passengers to experience the freedom of an open-air ride, with the convenience of securely stowing the roof in the trunk when not in use. This concept would go on to inspire the famous Porsche 911 Targa and revolutionize the design of convertible cars in the years to follow. In fact, the Wonderful was the first post-war car to offer such a feature, marking an important moment in automotive history. Visually, the Fiat 1200 Wonderful was heavily influenced by the fashionable tail fins seen on Chrysler cars of the era. The design incorporated elegant and aerodynamic lines, with a distinctive rear end that featured prominent tail fins, contributing to its futuristic appearance. The coupe’s sleek, sculpted shape and refined proportions spoke to the post-war demand for both beauty and performance in automobiles. Produced in extremely limited numbers, with perhaps as few as two production cars built plus the show car, the 1200 Wonderful remains an incredibly rare and sought-after classic. Its brief appearance in the 1966 French film Les Combinards further cemented its status as an icon of automotive design. Today, the Fiat 1200 Wonderful is remembered not only for its striking looks but for introducing the innovative Targa roof, a concept that would influence car designs for decades to come.