Fiat 1500 Cabriolet Farina

Vehicle Overview

The Fiat 1500 Cabriolet by Stabilimenti Farina is a remarkable one-off creation that was showcased at the 1937 Salone dell’Automobile. As a unique piece of automotive craftsmanship, this cabriolet stood out for its elegant design and the meticulous attention to detail that was characteristic of the custom coachbuilding era. Stabilimenti Farina, one of the most respected carrozzerie (coachbuilders) in Italy, crafted this bespoke Fiat 1500 Cabriolet to highlight the company’s prowess in luxury automobile design. Exhibiting at the prestigious Salone dell’Automobile allowed Farina to display its innovative design language, emphasizing flowing lines, graceful proportions, and luxury detailing. Built on the Fiat 1500 platform, a popular mid-range model of the time, this cabriolet featured the advanced engineering that Fiat had introduced with the 1500 series, such as its 1.5-litre inline six-cylinder engine. While the performance figures were modest compared to the more powerful luxury and sports cars of the era, the 1500 was known for its smooth ride and mechanical reliability, qualities that made it an excellent canvas for Farina’s design. The one-off Cabriolet featured an open-top configuration, ideal for leisurely cruising and embodying the elegance of pre-war European motoring. Its bodywork was sleek and aerodynamically efficient for the time, with refined curves and a beautifully sculpted profile. Farina’s design was typically restrained yet sophisticated, balancing aesthetic beauty with functional elegance, a hallmark of their creations. The exhibit at the 1937 Salone dell’Automobile solidified the car’s place as a significant piece of automotive history. It represented a period where collaboration between chassis manufacturers like Fiat and coachbuilders like Stabilimenti Farina resulted in unique, one-off masterpieces that catered to a discerning clientele seeking exclusivity and craftsmanship. Today, this Fiat 1500 Cabriolet remains a symbol of the golden age of Italian coachbuilding, where artistry and engineering came together to create some of the most elegant vehicles of the pre-war era.