Fiat 8V
 1955 Fiat 8V Berlinetta Coupe, 1 of 3 built by Fiat |
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| Manufacturer | Fiat |
|---|---|
| Production | 1952-1954 |
| Successor | Fiat 850 |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | 2-door coupe |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Engine | V8 1996 cc |
| Transmission | 4 and 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 2,400 mm (94.5 in) |
| Length | 4,060 mm (159.8 in) |
| Width | 1,500 mm (59.1 in) |
| Height | 1,260 mm (49.6 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) |
The Fiat 8V (or "Otto Vu") is a sports car produced by the Italian automaker Fiat from 1952 to 1954. The car was introduced at the 1952 Geneva Motor Show. The name 8V was chosen because they thought that Ford had trademarked the name "V8". They weren't a commercial success, but did well in racing. Apart from the differential the car did not share any parts with the other Fiats (but many parts were made by Siata and they used them for their cars). The 8V was developed by Dante Giacosa and the stylist Fabio Lucio Rapi. The engine was a V8 originally designed for a luxury sedan, but that project was stopped. The Fiat V8 had a 70 degree V configuration of up to a 1996 cc of volume, at 5600 rpm the engine produced 105 hp (78 kW) in standard form giving a top speed of 190 km/h (118 mph). The engine was connected to a four speed gearbox. The car had independent suspension all round and drum brakes on all four wheels. The Fiat 8V got its name because at the time of its making Ford had a copyright on the term V8.
Top management were preoccupied with more run of the mill projects, however, and only 114 of the high-performance coupés had been produced by the time the cars were withdrawn from production in 1954.[1] Nevertheless, they continued to win the Italian 2-litre GT championship every year until 1959.[1]
34 of the cars had a factory produced bodywork by Carozzeria Speciale FIAT. Some cars had the bodywork done by other Italian coachbuilders. Carozzeria Zagato made 32 that they labelled "Elaborata Zagato". Ghia and Vignale also made bodyworks. Most were coupés, but some spyders were made as well.
[edit] Ghia Supersonic
Ghia designed and produced a limited run of cars named 'Supersonic', with special 'jet age' bodywork. Ghia had recently been sold by Boano to Luigi Segre, and a one-off car had been built for a wealthy entrant in the Mille Miglia race. The car was displayed at the 1953 Turin show and the reaction inspired Segre to plan a limited production of cars based on the Otto Vu, aimed at the American market. Only eight were completed, after mechanical issues ended the project. Several of the cars were purchased by Americans; some were heavily customized and received engine transplants. An original un-restored car sold at a Scottsdale, Arizona Gooding and Company auction in January 2011 with a gavel price of US $1.55 million ($1.7M including buyer's premium). [2]
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Fiat 8V Coupe by Ghia
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Fiat 8V Demon Rouge 1952 designed by Michelotti at Vignale (three made[3])
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Fiat 8V Elaborata Zagato
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Fiat 8V Otto Vu Vignale Coupé (one off)
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Dante Giacosa: From wartime to the present day, Paul Frère concludes his profile of a great engineer". Motor. nbr 3597: pages 20–22. date 12 June 1971.
- ^ http://www.sportscarmarket.com/car-reviews/etceterini/2897-1953-fiat-8v-ghia-supersonic
- ^ "Fiat 8V". vignale.org. http://www.vignale.org/fiat_8v.html. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fiat 8V |
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| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| City car | Fiat 500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 500 "Topolino" | 600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 509 | 508 Balilla | 1100 Balilla | 850 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car |
1100/1200 | 124 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 501/502 | 503 | 514 | 515 | 1500 | 1400 | 1300/1500 | 125 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 518 Ardita | 1900 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car |
505 | 507 | 520 | 521 | 522 | 527 | 1800/2100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 510 | 512 | 525 | 524 | 2800 | 2300 | 130 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 519 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luxury car | 520 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports car | 8V | Trasformabile | Dino | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MPV | 600 Multipla | 850 Familiale | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Off-road | Campagnola | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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