The Tipo 104 is however a fair technical achievement, developing 2 liters with 8 cylinders in a V opening at 70°. Bypassing the reluctance of its commercial directors, FIAT decides to offer under its brand name a coupe in GT class. The development is subcontracted to SIATA, an automaker of special models. Colloquially known with his Italian pronunciation Otto Vu, the FIAT 8V is released in 1952.
The observers are surprised by such a model so far from the common use vehicles of the FIAT brand. They are right. The management decides in 1954 to stop the product line. 114 units of the FIAT 8V had been manufactured and the remaining Tipo 104 engines equipped SIATA cars including the 208S spider, for a global figure of 200 engines made by FIAT.
Some Otto Vu were entrusted to independent coachbuilders. Zagato built 5 units of the FIAT 8V Elaborata. One of the first cars of this very limited series, made in 1953, is for sale by Bonhams in Scottsdale on January 28, lot 60.
The Carrozzeria Zagato is famous for its bodies altogether aerodynamic and light that are conducive to GT competition. The car for sale displays the doppia bolla, a twin bulge stiffening the roof which is a feature of Zagato innovations at that time. It has a good racing history and was driven to the second place in the Coppa Internazionale delle Dame by Anna Maria Peduzzi in 1956.
unsold
The ex-Anna Maria Peduzzi, 1953 #Fiat 8V Elaborata - The Scottsdale Auction, January 28 https://t.co/i6tqhHgiJQ pic.twitter.com/K14bfosxz7
— BONHAMS (@bonhams1793) December 22, 2015