Estate Sale Project: 1956 Fiat 1200 Spyder
As is often the case with cars that sit for years and years, titles can often get lost. So, the documentation of what a vehicle is or isn’t may not exist. The seller presents this 1956 Fiat 1200 Spyder here on Facebook Marketplace which will be auctioned off November 2-5, 2022, by an estate sale company in Spavinow, Oklahoma. But these cars didn’t exist until 1957/1958, so perhaps the seller is mistaken about the year. Or maybe it’s a Fiat 1100 TV Trasformabile which was available in 1955. The principal difference is the size of the motor. Either way, thanks for the tip, Chuck Foster!
In 1955, Fiat developed a two-seat roadster based on mechanicals borrowed from the 1100/103 TV. It was an agile, lightweight, and fast car that would become popular with racecar drivers. It was designed with American buyers in mind and had a 1100cc inline 4-cylinder engine that delivered 53 hp and a top speed of 145 km/h. Production numbers were small, possibly only 142. Two years later, Fiat introduced the 1200 TV Trasformabile two-seat roadster, which was an update to its predecessor – and a little faster.
Whether this is the 1100 or 1200, there seems to be a lot missing which would be needed to restore it to the condition of the car in this last photo (red in color). We’re told the Fiat has had at least three owners, may have once been brown in color (blue now), and only a Bill of Sale will be provided when the money and car change hands. This could be a neat project if it’s not too far gone, if parts can be found and if your pockets and patience go deep enough.
Auctions Ending Soon
1977 Datsun 280ZBid Now22 hours$600
1969 Ford MustangBid Now2 days$500
1965 Ford Falcon Station WagonBid Now5 days$1,000
2002 Jaguar XK8 ConvertibleBid Now6 days$100
Comments
Not much left to auction off.
Opening bid is $ 1. I think that’s how high it will get. 😂
Could be beautiful…….If you had a million dollars and two lifetimes. Shame this one will probably be sold for the vin. Wish those people didn’t exist.
Super nice and it’s a 100k car. Worn out it’s $25k. So what’s a pile worth? A token amount… $1k? $5k? Less than it will sell for. However… I’d say a comparable car is an Arnolt MG convertible. Super nice it’s $175K (last one was anyway) and there’s a mess of a car that owner can’t get $16.5k. So maybe there is some sanity.
Estate sale link for brave or stupid:
https://estatesales.org/online-auctions/1956-fiat-1200-spider-79061805
These have been declining in price. Outstanding ones now sell in the $60-$70k range. I think after they set the $100k mark a few years back, people figured out they are just Fiats.
yep , but 1200 tv’s are still going up …their not just Fiats ….look at what ” JUST FIAT 8V ‘s are going for 1.5m and they are also just Fiats , I had a Fiat-Staguillini and it went for 185
^^^ +1 Michelle Rand
$60K buys perfection. You’d be upside down in this one even if DIY.
https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1957-fiat-1200-tv-trasformabile
Their going to have fun unloading this one. I have a simple idea when I am ready to buy, No Title No Sale. To get a title from just a bill of sale is a real nightmare. The State takes a very dim view of vehicles with only a bill of sale. I wanted to buy a car but the owner had “lost ” the title. I went to DMV to inquire about getting a title. To get a replacement tile in my name cost more in time, paper work, and headaches. I had to prove to the DMV that the vehicle was not stolen. Another case some people in S. Fl. bought vehicles from a “dealer” a year later DMV siezed 15-20 vehicles that were stolen. New owners lost cars and money paid for them.
In CT. its not a problem for an older car ;I think right now its 1980 and down. A bill of sale will do .
I looked through the things on auction and they’re mostly like this Fiat. Only two of the 24 items have had any bids and the auction ends in a day.
I feel worse about it after seeing the photos at the auction.
Don’t waste your time, buy a vintage C1 corvette
Anyone seen the level the British will go to in order to restore a disaster!? I have , the gang over there can build a car from a picture and an oil stain. Probably end up in Europe, maybe Italy, those guys can do the same work, even though it’s not a an XKE or Ferrari , someone will want it, too good looking.
Vintage or not these were and still ugly stumped designs. All proportions on this Italian don’t add up!