Fiat 2800 Berlinetta by Touring

As a successor to the series 527, Fiat in 1938 presented the new 2800 for the upper middle class. Initially it was only offered as a sedan, followed by a Torpedo variant a year later. The Torpedo body shows a high waistline, seats four or five passengers and a hinged fabric top without B-pillars. Next to Fiat, also other brands such as Isotta Fraschini, Alfa Romeo or Rolls-Royce used this body style, which more and more approached the more common Phaeton style and finally disappeared completely from the market after World War 2. The war also played an important role for the Fiat 2800, as it ensured that only very few vehicles were built. In total, only 624 vehicles left the production line until 1944, of which 210 were delivered in a military version called ‘commander’s car’, based on the Torpedo with shortened wheelbase. Another six cars were built as six-seater Torpedo for the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III.

All variants of this large Fiat model had a 2.8-liter V6 engine under their hood with 63 kW/85 hp. This met a curb weight of just 900 kilograms in sedan design. Of the 414 Fiat 2800s, that could be delivered to private customers, three received an exclusive Berlinetta bodywork by Touring in Milan. Accordingly, you rarely get such a vehicle in front of your camera or the chance of owning one. How many Fiat 2800 still exist today is unknown. Due to the war and the use of various copies by the Italian Partito Nazionale Fascista, the stock was decimated before the end of production in 1944.

Even with chassis number 000561, one of the three Touring Berlinetta, the individual history is not entirely free from scandals. It is not proven, but with relatively high probability this car served as part of a whole convoy, with which Benito Mussolini, his lover Clara Petacci, her brother Marcel and his family wanted to flee from Italy to Switzerland. Along the way, Mussolini, disguised as a flak gunner, was recognized and captured by partisans at a roadblock. One day later he and Petacci were shot dead and hung up at a roof of a petrol station in Milan.

Nevertheless, the Fiat 2800 continued to reach Switzerland and was sold there after the war to an emigrated Italian family in Martigny. This family kept the car for the following 50 years. During this time, the vehicle was extensively restored and repainted to the still visible black with red leather seats inside. The current owner acquired the 2800 Berlinetta around 20 years ago and received the good vehicle condition, but rarely used the car. Now RM Sotheby’s offers the chance to buy this Fiat during the Retromobile in Paris. The hammer price is expected to be between 200,000 and 250,000 euros – a relatively modest price for this rare car.

Images: RM Sotheby’s, Tim Scott