Fiat 1500 by Pininfarina, 1965

Location: Santa Monica, California

$30,800 USD | Sold

• Four-cylinder 1,500-cc, 83-hp engine
• Five-speed manual transmission
• Present owner bought in 1984; restored over next year
• Won under 2-liter class, 1994 Huntington Beach Concours
• 2004 presentation at Concorso Italiano in Monterey
• Last refinements executed in 2005
• Rust-free
• Immaculate condition inside and out
• "Meticulous period-correct restoration"

This is a rare opportunity to acquire a true Arizona and California based 1965 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet which has a long and interesting history from its conception to ownership.

As the 1960s began, Fiat (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) needed a sports car to compete on the American market. In 1962, Fiat gained a new 1500-cc overhead valve engine with a two-barrel Weber carburetor that delivered 80-hp, later increasing to 83-hp for the 1965 model year. The new engine sported 86.8 pounds of torque at 3,200-rpm. Finally Fiat had an engine for their small sports car. The Fiat 1500 and 1600 Spiders from 1959 to 1966 brought together two icons of Italian design and manufacture, Fiat and Carrozzeria Pininfarina, which produced excellent results.

Carrozzeria Pininfarina assembled the 1500 versions through the models run, but the cars were always badged as Fiats. To draw Fiat’s new 1500 Cabriolet, Pininfarina borrowed from their Ferrari 250 GT California Spider portfolio. The result was a beautiful car with no wasted lines, delivering a spacious interior, large boot and a top that could be raised or lowered in seconds. It’s estimated that 34,211 Fiat Spiders and Coupes were built in this period.

The 1500 Cabriolet offered a stunning interior with a padded dash, crisp instruments and a myriad of elegant switchgear. Fiat added deep bucket seats with adjustable rake that provided travel to accommodate a six-foot-plus tall driver. The upmarket styling, combined with a standard equipment list that included roll-up windows, locking steering column, interior day-and-night mirror, side mirror, clock, cigarette lighter, electric wipers, windshield washers, courtesy lights and a passenger-assist grip, ensured the 1500 Cabriolet was marketed as an extremely well-appointed sports car.

The four-cylinder 1,481-cc engine (Tipo 115) was a descendent of the Tipo 112, a six-cylinder engine of 1,795-cc and 2,054-cc displacement. The most remarkable feature of these units was not that they had part-spherical combustion chambers (now known as “hemi”-spherical), and two rows of opposed valves, both operated by long pushrods from a single camshaft in the side of cylinder block.

It is noted that they were designed for Dr. Dante Giacosa by distinguished engineer, Aurelio Lampredi. Lampredi's fame brought him to Ferrari in 1946 where he designed large 3.3-, 4.1- and 4.5-liter versions of its V-12 ("Lampredi engine") which first saw use in the 1950s 275S, 340 F1 and 375 F1 racecars. Lampredi's engines were used as large naturally aspirated alternatives to the diminutive Gioacchino Colombo-designed V-12s used in most Ferrari cars until that time. Lampredi's work at Ferrari ended permanently in 1955 when Ferrari bought Lancia's racing team and with it, famed engine designer Vittorio Jano, formerly of Alfa Romeo. Lampredi's engine designs lived on in Ferrari road cars.

After Ferrari, Lampredi went to Fiat, where he oversaw that company's engine design efforts until 1977. The basic layout, the basis of the design, was Giacosa’s, but the detail was all to the credit of Lampredi. It was Lampredi who adopted a complex pushrod valve gear, which included the use of two rocker shafts in the light alloy head rather than one. Other features included the use of a downdraught twin-choke Weber carburetor, the relative high compression ratio of 8.8:1, a four-bearing crankshaft, and a centrifugal oil filter on the nose of the crankshaft in addition to the normal full-flow type.

The final version of the Tipo 118 was the K model. It had a revised interior, a five-speed manual transmission, a revised steering wheel position, helped along by double universal-jointing of the steering column. Fiat gave the car a new badge, with the ‘Fiat’ name now circled by the laurel leaves.

Many of these Fiat Cabriolets succumbed to rust in other climates, making this a rare car in any condition today, according to its owner. This 118K was purchased by the present owner in 1984 and restored over the next year. It has always been stored indoors by the present owner, either in Scottsdale, Arizona or Southern California.

In 1994 this car was presented at the Huntington Beach Concours de Elegance in Huntington Beach, California and won the Two-Litre & Under Italian Class. In 2004 the car was again presented at the famous Concorso Italiano in Monterey, California and was on the ramp representing the Fiat marque, and the owner and passenger were interviewed by Keith Martin. The car went through its final modifications in 2005 to its present condition.

The 83-hp 1,500-cc engine, was recently tuned and the gasoline tank and lines were cleaned. It runs well and is mated to a smooth five-speed transmission. The power is balanced by front disc brakes with all brake lines replaced, and precise steering enabling 100-mph performance with gentle handling, safety and luxury.

This car is rust-free, presented in immaculate condition inside and out. This beautiful Fiat is in top form, resplendent in Rosso Corsa red paint with a red and black interior including recently reupholstered seats and a brand new black cloth top. The console and wood-rimmed vintage Nardi steering wheel make it is easy to see the connection to the 250 GT California Spider. Meticulously period-correct restored from its Campagnolo alloy wheels, Abarth exhaust, Carello amber foglights, Koni Classic orange shocks, and period Fiat wooden gear shift knob, to its crisp boot and badging; this elegant sports car does not disappoint. The top boot and manuals are included with the car. This type of auto is great fun and recommended as a great top down driver for the summer runs on the back roads.

https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/ca16/lots/r0042-1965-fiat-1500-by-pininfarina/