At the 1952 Geneva Motor Show, Fiat excited the public with a new car developed especially for racing. Powered by a Fiat 2 litre V8 engine, the car was known as the 8V, or ‘Otto Vu.’ Of the 114 8Vs built, very few received bodywork by Zagato like this example with its distinctive ‘double-bubble’ roofline. The 8V Zagatos were very successful in racing due to their lighter weight. In 1954, one particular 8V Zagato was campaigned by Elio Zagato himself.
Originally kept as a factory car with coachwork by Fabio Rapi, it was returned to Fiat in February 1954 to be upgraded with twin four-barrel Weber racing carburetors and matching cylinder head. After the original owner passed away, the car was purchased by Esteban Sala Soler, who sent it back to Zagato to be rebodied in 1956. The new alloy body included an oversized hood scoop, side vents, curvaceous bumpers, and Zagato’s signature double bubble roof. In preparation for the 8th Rallye del Sestriere, the car was sent again to the Fiat Racing Department, which overhauled the engine and transmission and added an altimeter, lightweight seats, a new dashboard, and alloy replacements for many steel components. The car passed through four more owners before being purchased in 2006 by Strada e Corsa, which began an exhaustive restoration for Belgian collector Jan de Reu. The restoration was finished in 2009.
