Beschreibung
Fiat 1200 SPIDER Cabriolet 1959
Price asked: €39, 500.
A rare Fiat 1200 Transformabile Spider; with its 55 hp, it’s not a racecar, but certainly a style icon on wheels. In short: more than just a car, a rolling piece of history that would make any car museum envious.
This Spider has been in the Netherlands since 11 April 1995 and was probably delivered new in the United States.
When the Fiat arrived in the Netherlands, it was registered in the United States.
We have owned this Fiat since 10 March 2017, after storing it for at least ten years. At that date it was restored to 80%. From 2017 to today, we have completed its restoration ourselves. Since 16 February 2021, it has been registered in the Netherlands under the number PM-04-64.
From the information provided, the engine and gearbox have been overhauled, the bodywork restored and the interior refreshed. The chrome trim has largely been redone and is in perfect condition. The hood is new and fits perfectly; the tyres are Vredestein Sprint Classic with 10% tread remaining. The wheel trims are original and show some wear. This Fiat Spider also has a small crack near the left window (see photo).
Naturally, the bodywork is rust-free.
All indicators and other dashboard functions work correctly.
The 1200 Spyder was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in 1957, at the same time as its cousins, the Coupé and the Saloon.
The 1200 Spyder was designed by the Pininfarina studio, which largely explains its elegant look compared with other convertibles of the era. Only the tall front end, necessary to house the radiator, remained untouched by Pininfarina. Another novelty: the swivelling seats, which turned outward to facilitate entry and exit.
At the front, the round headlights were fashionable, and the Spyder kept them. The tall grille was split in two, as on the saloon. It was a test for a grille common to the entire Fiat range. This project was abandoned a few years later, mainly because some Fiat models had the engine at the rear, making the front grille unnecessary. The A-pillars were thin and not very inclined. At the rear, the rear wings ended in elegant, sharp fins. It was a new trend, and Fiat had found a way to integrate them. The oval taillights were mounted vertically in bevelled chromed housings on the top, following the shape of the wing.
Inside, the 1200 Spyder accommodated two occupants. New feature: the swivelling seats, which turned outward to ease entry and exit. At the rear, there were no rear seats, only the hood under a tonneau cover. Unlike the saloon, the cabriolet version featured a different dashboard, with a wider instrument cluster and gauges under a display. The gear lever was mounted on the floor rather than behind the steering wheel.
Under the bonnet lay a brand-new 1. 2-litre petrol engine developing 55 horsepower. Only a four-speed manual gearbox was available. The car was rear-wheel drive, like most cars of that era.
