Highlights
- Very highly presented Innocenti coupe
- Extremely rare Sprite-based Italian two-seater
- Featured in various magazines
- Current keeper since 2014
- Beautiful early Tom Tjaarda design
The Appeal
Before he went on to pen exotica such as the Ferrari 365 California, De Tomaso Pantera, and Spyker GT, Tom Tjaarda, one of car design’s greatest names, started here. The Innocenti C was essentially Tjaarda’s 950 Spider, his first road-going design for Ghia, with a hard top designed by Ghia's Sergio Sartorelli.
As this late-model 1969 car shows, it is beautifully proportioned and hides its Austin Sprite roots incredibly well. It is wider and longer than its Austin-Healey cousin but retains that car’s running gear, 1,098cc A Series engine, and 4spd gearbox. Figures vary, but no more than 794 Innocenti Cs were built, all in the Italian tricolore colours of red, white or green.
This car is one of the handful available in the UK. It arrived here in 2006 and has been with the current enthusiast keeper since 2014. It has appeared in various magazines, copies of which are in the history file. The condition is, frankly, gorgeous, the exterior accented with bright chrome and 14in Minilite-style alloys. Inside, there is a treat for the eyes in the form of green checked seats facing Veglia dials, which are shared with the Ferrari 250 GTE and GTO.
The car has been little used in recent years, but the photographs indicate it has been cherished at a high level. This stylish and ultra-rare Italian two-seat coupe would grace any discerning collection.
History and Paperwork
- First registered 2nd May 1969 according to DVLA records
- Original Italian black plate registration numbers included as shown
- UK registered from July 2006
- Two UK keepers recorded
- Current keeper since February 2014
- Italian registration documents
- Italian ACI certification and provenance paperwork as shown
- Various marketing brochures
- Magazine articles appearing to feature this car
- V5C
- Registered as a Historic Vehicle
- MOT records show very few miles covered in recent years
- Shows 93,375 km in a five-digit odometer, which is not verified
- Factory handbooks
- Wood rimmed Nardi steering wheel included
The Condition
- Finished in green, one of the three paint colours available for this car
- Paintwork is in extremely good condition as shown in photos
- Bright chromework appears complete and well-kept
- Body panels in good order with straight, flush fit
- Arches, sills and underside as shown in photos
- Fitted with period-style Minilite-style 14in alloy wheels in very good condition
- Matching classic Pirelli tyres all round
- Beautifully presented and largely factory correct interior in great condition
- Gorgeous checked green seats with black vinyl trim
- Two-seat layout with luggage area behind seats
- Veglia dials in good, original condition with crack top speedo shroud
- Retains an Italian BMC dealer sticker in the rear window
- Classic radio fitted
- Rubber floor mats and grey carpeted transmission tunnel
- Two-spoke black Bakelite wheel with Innocenti boss
The Mechanics
- 1,098cc A Series engine shared with the Sprite
- 4spd manual gearbox from Sprite
- Sprite running gear beneath bespoke Innocenti body
- Front wishbones and rear leaf springs
- Fitted with front disc brakes
- Very sparing use since last MOT in 2018
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