Grandfather of the Fiat Dino: The Otto Vu, and its Love Child

By Paul Shubsachs

For an in-depth examination of Fiat's 8V one can't do better than Douglas Blain's piece in 'The Automobile' September and October issues, 2000. So I won't try!

This Giacosa/F.L.Rapi-designed Sports Coupe was the inspired offshoot of an abortive attempt at attacking the high-class saloon market. The original intention had been to utilise much of the Fiat 1400's running gear. The 1400, of the early 1950's, had a reputation as a somewhat 'soft' machine; so perhaps it was not an ideal recipient for Fiat's first vee-eight engine....This 2-litre power unit was of light alloy, but sober design; nonetheless, around 120bhp lurked between the flanks of the competition versions.

1952 FIAT 8V Competizione

Reading between the lines, I would guess that the ideal time to abandon the vee-eight/'1400' project would have occurred as news leaked from Milano about the astonishing Alfa-Romeo 1900 Saloon. No contest! Fiat's actual response to the Alfa turned out to be the Fiat 1900, a cheaper, more plebian offering, but one of highly respectable performance...In fact, the Torinese 1900 was a totally acceptable choice for the middle class pocket. It's a pity that these rivals are now so rare in the U.K.

Fiat 1900B

The Rapi-styled factory-bodied 8V cars had a unique presence, but the pick of the bunch was the Zagato competition variety...an interesting alternative to the Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa opposition. How many of the Zagato examples survive, I wonder?

Fiat 8V Zagato

And as for the 'Love Child'....Well, this is something of a mystery to me. The fourth picture shown here is of a 1953 Frazer-Nash 2litre Le Mans. The body was constructed by Riva to Rapi's original design. Even after consulting Denis Jenkinson's tome on Frazer-Nash, I can find no record of this 8V clone's original owner, and it's not at all clear if this car was new with the Coupe body or a post shunt rebuild job.....Is there anyone out there? Please help !"

Update:

The following update came thanks to Bob Schmitt's website featuring the post-War Frazer Nashes.  

Apparently, the above pictured  Riva-bodied Frazer nash was a "normal" Le Mans Replica model in April, 1950, when it was registered UMK 911 and sold to Count "Johnny" Lurani.  He took it to Milan where its registration became C063, and, in the hands of Franco Cortese, won the 1951 Targa Florio.  The photograph is dated April 1st., 1953, so presumably the 8V-style Riva body was fitted a little earlier in the same year.  Sadly, the current whereabouts of the car are unknown.

Update 18/03/2003:

The following information was sent by Harvey Cash. His information came from Bob Schmitt's website on the Frazer Nash.

The owner was Giovanni Lurani of Milano Italy.  The picture you have is taken from the SCCA National Newsletter of May 1953, where an article appeared about this car.

I see that the "current whereabouts are unknown."   Quoted from Mr. Jenkinson's Book, "a Le Mans Replica chassis, s/n 421 100 112, was sent to Italy where it received a special aluminum body by Rocco Motto." However, the A.F.N. archive summary on this car states: "Sold as chassis. Fitted with Fiat 8V type coupe body by Rocco Motto of Turin."

The archives also report that this was a show car at Turin in 1950.
This car was later rebodied with a Le Mans Replica type body and is now in New Zealand.

If you have questions or comments about this website, please e-mail fmcw@fiatmotorclubgb.com