When most of us think of Fiat, images of compact cars come to mind, but this 116 year old company hasn’t always built small cars. At one time, they were the Ford of Italy and produced just about every type of vehicle imaginable. Take this 1926 509 Torpedo, which could almost be mistaken for a Ford or Chevy of similar vintage. It has been parked in this barn in Sicily, Italy for the past 50 years, yet looks to be complete and solid. I love the Torpedo body, although a spyder might be a bit more fun! These cars were known for their luxury and surprisingly enjoyable steering. This one is going to need to be restored, at least mechanically, and really deserves to be preserved! You can find it here on eBay with a BIN of $15,500 and the option to make an offer!
Breaks my heart that it’s survived all this time… and may now suffer the indignity of a full restoration. I love it the way it is, down to the cracked leather roof. What an incredible, intact relic.
Roll it directly onto the lawn of any concours and by my definition… it would steal the show.
The unrestored condition is fascinating. However I suggest the Fiat needs to be returned to running condition leaving everything else as is – if possible. This is one for the “make offer” button.
There is a beautiful “gently” restored 1927 Fiat 509 with superb original leather interior shown on youtube. The video title is: Fiat 509.
The greater appeal of the 1927 is that it has front wheel brakes and appears to be in excellent condition. An inexpensive ticket to a time long ago.