Fiat sold cars in the U.S. in the late 1950s. But we’re betting imports like the Volkswagen Beetle turned in better numbers. Most of the sales were the 500 and 600 models, but the 1100 was also in the mix. The seller has a 1959 1100 103D 4-door sedan, which is said to be the only one on the U.S. East Coast (based on homework done?). This is an unfinished project where some of the heavy lifting has already been done (like a rebuilt engine). Located in Milton, Delaware, this possible one-of-a-kind is available here on craigslist for $5,500. Hail to Mitchell G. for the tip!
The 1100 was a small family vehicle that Fiat built between 1953 and 1969. Unlike other cars, it underwent many changes over time, sometimes annually. The 1100 103D (a model designation) debuted in 1958, and we assume it was still in the mix in 1959. Apparently, the biggest change was a reworked rear section with a 1.2-liter 4-banger that produced 43 horsepower (up by 3).
We’re guessing the Fiat was acquired by the seller when it looked to be complete and white in color (per at least one photo). It certainly didn’t seem bad, but the seller has disassembled part of the car and has repainted it (or prepped it) in light green (?). In addition to rebuilding the engine, other new parts or work done include the clutch, gas tank, brakes, battery, and the exhaust system. Besides what appear to be new tires, the radiator and heater core have been redone.
Rust apparently wasn’t a big issue, and the car was sandblasted and those areas corrected. The undercarriage was primed and undercoated. The interior may be okay with the seats having been reupholstered. We’re not quite sure where the car stands as to work remaining, but you’ll have to have a trailer to carry it all home. The seller would consider a trade, such as a pickup, Jeep, van, or motorcycle, in running condition.
It may be the last one, but does it really matter? The listing is currently 20 days old, by the looks of the vegetation in the background the pictures were taken long before, during warmer months. Sellers and buyers expectations are often very different, buyers ultimately set the price, not sellers, unless a car is in high demand. The market is changing, cars without strong followings will need to compete on price.
Steve R
Seller seems to want a turnkey price for a project. Good luck.
I did some part time work for a FIAT dealer while in high school in 1963, mostly cleaning used cars. The big issue with the 1100 model was breaking crankshafts. Customers would come in with a loud rattle from the engine but the car still running. The crank would break in such a way that it was still “keyed” together and would run for quite some time if not driven hard.
I’ve had two of these. An 1100 just like this one and the upgraded 1200 Granluce (big window) with the forward hinged front doors. They were a hoot to drive especially with their unusual 4-on-the-column shifters.
YUP!
I was remembering 1200. Could have a been 1100 or they had the same cranks.
My last year in the army at Fort Irwin in the Mohave, I told a friend I coul d help him rebuild his that had a broken crankshaft. We went yo several bone yards that had fiats. They all had broken cranks. We pondered an engine swap but I was suddenly released from thr army.
2 months and 6 days after my scheduled time, the investigation ended.
I was the driver of the 155mm self propelled howitzer. Back at Yakima, wa we were training and a round went off im the tube.
This is part of my saying: been blown up, burned up, busted up. cut up, (Surgeries)knocked down, knocked out but never knocked up.
Expecting to pass my race medical and race after couple of times this year.
You take a “Lick’n and keep on Tick’n!”
You go Rallyer!
Well…
Have enough good luck to get through the bad.
Stretch, Exercise to nth snd more in rehab.
Fractures from skull to toes and on a good day. I can name at least a dozen times in the OR.
Many assume they’re from motorsports. I did get a concussion in a stock car with soft foam black tape on the cage in 70 and sometimes bruises from the belts. I can t think of any that were my fault.
I was the high tech wrench that could do brakes. H20 pump and exhaust in a tire shop. They had “we care about your car bags” for your removed snow tires. Kid left a bag on the floor by my bench. Went down with a muffler in hand…smashed finger and bone graft saved my finger.
That tire sold new tires and did recapping in house. Are tires still recapped?
Bought a new 1100 103 in ’61 from a dealer in Hyattsville, MD. $1550 out the door. Sold it to a Turk in Ankara three years later for $1450 with 29K miles on the clock.
Mine was the “Lusso” version- gray, 2-tone, roof and side splash the darker shade. It was, to borrow a phrase from Crosley, “A Fine Car.” And, in a very basic way, it was much like the Crosley- liquid-cooled front-mounted 4-banger (OHV, not OHC), rear drive. Highly refined car, tho’, with that marvelous fingertip-shifted 4-speed column cog-grabber, fold-down rear seat, oddments netting in the back of the front bench seat, grab handles, draft deflectors, great heater, etc., huge alfin drums. For those requiring a floor shift, the 1100R comes that way with the addition of front discs.
All in all, I- we, wifie and I- really enjoyed it even using it to travel/tent camp all over western Turkey on their then-washboard-ed dirt roads with national route markings! Heavy trucks with their high load/high frequency springs made ripples like you wouldn’t believe! Found a compatible frequency at about 30 MPH. Tedious, to say the least.
Must have bought it at LaChina’s on Rt1. Knew it well.
I like the 2 TV models (coup, vert. I think I had several of the vert’s nxt gen: 1200, 1400 – in early ’70s as projects I wrenched/sold) and the Familiare (as I’m known locally as Wagon-man).
This model seems like the Dauphine, Bug, 124 sedan, Simca 1000 of the same / just abit later era. All lill pre-Jap appliances that did us quite well back in the day (daily, mommie-kid-bus, etc). I guess we were a bit european? But “Boston” has all ways (last hundred yrs) been as Kar-Krazy as SolCal. From out in the Berkshires now (30 yrs), looking East – I cant believe this is now the state in #1 position as ‘richest’.
Stationed in Nord Bayern district of Germany in 71/72. Had a 2 door Fiat that I held the seats up with 2×4’s from the hump to the door frame. Payed $10.00 to a GI headed for Nam. Sold it for $10.00 when leaving Germany. Great little car, that didn’t know how to die!
One of our neighbors had one years before I was able to drive, same color green as this one. How was I to know that 7 years later a similar(blue instead of green) one would be my first car. All of $200. It had the 4 on the tree which was a bit of an interest piece to the car culture of Long Island. Spent a lot of time cleaning and ‘fixing’, but it still was a fun car. I have a hard time believing this is the ‘last one’. There’s someone to comes to our cruises with one, and of course Jay Leno has one as well.