Italian manufacturers enjoy a well-earned reputation for producing sweet little two-seat Sports Cars. This 1962 Fiat Pininfarina 1200 Cabriolet perfectly demonstrates that trait and is a project candidate in need of a new home. It needs plenty of TLC, requiring deep dedication to return to its original form. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Araknid78 for spotting the Fiat listed here on eBay in Stevenson, Washington. The buyer set their BIN at $8,000, and it appears that figure is firm.
In 1959, Fiat replaced its existing Luigi Rapi-designed 1200 Spider with a new model penned by Pinin Farina. The beautiful body sat on the underpinnings of the 1200 TV Trasformabile, reducing development and production costs. The last cars left the line in 1966, with our featured car emerging in 1962. There’s something inherently “right” about classic Italian Sports Cars wearing Red paint, and this Fiat is no exception. However, it appears to have spent considerable time exposed to the elements, leaving the paint tired and the soft-top well past its prime. The seller includes a factory hardtop in the sale, and I’m both surprised and disappointed that they didn’t fit it to protect the inside of this car from the elements. The Cabriolet’s recent history means rust is always a concern, and this Fiat hasn’t been immune to problems. The panels look relatively clean, but with the interior stripped of its trim and carpet, there are obvious floor issues visible in some images. This is a concern, because the monocoque construction means that any floor rust can compromise the structural integrity. Only an in-person inspection will reveal how severe the problems are. The glass is in good condition, but both bumpers are bent. There is also a new soft-top that the buyer can install once they’ve whipped the paint and panels into shape.
Fiat chose to power the Pininfarina Cabriolet with the same 1,221cc four-cylinder motor that had served it well in the previous 1200 TV Trasformabile. It isn’t a powerhouse, delivering 62hp and 68 ft/lbs of torque in its prime. The power feeds to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission, with the factory quoting a top speed of 90mph. The bad news is that this Fiat doesn’t run and hasn’t for at least five years. The seller pulled the cylinder head and had it refreshed, but hasn’t finished refitting it. Given the time that elapsed, the buyer will probably rebuild the motor so that it is as fresh as a daisy when the car returns to its rightful place on our roads.
I suspect this photo is deceptive because I believe there is no interior currently fitted to this classic. However, the listing text suggests that what is visible is included, meaning that the buyer receives recovered seats and a new carpet set. It is unclear whether door trims and the missing dash components are included, but at least what is there is in good condition. Sourcing the missing items would return this area to a factory-fresh state.
Regular readers will probably recognize this 1962 Fiat Pininfarina 1200 Cabriolet because we last saw it in this excellent article by Michelle Rand in October 2025. It appears that the same seller has listed it, although they’ve opted for eBay over Craigslist this time. They have chosen an interesting sales strategy following their previous lack of success by raising the price by $2,000 this time. The seller emphasizes the rarity of this classic, and while I’ve been unable to confirm specific figures, I can confirm that this is only the tenth example to feature at Barn Finds since the site went live in 2011. Are those thoughts and the idea of owning a sweet Italian Sports Car enough to tempt you, or will you sit out this dance?
The early Fiat 1200 had many innovative and unique features. One model had “Swing out seats”. That is, they pivoted centrally so that a skirted woman could modestly pirouette the entire seat with both knees simultaneously to exit the vehicle placing both feet on the ground- skirt never separating. I am not sure exactly of that model, but Chris Obert would know- for those that know him as “THE” encyclopedia as Fiat Plus. If anyone is in the know of these models, Chris is the source.
That was the 1100/1200TV Trasformabile that Adam mentioning in his article. It was made from 1955 through 1958 and was not this model. It looked like the image attached
We restored a set and actually scratch fabricated one of these rare spoke hub caps. I still have a mold for the three-ear spinner. Unfortunately, F I A T does not spell- ” Pay The Craftsman-For-His-Expertise”. It has MANY OTHER interpretations- some not very nice. SO… another labor of love written off to Experience. Yes, the formula is, Quality= Time+$+Experience. Short any factor in this formula and the others suffer. Yet, I am old school, and finish with perfection most always. So, the area of experience I overwhelm most, but in the area of $, I am often the one who suffers.
It’s a worn out Fiat. Not an Alfa, not a Lancia.
Unless you just have to have THIS Fiat and all of these problems, you can get a 124 spider in decent condition for nearly the same ask.
Nice write-up Adam. And thanks for the acknowledgment