When I first spied this 1962 Fiat 1200 Cabriolet, I thought, at first, it was a late ’60s Datsun 1600/2000. Nope, not quite but it is a Fiat model that I have not encountered before. Said to be sitting in a garage for ten years, and not started during that time, the long-term owner now wishes to move this Fiat to a new home. Calling Santa Ana, California home, this Pininfarina-designed two-seater is available, here on craigslist for $7,500. Two thumbs up to numskal for this tip!
Manufactured by Pininfarina, the Fiat 1200 was offered between ’59 and ’66 with total production exceeding 30K copies. Two body styles were offered, a cabriolet and a coupe. The seller has owned this red drop-top since 1999 and considers his care of this car to have been “meticulous”. Aesthetically speaking, the finish is mostly flat and the chrome bits and stainless trim are a bit dull, but the body seems to be complete, with no missing parts and is dentless. Best of all, perhaps, this Fiat is claimed to be rust-free! There are a couple of images of the raised, folding fabric top, and from what can be seen, it appears to be sound – the images are taken from a distance however.
The interior is nice and bright – inviting actually, but I imagine that the two-tone seating upholstery is non-original. It appears to be a combination of white vinyl and a red broadcloth fabric. Probably the same with the carpet, it looks pretty good but likely not what was originally employed. The gauges show as being clear and legible, the polished dash trim is nicely reflective and the dash pad checks out as OK. I question that six-bolt steering wheel hub cover, it looks like something homemade.
Power is provided by a 62 HP, 1200 CC in-line four-cylinder engine, delivering power to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. As you may recall from the opening paragraph, the seller states that the engine hasn’t been started in ten years – that’s a concern. Is it stuck, contaminated with bad fuel, or…? The engine appears to be complete and unmodified but the under hood cobwebs certainly corroborate the statement regarding the engine’s long period of inactivity.
We’re told that many spare parts are included in the sale, and there does appear to be a passel of items, but it’s not said if they are specifically inventoried or if it will be basically a guessing game. One part that is, unfortunately, not included is the key. Maybe that’s why this Fiat hasn’t been started in so long. This Fiat 1200 seems like a pretty sound and complete example but I think I’d like to know a bit more about the engine’s circumstances. The seller suggests, “just a great car to add to any collection or start one…” Now if he could just find that key, right?
Crap! Already sold. This was a steal.
I call it a mega deal
“Manufactured by Pininfarina”? I think you mean designed by Pininfarina and manufactured by Fiat.
Actually, I didn’t. The research that I uncovered indicated that Pininfarina did the design and coachwork manufacturing while Fiat was the marketer.
https://handwiki.org/wiki/Engineering:Fiat_Pininfarina_Cabriolet
JO
IIRC, the Fiat 1200 Cabriolet, although marketed by FIAT, was both designed AND built by Pininfarina as was the later 1500 Cabriolet (FWIW, Pininfarina also designed and built the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and early Giulia Spiders. Bertone designed and built the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and early Giulia Sprints).
The FIAT 1500 Cabriolet could be had with a modified OSCA designed DOHC I-4. I believe Fiat replaced the OSCA aluminum block with a cast iron block and also produced this engine for OSCA.
I believe you are correct about the block. My 1600S had a cast iron block with an aluminum head. The whole point of them using the twin-cam engine is so the Maserati brothers (yes that Maserati since they had sold the company to the Orsi family in 1937) could homologate the engine for racing (Formula 2?). But it’s not clear who actually manufactured the engine, Fiat or OSCA.
This body style was also used for the 1500S and 1600S twin-cam OSCA motors. Much different cars. 100hp with the 1600S
i had a 1960 one of these, i loved it. problem was if you needed parts, good luck, i had to order from italy and took months. i would love to have this if the price was lower i would drive from florida to pick it up.
mine was savagely attacked and destroyed by vandal kids,
broke everything and filled all with sand etc.
In the NW Washington, DC area of Van Ness and Reno roads, was a 1930s Brick home with a 2 car garage out back. I used to ask local kids if they knew of any old cars sitting in garages [they usually know where the old cars are!]. That’s how I found the contents of the garage behind the brick house.
Peering thru the garage door windows, I could see a pair of Fiat 1200 convertibles, both light blue. I asked a lady living in the house about the cars, and she said they had been her parents cars. Her father had privately imported them from Europe as new cars, one for him and one for his wife.
Before the cars arrived, the wife fell ill and died, and the man simply put the cars in the garage and never touched them again. When I saw them, both cars were covered in the typical detritus one sticks in a garage to get it out of the house. I never did see them up close, but I was told they were new cars, never licensed. Of course, the cars were family items, and not for sale.
Years later I drove past the house and noticed the garage door was open, so I stopped and asked about the Fiats. The guy at the house said he knew about the cars; they were hauled off for scrap when the estate was settled and the house put up for sale. He never saw them.
That kind of story is too often the case. The owner holds on to the car saying they are going to eventually fix it up or they are just sentimental about it and it sits until it turns to rust. Then it ends up in a scrap yard and no one ever got to drive and enjoy it.
Yep, especially when the house in question [like this one in DC] is valuable, and the heirs are anxious to convert that asset to cash. I’m sure even 20 years ago that house was a 7-figure property, so they probably assumed the Fiats were worth only scrap value.
I had a 66 1500 in high school. Loved it. Looked like a Beautifull little Ferrari PF in 5/8 scale.
Even though a 1500 not a lot of power, buy incredably well ballanced. I could drive into any corner at full tilt, and would 4 wheel drift in perfect control. Learned all about driving sportscars in it. Would love to find another one in good condtion