News & Features February 28, 2007, 3:31PM EST

Supersonic Ghia

From Spain's Costa Brava, the new $660,000 Tramontana G-07 is set to go into production later this year

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1953 Fiat 8V Ghia Supersonic

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In 1951, Fiat's great designer Dante Giocosa began work on a new high-performance sports car, the legendary 8V, or "Otto Vu" in Italian, a two-liter, V8-engined two-seater.

Giacosa theorized that for a car to have the power and characteristics for which he was aiming, a tubular chassis would not be stiff enough to mount the fully independent suspension, so a platform was constructed from welded sheet metal, to which was welded the coachwork paneling.

The chassis construction was contracted out to specialist manufacturer Siata, which would go on to build its own 8V versions, and Fabio Luigi Rapi was enlisted to design the bodywork. In March 1952, the 8V debuted at the Geneva Salon and stole the show. It soon became a favorite with Italian racing drivers who scored race wins, class wins, and championship victories in 8Vs.

The car also caught the attention of Italy's coachbuilders, the first of which to render their adaptation was Zagato. Other versions were built by Vignale, Pininfarina, Siata and Ghia. The latter was dubbed "Supersonic," an allusion to the car's rocketship styling.

SUPERSONIC BEGAN AS AN ALFA

The Supersonic design first appeared on a Conrero-tuned Alfa Romeo 1900, which was entered in the 1953 Mille Miglia. Designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi, it was crafted in metal by Ghia, which built eight examples on the 8V Fiat chassis.

The car we offer today is meticulously restored and was shown at the Bagatelle Concours d'Elegance. The combination of Ghia bodywork, a dramatic period color scheme, and a potent little V8 makes this rare Fiat a desirable car. Many of these Fiat 8Vs received an Alfa Romeo five-speed gearbox back in the late 1950s, just as the car we are proud to offer today. It comes with a U.S. title and Swiss customs documents.

The SCM Analysis

This car sold for $452,800 at the Sportscar Auction, Geneva, Switzerland, October 7, 2006.

The Fiat 8V was an interesting, (if ultimately dead end) creation of the mass market firm.

Part of a project for a large luxury car to better appeal to the American market, the V8 engine was developed for a still-born Fiat sedan but found a welcome home in a sports car instead. Small, at under two liters and with a 70-degree angle V design, it produced 105 hp in original trim, later uprated to 115 hp with hotter cams, higher compression, and dual two-barrel Weber carburetors. The ultimate variant had four-barrel Webers and a four-port head, giving 125 hp. The 8V proved effective against contemporary two-liter competition from Lancia, Maserati, and Ferrari.

SKUNK WORKS PROJECT

After the planned sedan was dropped, a group of engineers at Fiat decided that the engine was too interesting to lose. In a "skunk works" project, housed in Fiat's aircraft division, development continued. The aircraft connection actually became a challenge later on. Aircraft engines are typically not high revving and details such as oil circulation were not optimized for auto racing.

On the other hand, the potential weak spot of the three main bearing bottom end was addressed by increasing the clearances to account for crankshaft flex. Once the engineers had the motor they wanted, it was presented to management, who authorized the construction of the sports car.

SIATA ALSO USED 8V PACKAGE

Fiat built 170 Otto Vu "groups"--a package consisting of the engine, gearbox, and suspension. Fifty-six of them went to Siata, which built mostly spiders and a few coupes, and the rest became Fiats. They were sophisticated in concept, with oval-tube space frames (later simplified to round section) and fully-independent suspension all around.

Like the engine, the suspension was also a refugee from an abandoned project. Fiat and Alfa had been commissioned by the Italian military to design a "jeep" vehicle. Alfa won the competition, but part of the spec of the Fiat version included a remarkable suspension system with a light alloy cast housing and an articulated needle-bearing arm containing the shock hydraulics and spring. Adapted to the 8V chassis, it was very light and capable, contributing to the car's reputation for superior road holding.