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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  Collectors’ Cars & Automobilia – Featuring the Ferguson Collection of Motorsport Posters
• Sale Date:
  10 Dec 2017 ~ 2.30pm
• Lot #:
  63
• Lot Description:
  1968 Fiat 125 Samantha By Vignale
  One of only 100 built. Chassis No: 125A0119964; Engine No: 138AR20001534158
• Notes:
  The Fabbrica Italiana di Automobili Torino, founded in 1899, is one of the earliest and most enduring of all the great marques. Manufacturer of some amazing cars pre-WWII, including the 509A, the Balilla Coupé, and of course the first 500, Fiat post second world war was synonymous with the regeneration of Italy and its new sense of optimism and creativity. The Nuova Cinquecento is perhaps Fiat’s most famous model, but working with some of the leading coachbuilders of the time, including Pininfarina and Vignale, the wonderful Otto Vu or V8s were the choice of the rich and famous such as neorealist film director Roberto Rossellini and actress Ingrid Bergman. Another highly successful model for Fiat in the 1960s was the 125. In 1967 the legendary Torinese coachbuilder Vignale, created a low volume variant of the 125 entitled the Samantha which was sold, not through Fiat, but by independent dealers. Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale was established in 1948 and its first body was indeed based on a Fiat Topolino, but Vignale also worked closely with many other Italian car makers including Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia, as well as the British manufacturer Jensen. The Samantha was designed personally by Alfredo Vignale, creating a luxury coupé from the production Fiat 125S. Featuring the same 1.6 litre 100 hp twin-cam engine, and all-synchro 4-speed gearbox, the new coupé body references two-door cars such as the Lamborghini Miura with its pop-up headlights. This example of a genuine 1960s coachbuilt Italian coupé has been restored to a very high standard with an accompanying photographic documentation of the restoration process. This car underwent a complete ground-up restoration in Greece in 2012. At this time it was repainted a very attractive period brown metallic and the interior was sumptuously re-upholstered in tan Connolly leather and new carpets fitted. The dashboard was fitted with wood trim and the instrument cluster surrounded with leather with detailed stitching. A desirable and appropriate Nardi steering wheel was also installed providing a sympathetic match to the interior, and adding to the driving experience. The interior also features a period and working Blaupunkt radio with AM and FM bands. All electrical components were also redone as part of the restoration including the electric windows which were an early feature available with this car. The Fiat engine was reconditioned in 2014 with minimal mileage covered since then. Following the restoration the car won various awards in Greece and this specific car was also used as the basis for a 1/43 scale model of the Fiat Vignale Samantha by German scale model maker, Autocult. Sold via German dealer, Thiesen Hamburg GmbH, to its current owner in Perth in 2014, this fine example of Vignale coachwork was immediately registered for local use in Western Australia where it has been displayed in several invitation only car displays. It is believed that less than 100 of these sleek, pretty and luxurious coupés were built by Vignale after its debut at the 1967 Turin Motor Show, with perhaps less than a third of these still surviving today. This vehicle will be sold unregistered.
• Estimate:
  A$45,000 - 50,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.