FINDING OF UNKNOWN MATERIAL AND NEW EVENT PARTICIPATION DISCOVERED
June 13, 2024
STARTING POINT
The Fiat 8V chassis no. 106*000078* has an important and well-known history. The chronology of its owners and the two events it participated in were known: the 1956 Mille Miglia and the Concorso Internazionale di Eleganza per Automobili di Rimini in the same year, winning its class. In recent years, from 2016 to 2023, over a period of more than six years, the car underwent a complete restoration, resulting in the production and accumulation of a vast amount of photographic and documentary material.
RESEARCH
Our research work thoroughly investigated the sporting and non-sporting history of the car. This enabled the finding of previously unknown material regarding its participation in the Mille Miglia. Similarly, additional photos and press reviews from the 1956 Concorso d’Eleganza in Rimini were acquired. A new event participation was discovered, with photographic evidence: the 1960 II Coppa Fagioli, where the car was 1st in class. All events were accurately identified and documented with correct names and achievements. Collaborative relationships were developed with one of the former owners, the Mercatali family, who contributed additional documentation, press reviews, and photos. Previously unpublished photos from the 1977 Mille Miglia, the first re-enactment on the original route, were also found. Regarding the car’s recent life, it is known that it participated in several commemorative events between the 1980s and 2000s, although these were never documented or cataloged. The work carried out led to the definite identification of the car, the events, and the car’s role in them. AUTOMOTIVE MASTERPIECES also handled the material taken during the restoration: an amount of six years of uncatalogued photos (ranging from 7,000 to 8,000) taken by the restorers and used by various parties. The task involved reorganizing and cataloging these photos. We also facilitated an agreement between three owners of Fiat 8Vs, allowing them to exchange engines and make two examples matching numbers, thus providing the 000078 with a compliant engine, originally mounted on another Zagato specimen.
