Fiat 1100-103 Derby Convertible
Automotive one-offs, that are allowed to participate in Concours events as well as in the historical Mille Miglia cost at least six-figure sums, right? Wrong! Bonhams brings a very special Fiat to the ‘Les Grandes Marques du Monde’ auction during this year’s Retromobile in Paris next month. This car will open some doors for its new owner. And that at an expected hammer price between 55,000 and 70,000 €. It is a Fiat 1100-103 with a unique Derby Convertible of the renowned design house Bertone.
The Italians included the 1100-103 in their model line-up from 1953 and also had it produced in various other countries under license. It was available as NSU-Fiat Neckar (Germany), Steyr-Fiat 1100 (Austria) or Premier Padmini (India). Next to the self-supporting bodywork of the sedan, Fiat also offered it as Familiare (estate/station wagon) and in the more powerful TV version with 50 hp also as two-seater convertible ‘Transformabile’. Only a few chassis went to independent coachbuilders, including the one with chassis number 060683, which was fitted with the TV engine and sent to Bertone. There it received a two-door and four-seater convertible bodywork with the nickname ‘Derby’.
After company founder Giovanni Bertone had retired in 1945 and his son Giuseppe ‘Nuccio’ Bertone took over the management, he installed Mario Revelli de Beaumont as new chief designer. He had previously worked at Stabilimenti Farina and later switched to Fiat, Pinin Farina, General Motors and Simca. At Bertone he was responsible for a time of more American-inspired design, which is clearly expressed in the Fiat 1100-103 Derby Convertible shown here. It was built in 1954 and extensively restored in 2018.
During the restoration, the car received a livery in light grey, which fits well with the original red leather interior, which has piping in body color. Now the four-seater is looking for a new owner, who either enjoys it with friends and family on summer tours or shows it at Concours events or uses it at the Mille Miglia.
Images: Bonhams
