1911 FIAT Tipo 6

Four-Passenger Demi-Tonneau

Specifications

Configuration: Front engine, rear wheel drive

Engine: 9,026 CC Side-Valve Inline 4-Cylinder Engine Single Fiat In-Block Tubular Carburetor

Horsepower: 75 HP at 1,000 RPM

Transmission: 4-Speed Manual Gearbox, Double-Side Chain Drive

Brakes: Water-Cooled Service Transmission Brake, Rear-Wheel Hand Brake

Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino began making automobiles in 1900, with 35 employees. The company quickly became renowned for their creative engineers on staff as the brand grew. By 1910, FIAT had become the largest automobile company in Italy, and built a new plant in Poughkeepsie, NY that same year.

Owning a FIAT back then was a sign of distinction. The company was one of the top importers of chassis into the U.S., and like most high-end cars of the time, early FIAT were sold as bare chassis and had coach-built bodies installed to the owners’ specifications. This wonderful 1911 FIAT Tipo 6 is believed to be one of only 28 examples produced and is said to have cost $10,000 new from the coach-builder, or $265,000 in today’s dollars.

In 1910, William Wallace contracted the Hulme piano company in Boston, MA to fabricate an angular wood body sheathed in aluminum onto the chassis in order to race in the 1911 Vanderbilt Cup. At some point later in time, the race body was replaced with a Simplex touring body.

This FIAT Tipo 6 boasts many of its original features and accessories, including its tool kit, a properly-working Warner 100 mph combination speedometer/clock, Nonpareil triple-twist bulb horn, brass boa constrictor bulb horn (not a reproduction), and Badger Brass Solarclipse headlamps and carriage lamps – all having the correct date code.