1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia

V8 engines and postwar Jet Age styling is most often associated with American cars of the '50s, but Fiat set the automotive world buzzing when it introduced the 8V Supersonic in 1953. With its independent suspension, powerful V8, and futuristic styling, the 15 8Vs bodied by Ghia are considered the best and most desirable of the 114 built. The example here was bought by General Motors designer Henry de Segur Lauve and shipped to the US on board the USS Constitution. Lauve contacted Fiat about problems with the engine not long after, and Fiat shipped him a new unit. In the meantime, the 8V was equipped with a 283 Chevrolet V8 until the new powerplant arrived, and Lauve even incorporated some of the Supersonic's design into a 1958 Chevrolet design. Rare, excellently maintained, and with a documented history, this is a landmark car that is hardly seen on the open market.