1921 FIAT 520 Superfiat 6.8

Vehicle Overview

La Belle Epoque, the brief peace-time between WWI and WWII, was marked by a big rise in the automotive industry, and Fiat took advantage of that with one of the first V12 cars in the world.

Fiat built the 520, also known as the Superfiat, to show its technical capabilities. The Italian company also hoped to compete against the rising German luxury brands, but with a touch of art. The large vehicle production was limited, and only 30 vehicles were sold in its two years of production.

The 520 received the nickname Superfiat since it was over five meters (16.4 ft) long. The Italian carmaker offered the car with three body versions: a convertible, a closed sedan, and a semi-closed sedan where the driver was kept out from the rest of the passengers. For the sedan, the front doors were front-hinged, while the rear ones were rear-hinged. The front axle was pushed forward, just behind the radiator. Its fenders supported a transverse bar where the big, round, headlights were installed. The wide sills provided easier access inside the vehicle. At the back, the manufacturer installed the spare-wheels.

Regardless of the body version, all Superfiats were fitted with leather upholstery and wood-trims all around the cabin. The center-mounted control panel provided information regarding the engine, which was difficult to handle due to its complex layout for those times.

Fiat installed a 6.8-liter V12 engine for its biggest car made to that date. It was paired to a 3-speed manual gearbox and sent the power to the rear wheels. In 1927, Fiat considered a second engine choice and offered the 520 with an inline-six unit, which was sold in over 20.000 units.