Topic: Solved - NEH 4802: Zagato Fiat 1500 S Coupé II - 1961

[Carnut]

What's this, for 1 point; and I'll need proof of it..!

Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!

[FrontMan]

by Zagato on a Type 2 Volkswagen base?

[Carnut]

by Zagato on a Type 2 Volkswagen base?

Can you prove that?!

[FrontMan]

....sadly, no. But, I'm pink, therefore I'm spam. 

[Carnut]

....sadly, no. But, I'm pink, therefore I'm spam. 

Then I'll have to say it's not what I have it as...
Back to the drawing board.

[tobytwirl]

I have it as a 1960 Osca 1500 Zagato, which probably means it is a Fiat 1500 Zagato with the Osca twin cam engine. The wheels certainly appear to be standard Fiat as opposed to the distinctive Osca alloys. I cannot prove a word of it,  I just have the same photo and that is how it is labelled. I have never seen another photo of this car.

[Carnut]

I have it as a 1960 Osca 1500 Zagato, which probably means it is a Fiat 1500 Zagato with the Osca twin cam engine. The wheels certainly appear to be standard Fiat as opposed to the distinctive Osca alloys. I cannot prove a word of it,  I just have the same photo and that is how it is labelled. I have never seen another photo of this car.

To be honest that's what I think it is as well, as the wheels are identical to those on the Fiat-Osca 1600 S Coupé (see picture below) and the glass-house and bonnet are very similar to the Fiat-Osca 1500 GT which has been puzzled here before (see also that picture below).
But why are there no pictures of this car anywhere on Fiat, Osca or Zagato sites?  Very odd.
Could you PM me the site where you have it with a caption please, as although it is pictured on several sites it actually says nothing at all about what it is or else it's described as something it clearly isn't?
Many thanks.

[tobytwirl]

Wish I could help more, but I downloaded the picture years ago and cannot remember the site. I probably labelled it myself to put it in my collection.

[Carnut]

Wish I could help more, but I downloaded the picture years ago and cannot remember the site. I probably labelled it myself to put it in my collection.

OK.
I did say I would need proof and I'd still like to see something before I label it as such..  Just in case it's wrong!
Perhaps one of the Italian experts on site can help?  PJ? als15? Hiawatha? Thorax? Any others?!
Thanks.

[Carnut]

I've got to the bottom of what this is.
It's the second version of the Fiat 1500 S Coupé which I posted the picture of on display at Turin.
So it's the Fiat 1500 S Coupé II, as it is referred to in one or two places but not pictured.
It was the car from which the OSCA 1600 GT was developed.
I wonder if it has survived.
So you now have your point and the puzzle is solved.

[thorax]

not yet found on my Quattroruote collection (year 1961)

[Paul Jaray]

I'm sorry for being that late, but here's what I have:
the white one is definetly the 2nd version of the 1500 by Zagato. The 1st version was started in 1958 (and quite outdated already) and the second was completed in 1960.
There is an article in Ruoteclassiche #42 with both cars and in Quattroruote #47 and 48 (the 1st version, in red)...and of course in als15's book "Fiat 1300 e 1500 fuoriserie".

[Carnut]

Thanks PJ.

I hope als15 doesn't mind me posting the relevant page (to which you refer) from his book on the Fiat 1200, 1500 and 1600 fuoriserie:

[Carnut]

Which translates as follows:

A rough translation of the captions says:

Above: The 1500 Coupe built by Zagato for the Turin Motor Show 1959
Right: The 1500 Coupé from which the OSCA 1600 GT was later developed.


A translation of the whole text on the page says:

Zagato, who, in the late fifties concentrated completely on sports car production, with which he achieved great success, approached the 1500 DOHC with interest but with great caution.  In fact he prepared a car for the 1959 Turin Motor Show with a simple, elegant coupé body, but very far from the aerodynamic refinement which usually characterized his accomplishments.  The limited success of this model encouraged him to build a second car, which, on the other hand, contained all the characteristic themes of his usual products at that time.  Once again, it was an interesting experiment but it served as a basis to develop the beautiful 1600 GT which he had just been commissioned by OSCA to build with similar mechanicals but the tubular chassis of the competition cars.