SAC#391: Fiat Balilla aerodinamica by Savio 1934

SACO · January 19, 2013, 05:32:14 AM

What's this, built by whom, when - for 1 point !

SACO · January 26, 2013, 01:58:04 AM

Experts ?

frederick59 · January 26, 2013, 03:14:40 AM

Peugeot 202 base?

SACO · January 26, 2013, 05:24:45 AM

Not a Peugeot !

nicanary · January 26, 2013, 05:43:17 AM

Simca?

targhediferro · January 26, 2013, 05:45:01 AM

Fiat 1100?

SACO · January 26, 2013, 07:01:11 AM

Yes !
Locked for you !

targhediferro · January 26, 2013, 11:39:38 AM

Sorry, looked for me or for Nicanary?

SACO · January 26, 2013, 01:45:28 PM

No , locked for you !

targhediferro · January 26, 2013, 03:09:58 PM

Ok, thank you, I suppose it to be a 508 C 1100, is the coachbuilder Italian?

SACO · January 26, 2013, 03:46:15 PM

Yes , an Italian coachbuilder !

targhediferro · January 26, 2013, 06:27:24 PM

Is it a Castagna 508 C?

SACO · January 27, 2013, 04:30:33 AM

Not Castagna !

targhediferro · January 27, 2013, 05:20:56 AM

Perhaps Borsani?

SACO · January 31, 2013, 01:49:40 AM

Not Borsani !
Unlocked

targhediferro · January 31, 2013, 02:13:26 AM

Ghia?

als15 · January 31, 2013, 02:52:14 AM

I think it's by Savio.

SACO · January 31, 2013, 05:28:06 AM

Yes ,Fiat Balilla aerodinamica by Savio 1934 !
Another point for you !

als15 · January 31, 2013, 07:33:49 AM

Thanks, but if it's actually a Balilla, it's not a 1100... The Balilla was only 995 cc.
The first Fiat 1100, the 508C, was the so-called "Nuova Balilla", introduced in 1937.

SACO · January 31, 2013, 09:26:50 AM

Yes ,sorry :1934 Balilla 995 cc !

thorax · February 01, 2013, 11:44:16 AM

I have some doubts about the date: the body is from a 508 C 1100 not from a Balilla

als15 · February 01, 2013, 11:54:42 AM

I too have some doubt, but it's not a 508 C: just incredibly similar.
The same photo appears in a feature on L'Auto Italiana (if I'm not wrong) about Savio history in the late 30s and the date in the caption is indeed 1934 (but, not being a contemporary report, it could even be a mistake).
In fact, I have always thought 1934 would probably be 1935; hard to suppose Savio to be in advance compared to Fiat and Mario Revelli to propose that aerodynamic shape.
But if you consider that the 508 C/1100 is just an adaptation of the 1500 shape on a shorter wheelbase, you can understand how a so similar result can have been achieved independently also by Savio a couple of years before (Fiat 508 C was launched only in 1937), but I cannot believe they made it before seeing the 1500 (unless they have seen a prototype already in 1934).

SACO · February 01, 2013, 12:15:06 PM

1934 publicity

als15 · February 01, 2013, 12:30:04 PM

Hiawatha · February 01, 2013, 04:03:55 PM

I took the time to leaf through all 1934 and 1935 Auto Italiana. It seems safe to assume that the Fiat 1500 came first.
In the report on the 1935 Salone dell'Automobile (November 1935) there is an article on the cars presented by Carrozzeria Savio.
Briefly it says that Savio presented a couple of 1500 Superaerodinamica (very similar to original Fiat creation) and two Balillas that could have been mistaken for the bigger sisters and just a little smaller for people that couldn't afford the price of the 1500. It is also clear from the report that the original shape was the one of the Fiat 1500, considered to be the first practical and affordable streamlined Italian car.
I hope I made myself clear.Of course if that publicity is really from 1934 and can be proved I have to stand corrected.

News:

SAC#391: Fiat Balilla aerodinamica by Savio 1934