Topic: SAC#524: 1938 Mille Miglia: Fiat 508CS Balilla Sport

[nicanary]

The British Pathe film is not a movie, in my opinion - I've watched it, and it is a news item. Because it is film shot of the actual race, I can't understand why the race numbers don't correspond with the cars in the puzzle picture. Could you give us any clues which might help me understand what you're looking for ?

[SACO]

Because ,if #44 is not a  Fiat 1100MM Berlinetta Savio ; #30 is not a Fiat 508CS Ballila Sport !

[targhediferro]

I've watched the British Pathe film, I'm pretty sure it is not a movie, but it actually shows some parts of '38 Mille Miglia.  I suppose #30 could be the  508S or CS of Quintavalla, and I have an idea about the strange definition of #44.  It could be a spider (perhaps with Zagato body) realized on a 508CMM base ( a berlinetta), and, as often happened, it might have manteined the 508cMM documents. So, when that car entered in the MM list, it was registered as a 1100 berlinetta even if it was already a spider. 

[nicanary]

I've watched the British Pathe film, I'm pretty sure it is not a movie, but it actually shows some parts of '38 Mille Miglia.  I suppose #30 could be the  508S or CS of Quintavalla, and I have an idea about the strange definition of #44.  It could be a spider (perhaps with Zagato body) realized on a 508CMM base ( a berlinetta), and, as often happened, it might have manteined the 508cMM documents. So, when that car entered in the MM list, it was registered as a 1100 berlinetta even if it was already a spider.

Good thinking.

[SACO]

OK !
1938 Mille Miglia: #30 Fiat 508CS Balilla Sport (with a Fiat L4 1100 cc engine), and driven by Quintavalla & S. Bardiani
and 1 point for 4popoid !

[4popoid]

Thanks SACO! 

Just for the record, I watched both the Pathe film, and and a nearly identical one, in Italian, which bears the logo Luce.  The latter I found at an Italian web site (URL on request via PM) which provides information on The Mille Miglia Museum, and includes what is purported to be actual film footage of historic Mille Miglia races.  Stop action of the 1938 segment yields a photo which appears identical to the puzzle picture.  The cars are not identified on the footage, as they are not on the Pathe footage.

My thought regarding the apparent discrepancy in #44, is like that posted by targhediferro.  That is: #44 was likely entered as registered for its "as built" state, but had subsequently been re-bodied to become a spider.