Fiat 1100 Cabriolet Vistotal

The Fiat 1100 Cabriolet Vistotal: Last 1100 model with separate chassis (the 1100/103 presented in 1953 would have been a more modern monocoque), the E was bodied by all the Italian coachbuilders in different versions (saloon, cabriolet, roadster, station wagon and utility van too) and the car shown in the Museo Nicolis is the creation of one of the most well known coachbuilder, the Carrozzeria Castagna of Milan that in the years between the two World Wars imposed themselves all over the world with their elegant bodies on prestigious chassis, like the body fitted to the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8AS shown in the Nicolis Museum itself. This cabriolet is called “Vistotal” for its particular windscreen fitted without side supports, as patented in 1936 by French coachbuilder Labourdette with the name “Vutotal”: it allows a total visibility of the road in front of the driver. Also the transparent steering wheel is on the same concept as the windscreen, a work of art only fitted to more important cars. This speciment is kept in the Museo Nicolis and is dated 1950. The same body was also used on the older 1100 B chassis in 1948, which won the category price at the Roma Concorso d’Eleganza Villa Pincio. Watch our video interview of the Fiat 1100 Cabriolet Vistotal by Castagna with Silvia Nicolis here.