THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE
Model dossier
- Production period
- 1957
- Body style
- Cabriolet
- Type
- One-off
- Production
- 1
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR
Coachbuilding, design & conversions
PRICE & SALES RECORD
Vehicle value
- Original price
- Not documented
- Latest recorded sale
- Not documented
01 / THE STORY
History & context
The Fiat 1100 TV Spider Frua (1957) is an exceptional one-off creation, crafted by Pietro Frua, the renowned Italian coachbuilder, based on the Fiat 1100/103E TV. This unique spider was built to showcase the expertise of Frua’s design, blending classic Fiat engineering with bespoke Italian styling. The car was initially delivered to Giuseppe Searantimo in Turin, Italy, on September 19, 1957. After a year, the vehicle passed to Giuseppe Boscaro of Strà, near Padua, in September 1958, and later to Giovanna Lisa Martino in November 1959, following a local dealership sale. By 1980, the car was acquired by Enrico Martino, son of the original owner, and it was registered under the license plate PD 72672. The car underwent a comprehensive restoration during this period. In June 2001, the Fiat 1100 TV Spider was offered for sale through the Routeclassiche publication, with the advertisement highlighting the car’s rarity and excellent restoration status. It was sold for 30,000,000 ITL (around 15,500 EUR at the time) to Gianni Cantaluppi, an expert in classic car restoration. Cantaluppi, based in Como, Italy, ensured the car remained in top condition. The Fiat 1100 TV Spider Frua made its public debut at the 2nd International Frua Meet held at the 3rd European Concours d’Elegance in Schwetzingen in July 2003, where it participated and was admired by enthusiasts of classic Italian automobiles.
02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY
Specifications & construction
Production & construction
- Production
- 1
- Production type
- One-off
- Mechanical platform
- Fiat 1100 TV
Engine & performance
- Specification notes
- Registro Pietro Frua lists the Fiat 1100 TV Spider. Only the Fiat 1100 TV basis is structured; no chassis, quantity or unrelated donor data are inherited.
Design & manufacture
- Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
- Frua
- Designer · Documented
- Pietro Frua
- Manufacturer · Documented
- Fiat
06 / EVENTS & AWARDS
Events & awards
39° Salone Internazionale dell'Automobile – Torino General · From the historical archive
- Date
- 30 Oct 1957
- Chassis
- General
- Venue
- Torino Esposizioni / Palazzo delle Esposizioni · Torino
07 / THE VEHICLE IN DETAIL
Photo gallery 7 photographs
Show 1 more photographs Show fewer photographs
08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE
Archive
References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.
| Reference | Source type |
|---|---|
| Registro Pietro Frua — Fiat bodies / Fiat 1100 TV Spider pietro-frua.de | Designer specialist archive |













THE CONVERSATION
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