THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE
Model dossier
- Manufacturer
- Fiat
- Base model
- 1100 Cabriolet
- Coachbuilder
- Stabilimenti Farina
- Production period
- 1949
- 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 1949 Fiat 1100 Cabriolet by Stabilimenti Farina is a rare, one-of-a-kind vehicle with an alloy body, reflecting the craftsmanship and innovation of the post-war era. As a unique one-off creation, it stands out for its exclusivity and the elegance of its design. Stabilimenti Farina, a renowned coachbuilder, designed this car for a wealthy wine producer from Bari in the Puglia region of Italy. Built in 1949, the Fiat 1100 Cabriolet echoes the refined and luxurious tastes of its time, combining Italian flair with high-quality craftsmanship. The design language used on this Fiat 1100 Cabriolet was part of a broader styling trend pioneered by Stabilimenti Farina, most notably for the 1949 Ferrari 166. Farina’s signature aesthetic, characterized by graceful curves, a long hood, and a streamlined profile, helped establish a new standard of automotive elegance that would influence many luxury and sports cars during the period. The Fiat 1100 Cabriolet, despite being a one-off, embodied this cutting-edge style, blending sophistication with the compact and reliable mechanics of the Fiat 1100. Interestingly, the design of this unique Fiat 1100 was also adapted for another car— the Simca Sport 8 Cabriolet, which shared several stylistic elements with its Italian counterpart. This crossover of design ideas between Italian and French brands demonstrates the widespread influence of Stabilimenti Farina during the late 1940s. Today, the 1949 Fiat 1100 Cabriolet stands as a rare piece of automotive history, not only for its bespoke nature but for the way it captures the post-war shift toward sleek, elegant car designs. The collaboration between Fiat and Stabilimenti Farina on this project created a car that was not only visually stunning but also deeply rooted in the artisanal tradition of Italian coachbuilding.
02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY
Specifications & construction
Production & construction
- Production
- 1
- Production type
- One-off
Engine & performance
- Specification notes
- Confidence detail moved from confidence: high_disposition_only
Design & manufacture
- Designer · Documented
- Giovanni Michelotti
- Manufacturer · Documented
- Fiat
- Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
- Stabilimenti Farina
06 / EVENTS & AWARDS
Events & awards
No events or documented awards are currently recorded for this vehicle.
07 / THE VEHICLE IN DETAIL
Photo gallery 9 photographs
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08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE
Archive
No publishable archival references are currently catalogued for this vehicle.













THE CONVERSATION
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