Fiat 1100 Coupé Allemano

The Fiat 1100 Coupé by Carrozzeria Allemano is one of those rare automotive gems born from passion, determination, and a little bit of garage-based ingenuity—literally. Commissioned by the Ficai brothers of Parma, this elegant coupé followed the styling trends of the era, taking cues from the legendary Cisitalia 202. However, it had a unique touch: a distinctive lightening crease on the front fender, a design detail that would later appear on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SS. Built in 1949 in the back of the family pharmacy (because where else would you build a race car?), the Ficai brothers’ dream machine wasn’t just a showpiece—it was a racer. Underneath its sleek Allemano body, the car featured a reinforced chassis, modified suspension, and a custom crankshaft designed by a Rational Mechanics professor from the University of Modena, a friend of the brothers’ father. With just ten days to spare after completing the build, Paolo and Pietro Ficai threw themselves into the 1949 Mille Miglia, achieving a respectable 33rd place. Not bad for a couple of pharmacists-turned-racers! They returned for two more Mille Miglia races in 1950 and 1951, proving their machine’s durability and their own racing determination. Their confidence soared, and their little coupé soon proved its mettle with a class victory at the 1950 Parma-Poggio di Berceto hill climb. In 1951, it was poised to repeat this success at the Coppa Toscana—until a protest about the chassis dimensions saw it bumped into the Sport category, where it was outclassed. Despite this bureaucratic setback, the Fiat 1100 Coupé by Allemano remains a shining example of Italian ingenuity, proving that great things can come from unexpected places—even the back of a pharmacy.