Fiat 1100 Giardinetta Monviso

The Fiat 1100 Giardinetta Monviso was unveiled at the 1953 Turin Motor Show, a direct response to the introduction of Fiat’s new 1100/103. With its unibody construction, the 1100/103 made it difficult for independent coachbuilders to continue building custom bodies, forcing firms like Carrozzeria Monviso to quickly adapt. Founded in 1944 by Alessandro Casalis, Monviso had developed a reputation for transforming standard Fiat models into ambulances, hearses, and light utility vehicles. For the 1100 Giardinetta, Casalis aimed higher—toward a production-quality fuoriserie with precision finishes and modern styling. The design was commissioned from Giovanni Michelotti, who was working independently after his time at Stabilimenti Farina. His Giardinetta was an estate-bodied 1100 with two doors and a rear hatch, lower and shorter than the production sedan. Painted in a simulated wood-trim two-tone finish that echoed American station wagons, it featured subtle chrome details, a panoramic rear window, and well-integrated lines—sporty, but functional. The car was not just a showpiece; it was ready for the road. Despite a strong debut, the Giardinetta struggled commercially. Fiat launched its own 1100 Familiare in 1954, priced significantly lower and with four doors—better suited to the practical buyer. Monviso’s version, though more elegant, was too expensive and too limited in practicality. Only one example is confirmed to survive. It was discovered decades later on a farm in Casale Monferrato, where it had been used to haul grapes and store tools. Restorer Ermanno Africano negotiated its purchase—trading, in part, a new Mini—and began its restoration. Remarkably complete, including its original Monviso badges, the car was brought back to life. Today, it remains the only known Fiat 1100 Giardinetta by Monviso, a rare survivor of Italy’s transitional era in custom coachbuilding.