Fiat 1100 TV Zagato

Among the most fascinating interpretations of the Fiat 1100 TV was the version built by Zagato, the Milanese coachbuilder whose name became synonymous with lightweight gran turismos in the 1950s and 1960s. While Zagato is best remembered for dressing Alfa Romeos, Lancias, and Maseratis in streamlined alloy bodies, the company also turned its attention to Fiat’s lively Turismo Veloce, creating a compact GT that distilled the essence of the marque’s sporting ambitions. About fifteen cars are believed to have been produced, though only three are known to survive today. One of these belonged to Elio Zagato himself, who kept the car in the family for nearly sixty years—a detail that underlines just how personal and meaningful this project was to the coachbuilder. The 1100 TV Zagato followed the firm’s established formula: reduce weight, refine aerodynamics, and create a taut, purposeful shape that would shine both on the road and on the track. The design was simple yet effective, with smooth, rounded forms and minimal decoration, echoing the aerodynamic studies Zagato had been applying to racing Alfas and Abarths. Details such as the compact greenhouse, sloping roofline, and cleanly integrated fenders emphasized function over fashion, but the result was still unmistakably elegant. Mechanically, the cars retained the 1100 TV’s robust underpinnings, which made them reliable companions for endurance events and local races. Their lightweight bodies gave them a clear advantage in performance, positioning the Fiat 1100 TV Zagato as a genuine competitor in the growing category of small-displacement GT cars. Though built in tiny numbers, this model highlights the breadth of Zagato’s work in the period and the versatility of the Fiat 1100 TV chassis. It may not have achieved the fame of the contemporary Alfa or Maserati Zagatos, but it remains a prized discovery today, celebrated as one of the most focused and exclusive interpretations of Fiat’s celebrated Turismo Veloce.