Fiat 1500 Coupé Ellena

The Fiat 1500 Sport Ellena was a limited-production coupé based on the Fiat 1500 mechanical platform and bodied by Carrozzeria Ellena of Turin. Introduced in the early 1960s, it represented one of the last independent projects by Ellena before the company ceased operations. The model employed standard Fiat mechanical components but was distinguished by a unique, low-roof fastback body designed and constructed entirely by Ellena. The underlying chassis was that of the Fiat 118H series, equipped with a front-mounted, water-cooled four-cylinder engine of 1,481 cc. Bore and stroke measured 77 mm by 79.5 mm, respectively. The engine, derived from the Fiat 1500 Berlina, produced a maximum of 80 CV at 5,300 rpm. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. At customer request, the gear lever could be configured as a floor-mounted (“cloche”) or column-mounted shifter. The top speed recorded by contemporary sources approached 160 km/h. Fuel capacity was 45 litres. The bodywork featured a streamlined silhouette with minimal ornamentation and concealed door handles. The passenger compartment included revised upholstery, door cards, and a dashboard layout with a bespoke sports instrument cluster. Despite its compact dimensions, the vehicle offered a usable luggage compartment accessible via a rear boot lid. The total number of units built is not documented with precision, though surviving examples and period literature suggest production did not exceed 20 vehicles. No production registers are known to survive from Carrozzeria Ellena, and no definitive chassis number sequence has been published. Known surviving specimens have appeared in Italian private collections and regional concours events, but public appearances remain infrequent. The Fiat 1500 Sport Ellena represents a late example of independent coachbuilding in Italy applied to mass-produced platforms. Carrozzeria Ellena, active from the late 1940s until approximately 1966, was previously associated with more prominent marques such as Lancia and Ferrari. This model stands as one of the few Fiat-based bodies completed by the firm and remains among its most obscure outputs.