Fiat 522 C Roadster Flying Star

The Fiat 522C Flying Star was a one-off coachbuilt automobile designed and executed by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan in 1931. It was constructed on the short-wheelbase variant of the Fiat 522 chassis, designated 522C, and commissioned for Fiat’s Maltese distributor, Muscat, who placed the chassis order in early July 1931. Delivery to Touring was recorded on 22 July of that year, according to the Centro Storico Fiat. The 522C was powered by a side-valve inline six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 2,516 cubic centimetres. The unit produced an output of approximately 52 horsepower in standard form. It was mated to a four-speed manual gearbox transmitting power to the rear axle. The chassis utilised a steel ladder frame, with leaf-spring suspension at both front and rear and mechanical drum brakes on all four wheels. The body was conceived in Touring’s distinctive “Flying Star” style, typically applied to open-bodied sports cars, but here interpreted for a roadster configuration. The bodywork was formed in aluminium using Touring’s patented Superleggera construction method, with lightweight panels affixed to a tubular substructure. Key visual elements included a vertical radiator grille and a subtly raised bonnet profile reminiscent of contemporary Isotta Fraschini designs. The overall silhouette maintained proportions consistent with early 1930s design norms, yet refined by the flowing lines and precise execution characteristic of Touring’s output. Decorative features included a polished chrome beltline strip extending along the sides and terminating in a stylised ‘V’ at the rear, as well as a series of curved louvres and specially designed mudguards. These elements drew visual influence from the earlier Alfa Romeo Flying Star body by Josette Pozzo and added complexity to the visual composition.Only a single specimen of the Fiat 522C Flying Star was produced. The vehicle was displayed at a concours event held in Piazza Santorre di Santarosa, Milan, situated near Touring’s premises. Documentation confirms its delivery to Malta, though its subsequent history remains obscure. No publicly available records include chassis or engine serials. The car remains one of the lesser-known but technically and stylistically significant examples of Touring’s early 1930s custom bodywork.