Information
• Complete restoration.
• The only remaining of three built.
• Excellent condition.• Documented racing history.
• Mille Miglia eligible. ASI and Fiva.
Specialist Notes
This particular sport barchetta is the only remaining of three built by Fioravante Zanussi, dressed by Carrozzeria Vendrame with this particular front and it is the only uprated by Antonio Fontebasso. The original engine was replaced with a Lancia Ardea engine. The car ran the Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti in 1949 and in 1950. The documented story of the cars includes a video of the era of the car racing and pictures of the car surrounded by the family of the former owner. This car has still today the shape of the similar car that raced the Mille Miglia.
The little Fiat “Topolino” is one of the most reknown and iconic car, even beyond the cars’ world. Born in 1930s’, it was the vehicle of the Italian renaissance before that the postwar new models hit the roads. It’s the car that brought Italy from two wheels (with or without an engine) to four, it was a car meant to be essential and cheap, but it seems that anyone wanted to race it. The Topolino was often modified, from mildly to radically, for the races. Workshop, body shops, small factories and artisans built their ultimate version. Some just cut the roof, someone else built barchetta roadsters on tubular chassis, while the engine grew up to the 750-cc category limit to the most possible power. At the Mille Miglia, for example, 95% of the 750 cc Sport cars were registered as Fiat, although the Turin-based company never built roadsters, barchette or racing coupès. Among the so-called “minor” coachbuilders, a place certainly belongs to Tullio Vendrame. A brilliant artisan, came from a work experience at the aeronautical factory CAPRONI, where he learned to treat aluminum and its alloys. The bodyshop was set on the traditional repair of everyday cars, but Vendrame could not resist the proposals that came from fans in the area, local specialists who wanted bodies fitted for competition. One of these was Fioravante Zanussi: he always relied on Vendrame to “dress” his prototypes and those of its customers. In the post-war years Fioravante Zanussi race-prepared several small-capacity cars for private drivers, mainly using Fiat, Alfa Romeo and BMW engines. This barchetta was built on a Fiat 500 B chassis by Fioravante Zanussi in 1948. It was fitted out in a barchetta sport, in aluminum, by Tullio Vendrame of Mareno di Piave (Treviso). This particular sport barchetta is the only remaining of three built with this particular front and it is the only uprated by Antonio Fontebasso, the first owner together Diego Zanotto. Fontebasso wanted to participate in several races. The work was completed in 1948 and the car ran the Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti in 1949 and in 1950. In this period Fontebasso decided to emigrate to Brazil and the car was driver by the co-owner Diego Zanotto. It was probably fitted with a 500cc engine with a Siata cylinder head. The original engine was replaced with a Lancia Ardea engine reduced to 750cc in an uncertain date in the past. The car is also counted between the “Automotive Masterpieces” and featured in the related website. The documented story of the cars includes a video of the era of the car racing and pictures of the car surrounded by the family of the former owner. This car has still today the shape of the similar car that raced the Mille Miglia and is, in fact, Mille Miglia eligible.Contact
Condition report
To request a Condition Report, please contact automotive@finarte.it
The department will provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Please note that what Finarte declares with respect to the state of conservation of the objects corresponds only to a qualified opinion and that we are not professional conservators or restorers.
We urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. We always suggest prospective buyers to inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition during the exhibition days as indicated in the catalog.