Description
Fiat Lombardi Grand Prix | 1971
Highlights:
– 0.85-litre four-cylinder engine, petrol, manual transmission
– Rare Italian coupé built on Fiat 850 mechanicals by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi
– Completely restored by a mechanic prior to the current owner’s acquisition in September 2021
– Rated 1- in a 2021 classic car appraisal, with an appraised value of 36,500 euros at the time
– Missing its front bonnet lettering (original mounting holes remain)
The seller offers for sale this 1971 Fiat Lombardi Grand Prix, powered by a 0.85-litre four-cylinder engine, paired with a manual transmission. This example was acquired by the current owner in September 2021 from a mechanic who had carried out a complete restoration of the car beforehand. An independent appraisal carried out that year rated the car 1-, with a market value of 36,500 euros at the time. Since that purchase, the car has stood in a covered space and has not been driven by the current owner, spending roughly five years unused. The seller notes that the car is not currently registered or in possession of a valid roadworthiness inspection and, at the time of listing, does not start; new spark plugs have already been fitted and further attempts will be made to get the engine running. The front bonnet is missing its lettering badge, which is difficult to source, though the original mounting holes remain in place should a replacement be fitted.
Given the car’s current condition, it will need to be transported by van or trailer rather than driven away, and the buyer should plan for this accordingly.
The Fiat Lombardi Grand Prix was built by Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi, an Italian coachbuilder that produced small-series cars based on Fiat platforms through the 1960s and 1970s. The Grand Prix was Lombardi’s sporty 2+2 coupé, built on the floorpan and running gear of the Fiat 850 but wrapped in a wedge-shaped, fastback body that echoed the styling language of contemporary Italian exotics of the era. Produced between 1968 and 1972 in an estimated total of 1,000 to 2,000 examples, the Grand Prix offered exotic-inspired looks at a fraction of the cost of the supercars it visually referenced, and surviving examples are now rare, with only a handful believed to remain in Germany today.
Mechanically, the Grand Prix carries over the Fiat 850’s rear-mounted four-cylinder engine and manual gearbox, keeping the car light and simple in period Italian small-coupé tradition. Combined with its distinctive coachbuilt styling, this makes the Grand Prix an unusual and increasingly hard-to-find piece of Italian automotive design history, of particular interest to collectors of coachbuilt Fiats and Italian specials of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Condition of the bodywork & paint
4 — Very Good. Clean with minimal wear; might need minor replacements for small missing or broken parts.
Condition of the interior
4 — Very Good. Displays only minimal wear and can hit the road any time.
Technical condition
3 — Good. Bodywork or mechanical repairs needed; drives.
Overall condition
2 — Fair. Noticeable wear and aging; drives but has issues.
This item is sold on an as-is basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and descriptions of the listing are for information purposes only.
