Lot 140: 1931 Fiat 514 Tourer

The Fiat 509 was introduced by the Turin based manufacturer in 1925. It offered the Italian public one of the first relatively cheap motor cars with a small 4 cylinder engine, offering a capacity of just less than 1 litre, producing 22 hp at 3.400 rpm. This little engine already featured an overhead camshaft, while carburetion was provided by an automatic carburettor of Fiat's own design and power was delivered to the rear axle through a three speed gearbox.Following the success of the Fiat 509, they offered a slightly bigger and more luxurious car with the 514, produced from 1929 to 1932.The engine's capacity grew to 1.438 cc, now producing 28 hp at 3,400 rpm. Although still a commercial success, only 36,900 units were built as opposed to some 90,000 of the Fiat 509. As was the custom in those days, the chassis were clad in a variety of body styles, among them Coupes, Saloons with either 2 or 4 doors and the pretty 4 door Open Tourer / Torpedo.The example here is most attractively finished in dark blue over black with a contrasting grey interior and black hood and has formed part of a private collection for the last 20 years. Upon its purchase at that time the owner embarked on a comprehensive restoration and, thanks to its sparing use and careful maintenance, the car still looks very fresh today and we are informed that this pretty Tourer performs as it should. It is also worth noting that this very car is the rarer of the Torpedo models as it is the "Lusso" version, which can be identified by the chromed radiator grille and the side mounted spare wheel.A charming little pre-war Tourer.