1966 FIAT Giannini 500TV

Founded in 1920 by the Giannini brothers - Attilio and Domenico - as a garage, the company began tuning the little FIAT 500 Topolino in the 1930s and secured 12 world speed records with one of its modified cars. In the early 1960s, the original company closed, the brothers going their separate ways to found new enterprises. Attilio's new design company lasted only until 1971 but, that founded by Domenico, - Giannini Automobili SpA - survives today as part of the FIAT Group. In 1963 Giannini Automobili began modifying cars and selling tuning kits. That same year it introduced its own modified version of the baby FIAT - the 500TV - and throughout the decade and into the 1970s Giannini-tuned cars battled with those of its rival Abarth on the racetracks of Europe. In more recent years, Giannini has specialised in the production of limited-edition versions of FIAT production models.

For the 500TV (Tourismo Veloce), the standard 499.5cc engine was retained but benefited from a ported head, fast-road cam, a larger aluminium oil sump, a different distributor advance curve, a new exhaust and a larger main jet resulting in a power output of 25bhp. The gearbox in this car appears to have synchromesh which suggests it may be fitted with a box from the Fiat 126.

Externally, HVK appears virtually identical to a regular 500F apart from the badging and hub caps. It was registered new in 1966 as a Giannini so presumably was a factory-built car as opposed to a converted 500.

According to its accompanying Fiat Classiche 'Certificato Di Origine', this little Giannini is listed as a Tipo 110F Fiat 500F and dates from 1965.There is also documentation which relates to the export of the car dated 23/04/2018 which fits nicely with the UK V5C which indicates that it was first UK-registered to renowned Maserati specialists, Bill McGrath Ltd, on 01/07/2018 before becoming the property of our vendor and joining his remarkable Collection. From the file, we can see that a set of number plates, HVK 909C, was ordered in July 2018 but it appears that the car wasn't recommissioned by McGraths until October and November 2021 so presumably the Pandemic was a factor. The history file also contains its UK V5C, a Certificate of Historical Importance from the Automotoclub Storico Italiano and, pleasingly, its original service records.

HVK features alongside the Abarth 595SS (which we are also offering) in a super article by Richard Heseltine in the January 2023 issue of Classic and Sportscar. What a great opportunity to see an Abarth and a Giannini, fierce rivals for the affections of the Fiat 500 buying public for many years, now sitting happily side by side.