Fiat 60HP Tourer by Quinby
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Car producer : |
Fiat |
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Model: |
60HP Tourer by Quinby |
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Year: |
1903-1905 |
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Type: |
Tourer |
To properly put the FIAT 60 HP into context, one must thoroughly consider the era from which it emerged. The Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino was a pioneer of the automobile. It was founded in 1899 and competed against such French marques as Panhard and Darracq for a small but budding market. One of the firm’s principal motorsports competitors, the young Daimler Company that built the Mercedes, had yet to even join Karl Benz’ firm to create the iconic Daimler-Benz. Furthermore, some of racing’s best-known events had yet to be founded, while the formative races of the emerging motorsports culture, such as the Gordon Bennett Cup (the precursor to the first grand prix) and the Vanderbilt Cup, were still in their infancy.
The year 1903 was a watershed for FIAT, as its early automatic, inlet-valve motor was replaced by a new T-head, four-cylinder engine, whose cylinders were arranged in pairs. FIAT principal Giavanni Agnelli had by then arranged to license Mercedes’ successful honeycomb radiator design, which allowed for reliable power under the stress of hill climbs and sprints, at which the small range of cars was proving to be increasingly proficient. In many respects, FIATs were more technically advanced than their Mercedes counterparts, which was particularly evident in their superior oil lubrication systems.The Fiat 60 HP was first produced by Italian manufacturer Fiat in 1903, competing in races such as the Paris – Madrid of 1903, (driven by Vincenzo Lancia and Luigi Storero) the Circuit Des Ardennes, along with other races and hill climbs.
The 60 HP was the first car to feature Fiat's all new pressed steel chassis. ‘At the top of the range was Turin’s answer to the Mercedes Sixty, a 10.6 litre four cylinder monster’ Motoring historian Michael Sedgwick referring to the Fiat 60 HP in his book FIAT.
Many of these cars went off to rich export markets, including the USA. They were popular among wealthy socialites of the time. Featuring a honeycomb radiator (under licence by Mercedes) these cars were at the forefront of technology – many period articles praised its advanced oiling system. The unrealized automotive landscape of this period is also underscored by the imported car market of United States, the numbers of which are equally telling. Almost strictly, the purview of the extremely well-heeled, imported European cars arrived to America in paltry numbers during the dawn of the 20th century, with just 267 examples imported in total during 1903. These 267 cars represented 18 percent of Europe’s total output, which was another indication of the automobile industry’s infancy.
Designed to a high standard in every detail, it was welcomed by American coachbuilders such as Quimby and Demarest. To facilitate their work, this car was offered with 2 different wheelbases, normal and long. It was originally equipped with a 4-cylinder engine block 60 h.p which was later replaced with a bi-tri-6-cylinder engine block 50/60 h.p and was manufactured at the plant in Corso Dante
