The Edwardian 'brass' car is a vehicle of beauty at the cusp of the period moving away from the 'horseless carriage' antecedent to the more modern recognisably 'car-shaped' vehicles that followed. It was in this period from 1905 to 1916 that thought and design were applied as much to the chassis as well as the engine. Cars were still big however though this is as much to do with pre-war social history as anything else. The strictures of war changed that as did the popularisation of motoring in a changed world post 1918. One of the great manufacturers of the Edwardian period was Fiat.

This marvellous example of the 1911 Fiat Landaulet was originally believed to be owned by a wealthy Melbournian lady who would have been driven by her chauffeur. It has, as was common for the period, a very elaborate interior for the passenger compartment with a more austere area for the driver.

The Fiat was rescued by its second owner from a farm in central Victoria. He started a restoration on the mechanicals and chassis only before on selling it. The third owner over many years had the body re-done before passing away before the restoration was completed. It spent many years in storage in NSW before being put on the market and being acquired by the current owner in the early 1990s. Over the following years and working to the original Italian specifications and with much meticulous research the vehicle restoration was finished to a very high standard of authenticity and quality.

The car starts and runs beautifully, the Tipo 2, 20 HP engine coupled to a 4 speed gearbox having been fully re-metalled and machined by engine specialists in Taree, NSW. Presented in exceptional condition and with a high degree of originality the only concession away from the original being the fitting of a starter motor for ease of use.


There are more photos of this vehicle available on our website:
http://arts.theodorebruceauctions.com.au/custom_asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=AS0206++++28+&refno=+++64266