First introduced at the Torino Motor Show in November 1957, the Fiat 1200 was intended to replace the Fiat 1100 TV, or Turismo Veloce, designed under Fabio Luigi Rapi, director of Fiat’s Dipartimento Carrozzerie Derivate e Speciali. Receiving a larger 1,221 cc engine, the 1200 TV was offered as both a four-door sedan and a two-seat Trasformabile roadster, also known as a spider.
The 1200 Trasformabile retained many of the 1100’s American- inspired design features, such as a panoramic wraparound windshield, whitewall tires, and a fender hip chrome band, but benefited from a restyling of the front and rear end that resulted in a more elegant split grille, enlarged bumpers, and a unique pair of swivel seats that permitted occupants ease of entry.
Only manufactured until 1959, the 1200 TV Trasformabile saw limited production, with estimates ranging between 2,300-3,400. Although immensely popular in Europe, only around 700 Trasformabiles are believed to have been exported to the US.
