The unusual Fiat 1100-powered Gilco ‘spider’ prototype with bodywork reputedly crafted by Zagato which is well known to Italian car aficionados will take a big step into the limelight today when it goes under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s prestigious Monaco auction.
This Gilco-Fiat after being seen up for sale for many years as an unrestored project has now been returned to its former condition and in a sign of the changing world of classic car collecting the auctioneer has placed a 200,000 to 250,000 euros estimate on the car.
How much of this project is still original is very questionable while the autioneers have pieced together plenty of information about its history.
Gilco was known primarily for its work supplying the chassis for Alfa Romeo, Ferrari (from 1946–1958, during which time it helped to produce the Maranello company's first grand prix car), Stanguellini and Cisitalia.
Gilco (an acronym for Gilberto Colombo, the founder) was an interesting company. Its activity began in 1946, when the company started producing tubular chassis for small 750cc and 1,100cc “Sport” class motor cars, which were lightweight, small displacement racers with open bodywork.
In 1949, Gilco produced the 205MM type chassis, with the intention of fitting barchetta coachwork in order to race at the Mille Miglia.
This project later evolved into becoming the prototype of a small series of 50–100 cars all of which would be produced in a 'spider' format.
Eventually, only one chassis, the prototype, was produced and was bodied by Zagato in the form of a lightweight spider.
With the chassis number issued by the Milan Motoring Authorities, this unique Zagato-bodied spider was later sold on 23 June 1951 to its first owner, Mr Lucio Grunzweig, with the license plate MI 166314.
Recorded in John de Boer’s Italian Car Register, the car’s current owner purchased it in central Italy about three years ago. Not in drivable condition at the time of purchase, he imported the car to Germany, and Robert Schramm in Oberursel returned it to road-worthy condition.
The car comes with its set of original Borrani wheels, a new set of Borranis produced in 2016, full documentation by the Automobile Club d’Italia and is eligible for the Mille Miglia.
Importantly, the car is also accompanied by copies of photos of it in period in bar chassis. An interesting piece of early Zagato design with the legendary Gilco chassis and the reliability of the Fiat 1100 engine, this fun and lightweight motor car is ready to be enjoyed by its new owner.
Photos: Gilco - Fiat (1951)
