Between 1957 and 1961, Fiat produced nearly 400,000 examples of the 1200-series model in a variety of body styles. The rarest of these, the 1200 Turismo Veloce Spider, is offered here; just 2,350 were produced from 1957 to 1959. The underpinnings and mechanicals were shared with the contemporaneous 1200 sedan, but the TV Spider was developed by Fiat’s Special Vehicles department. Its appealing design was executed in conjunction with Carrozzeria Pinin Farina.

This 1959 black over red example is a supremely presentable illustration of the 1200 TV Spider’s enduring charm. A black cloth top surmounts the neatly trimmed cabin complete with the pair of distinctive, swiveling seats; when not in use, the top is tucked under a matching boot cover.

Believed to have been delivered new to California, this attractive 1200 TV Spider was acquired by the consignor in 2018 from just its fifth owner in nearly 60 years. It earned a highly sought-after Preservation Class Award at the 2005 Concorso Italiano in Monterey, California. Immediately thereafter, it was handed off to Autos Clasicos of San Jose, Costa Rica who executed a complete nut-and-bolt restoration documented in a large album accompanying the sale.

Component rebuilds and correct NOS parts were sourced throughout, as demanded by the chassis’ well-preserved condition. The car’s brightwork was refurbished during this time by Paul’s Chrome Plating in Evans City, Pennsylvania. In 2010, the car was treated to further mechanical restoration which addressed the car’s 1.2-liter inline-four-cylinder engine, numbers-matching per the accompanying original data tag, and other mechanical foci.

This charming 1200 TV Spider is now accompanied by a set of manuals, tools, its original data tag, and a photo album documenting the restoration circa 2005. Few examples of the 1200 TV Spider remain on the road in this country, and fewer still are so nicely presented, making this an especially attractive specimen.