The Fiat 1500 and 1600 Spiders from 1959 to 1966 brought together three icons of Italian design and manufacture and produced excellent results. Industrial giant Fiat first introduced a Spider Roadster on the 1100-cc chassis in 1955, but the body was a ungainly takeoff of American clichés, right down to the upright dogleg windshield and the Cadillac rear fender chrome.

The company credited Pininfarina with the design, but he strenuously denied it and offered to produce something more suitable. The result was a 1959 redesign that looked like a smaller but equally handsome version of the Ferrari 250 Pininfarina-bodied Cabriolet. Fiat also contracted the Maserati brothers to manufacture their extremely successful MT4 racing engine under license, and a twin-cam 1,500 cubic centimeter version gave the new car 100-mph performance to match its looks.

Pininfarina assembled the 1500 and 1600 versions through the model’s run, but the cars were always badged as Fiats. It’s estimated that 3,089 of the 34,211 Fiat Spiders and Coupes built in this period were twin-cam OSCA-powered, and the 1959 to 1962 1500s can be recognized by their generous hood scoop.

The car on offer is thought to be a highly-original example of a model that has never officially been imported into America. Finished in the attractive color of light blue, the interior features black leather bucket seats, with similarly toned carpet and door panels. The steering wheel is wood-rimmed and the dash fascia is also handsome in wood. The grille is distinctive with a single vertical center bar and OSCA emblem. Pininfarina badges adorn each front quarter and dual sideview mirrors help you keep track of what’s behind you. Factory steel wheels with appropriate caps are in keeping with the clean Ferrari-inspired period lines. Uncommon then as now, this is a wonderful opportunity to acquire a rarely seen Italian convertible.