Stanguellini 1100 TV Coupé

Vehicle Overview

The Stanguellini 1100 TV Coupé by Bertone: Bodied in coachwork penned by Franco Scaglione and constructed by Bertone, it is little wonder that this unique coupe carries many hallmarks to the famous Alfa Romeo B.A.T. Series that were styled and built by the same team of Scaglione and Bertone. The neat, little tail fins, headlights frenched into the grill, fastback styling and split rear window are all common themes between this car and the B.A.T.s. A one-off prototype reportedly built by Bertone for the 1954 Paris and New York Auto Show, beneath the sexy hand-formed and gas welded aluminum coachwork was a Stanguellini-tuned Fiat 1100TV-based engine and a chassis and suspension layout that was also tuned by Stanguellini. It is reported that the car was purchased off the New York Auto Show floor by legendary American sportsman and racer Briggs Cunningham as a gift for his wife Laura. Mrs. Cunningham kept the car only briefly before selling it to Indianapolis 500 driver Luciano Tonino, an Italian who had settled in New Jersey in 1955. Tonino had acquired the car as a wedding gift for his little brother Alciente—certainly a better present than a new blender or waffle iron! Alciente must have thought so, as he kept the car for over half a century. In September 2006, the Fiat moved onto the vendor, its third owner, in complete and unrestored condition. Shortly after acquisition a four-year, Concours quality, ground-up restoration was begun by Joe Ventura Restorations in San Diego, California with engine and transmission work completed by Jere Brown. Bertone built also a spider version called “Cheetah“.