They are missing half the story....
This is a very interesting car and very advanced for the time.....here's more of the story from Winston Goodfellow's "Italian Sports Cars"
Motor Trend's comments about Fiat that are alluded to came after it's 1952 debut at the Geneva motor show...
[sic]
"and the surprise in this case was sent along at the the eleventh hour from Turin. Prophets have long since read in the stars the prospect of new FIAT cars but the last thing which had been expected was a truly streamlined 2-seater saloon."
[sic]
Chief engineer for this car was Dante Giacosa, designer was Fabio Luigi Rapi. Siata actually built the mechanical components, fully independant suspension The engine was an all alloy almost 2 liter 70 degree V8.
The car in the picture for Motor Trend is the Ghia version, called the Supersonic.
Many more builders built 8V's, Zagato built the most (many more than Ghia), Vignale, and of course, Pininfarina. The basic car looked the same and was recognizable, the differences being in the details of the coachwork and interior. The great thing about this car with the engine and fantastic handling chassis and it being one of the first Italian cars with fully independant suspension.
P.S. I don't know where they're getting that mumbo jumbo about Jaguar engine and Aston Martin running gear, these cars were all Italian mechanically and were delivered as such.
