Designed by Fabio Luigi Rapi, the Fiat 8V or "Otto Vù" as it is referred to in Italian, was presented to the Italian press in February 1952 and exhibited for the first time the following March at the Geneva Fair. It's a high-performing coupé designed to compete in the GT category: the two-litre, V eight-cylinder model is very different from the cars Fiat traditionally manufactures. Despite this, it was favourably welcomed by private pilots and Italian trainers, so much so that it became the car to beat in the 2 litre class, especially in the special versions designed by Zagato or Siata. The V8 Fiat boasts a 70° V configuration and 1996 cylinder horsepower; at 5600 rounds/min, its motor produces 105 horsepower (78 kW) in the standard configuration with two doubly-body DCS Weber 36 carburettors, which allow it to reach a maximum speed of 190 km/h. The 8V Fiat motor was, and is, the only eight-cylinder motor built by Fiat.
Only 114 models of the 8V were manufactured. The specific model exhibited by Club Officina Ferrarese, chassis 106.000008, is the eighth in the world and the oldest with this type of car body. It was manufactured on 5th March 1953 with a unique design because it was commissioned by Emanuel Filiberto Nasi, the son of baron Carlo Nasi and Tina Agnelli, Giovanni Agnelli's niece.
After passing hands a couple of times, the car took off in the last edition of the 1957 Mille Miglia with number 319 and Antonio Siddi at the wheel; Siddi was an athlete, winner of the bronze medal in the 4x100 relay and finalist in the 4x400 at the Olympic Games in London in 1948.
