Beschreibung:

8,600cc Side-Valve Inline 6-Cylinder Engine Single FIAT Carburetor Bosch ZR6 Magneto Ignition Est. 50 bhp 4-Speed Manual Transmission Front and Rear Leaf Spring Suspension Rear-Wheel Drum Brakes THE FIAT MODEL 56 It is not widely known that FIAT, like Rolls-Royce, opened a factory in the United States in the early years of the 20th Century. When FIAT decided to produce automobiles in Poughkeepsie, New York, the decision was certainly prompted by the idea of greater profits, since there was a stiff tariff on imported cars. The new U.S. company held the rights to FIAT's manufacturing designs, and the parent firm received a royalty on every car built in the U.S. The New York plant opened in 1910. Its first products were a couple of four-cylinder designs. In 1912, a new six-cylinder, 45-horsepower, 8.6-liter engine of mono-block construction with integral water-jacketed intake and exhaust manifolds was introduced on the Model 56. This big under-square six utilized a cooling fan mounted to its flywheel, and belly pans below the engine and transmission ensured proper airflow. This was a large, expensive prestige automobile built exclusively for American customers. Initially, it was available only as a seven-passenger Touring car on a 135-inch wheelbase. For the next three years, a much broader selection of body styles, both open and closed, was available. 1916 would be the final year for the Model 56, with the choice of body styles reduced to five. In 1917, FIAT reduced its production in Poughkeepsie to only four-cylinder cars, and the American factory closed in 1918. THE MOTORCAR OFFERED Family archive notes list the FIAT as having been acquired from Auguste Lawrence Pouleur, a noted Chemist from Montreal, Canada, was educated in Connecticut and by the time he died in 1947, resided in Los Angeles. It is conceivable that the FIAT traveled with Mr. Pouleur through his life and that his passing in this local area and Mr. Bothwell's known inclination towards early cars caused it to be offered to him. The correlation of his passing and its arrival in the collection are almost simultaneous. The FIAT is a textbook example of the Poughkeepsie product. Its bodywork adheres to the published catalog photographs for the model and throughout it appears to retain original features from its engine compartment castings emblazoned with FIAT, through to the FIAT coachwork plate and in the cabin an original FIAT clock and even odometer. As with a number of cars from this era, it has been updated with Westinghouse pillar shock absorbers fitted to the chassis front and rear. It is not certain when the car would last have been used, but as with a number of the cars in the collection it certainly enjoyed participation in a handful of TV and movie cameos, including Captains and Kings, East of Eden and Thornbirds. A majestic, big engined Brass era motorcar from an era when FIAT was synonymous with both racing and luxury cars.