The eminent Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile (MAUTO) in Turin is a great supporter of the annual RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. In recent years, the Italian museum has brought several of its prominent pioneers to these shores, much to the delight of the thousands of well-wishers lining the traditional route from capital to coast.”

In 2017, it entered a venerable 1892 Peugeot Type 3, believed to be the first car ever to set wheels on an Italian road, and then, two years ago, it wowed the crowds with its incredible 16.2-litre Fiat 130HP, the most powerful car ever seen on the historic event.

For this year’s celebration (Sunday 1 November) it has another treat in store for all to savour: a remarkable Fiat 16-20HP with a very special story to tell, exhibited in Centro Storico Fiat in Turin, having first taken part in the London to Brighton Run nearly a century ago, in 1930.

“The Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile is extremely proud to have taken part for several years in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, organised by the Royal Automobile Club and one of the world’s most important and prestigious events dedicated to veteran cars,” explained Benedetto Camerana, Chairman of Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile.

“Taking part in the Run offers us a unique opportunity to share our knowledge of automotive history with an international audience and to highlight the extensive work the Museum carries out every day to preserve, safeguard and restore historic vehicles. Participating in the London to Brighton means making a tangible contribution to the appreciation of this extraordinary heritage, keeping it alive and accessible for future generations.”

Indeed, few cars could better demonstrate the extraordinary motoring links between Britain and Italy than this year’s entrant. Built by Fiat in Turin at the dawn of the automotive age, this particular car was one of a small number shipped to London, where its chassis was fitted with its bodywork by the prestigious Rothschild workshop. It subsequently enjoyed a long life on British roads before becoming a regular and much-loved participant in the hallowed London to Brighton Run.

The Fiat 16-20HP was produced by Fiat between 1903 and 1906. Around 750 were built and priced at 17,000 lira, equivalent to around £65,000 today. This particular model, chassis 599, was commissioned by one of FIAT's prominent Italian racecar drivers; Luigi Storeo.

According to the minutes of the FIAT Board of Directors dating back to January 1903, the decision was taken to ship chassis 599 to London.

Once in England and fitted with its handsome Rothschild bodywork, the car was in regular use until 1912, when it was put into storage. Subsequently, it was rediscovered by FIAT UK in Northamptonshire in ‘as good as it was back then’ condition and displayed by the company on its stand at the 1930 Olympia Show in London.

In November of the same year, the revived car took part in the Veteran Car Run driven by Sir Maxwell Monson, achieving an average speed of 21.27mph. It entered again in 1931 and thereafter in the early fifties, driven by Antony Powys-Lybbe, the amateur Brooklands racer, and A.C. Westwood, the founder of the famous Black Diamond team which in the mid-thirties ran a trio of British-bodied, high performance, black Fiat 508S Balillas for gentleman racers.

The 16-20's early participation is an important part of the car's remarkable story. The London to Brighton Run had already become an established celebration of motoring pioneers, and this Italian-built, London-bodied Fiat was among those early veterans helping to fuel that tradition.

The car was partially dismantled for a complete overhaul in 1956-1957 but, due to some issues with work permits for the mechanics brought in from Italy, the project was temporarily shelved.

Then, in 1959, the Fiat was spotted in a shed at the rear of the old Fiat depot in Wembley by Michael Sedgwick, curator of the Montagu Motor Museum, and loaned to Beaulieu in 1960 for an exhibition (photos below middle).

In the same year, the 16-20 took part once again in the Brighton Run, driven by Maurice Smith, the editor of The Autocar, who described it as a ‘lively’ car capable of exceeding 50mph. It appeared on the Run in 1965 and in 1966, when driven by Fyffe Robertson, the well-known Scottish BBC reporter of the time (photo below bottom).

It was subsequently transferred to the Brighton Motor Museum, a satellite branch of Beaulieu, which closed in 1968. In 1970, negotiations began between Fiat UK, Centro Storico Fiat and the Beaulieu Motor Museum to return the car to Turin for a full restoration.

For the past 55 years, since the car was returned to Turin and placed in Centro Storico Fiat (photo above), the 16-20 has remained in Italy, taking part in a select number of national events, including the centenary celebrations of Fiat in 1999.

“Cars such as this remarkable Fiat 16-20HP are exactly what make the RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run such a unique celebration of motoring history,” says Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club. “Its story is particularly special because it is truly Anglo-Italian – built by Fiat in Turin, brought to Britain as a chassis and bodied in London, before becoming a regular participant in the Run itself. To welcome it back to the Run is a wonderful reminder of the enduring connections between British and Italian motoring, and we are delighted that MAUTO is once again bringing such an important piece of automotive history to the event.”