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The NSU Spider made it down the Neckarsulm production line in 1963, becoming the world’s first series production car powered by a rotary engine. The Spider was designed by Franco Scaglione at Bertone. NSU had collaborated with Felix Wankel since 1951, developing the rotary engine. In total, 2,375 Spiders had been built when production ended in 1967.
Coachbuilder Francis Lombardi used the 1970 Turin Motor Show to present a sports car based on the NSU 1200 TT. Lombardi’s 1200 SS version kept the TT's rear-mounted 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine and rear-wheel drive, clothed in a wedged-shaped fastback with a sharply defined beltline, concealed headlamps, and recessed door handles. This was around the time VW had taken over NSU, so the Lombardi car stood little chance of making it down the Neckarsulm production line.
The Fiat 600 Multipla Eden Roc was commissioned by Gianni Agnelli, the chairman of Fiat, from Pininfarina because he needed a way to transport guests around his vast French Riviera estate, Villa La Leopolda. In 1956 it was built on a modified Fiat 600 Multipla chassis; a second one was made for Henry Ford. One of the Eden Rocs sold at auction in 2015 for $660,000.
The Renault T900 concept car of 1961 was designed by Sergio Sartorelli and was the last of several “cab-over” prototypes built at Ghia. The experimental design was a collaboration between Renault and the Italian coachbuilder, reflecting Renault’s rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive mechanical philosophy of the period. It was powered by a 1.7-litre V8 created by combining two inline-four engines from the Renault Dauphine.
The Fiat 850 Vanessa was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro while he was working at Ghia and was presented 60 years ago at the 1966 Turin Motor Show. The car was “optimised” for women and families, featuring a baby seat that folded down from the rear backrest, a separate side entrance for loading and unloading, and swivelling front seats for ease of use. Based on the rear-engined Fiat 850, it also came with an automatic transmission, an uncommon option at the time.
