FIAT OTTO VU Of all the famed Italian automakers, Fiat is not normally recognized as producing lavish, coachbuilt grand touring cars.

The Italian automaker’s first engines were four-cylinder units, often of enormous size.

Fiat produced its first six-cylinder engine in 1907 and even a V-12 from 1921 to 1922.

However, it was not until 1952 that Fiat would produce an eight-cylinder power plant.

The 8V, or Otto Vu in Italian, was built for two years only, with production of 114 examples, and remains one of the marque’s most legendary motor cars to this day.

It was the star of the Geneva Salon in March 1952, and it goes without saying that this new Fiat got lots of attention from the motoring press.

Road & Track called it “the biggest surprise of the year,” and The Motor remarked that “the last thing which had been expected from Italy’s largest car factory was a truly streamlined 2-seater saloon.” With its potent new power plant, which was clothed by bodies designed by the world’s fin...