DESCRIPTION
Fiat’s stylish 2300 is an all but forgotten Italian GT car from the early 1960s, featuring elegant styling by Ghia’s stylist Tom Tjaarda, better known for the later Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 (which shares many of the same design cues) and De Tomaso Pantera. Hugely expensive when new, the Fiat used a modified platform derived from its 2100 saloon siblings and shared that car’s running gear, albeit tweaked by Abarth for stronger performance. Designed by former Ferrari engineer Aurelio Lampredi, the short stroke 2279cc six-cylinder was breathed on with a more aggressive camshaft profile, 9.3:1 compression ratio and either a single twin-choke downdraught carburettor or, in the case of the 2300S, a pair of twin-choke Weber 38 DCOE carburettors, mated to a four-speed gearbox. Stiffer dampers and an anti-roll bar firmed up the suspension and improved the Fiat’s handling, while Girling disc brakes all round proved more than adequate at arresting the stylish Fiat’s pace. The 2300’s two-plus-two cabin is a quality affair more reminiscent of Aston Martin or Maserati, from the Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel to full instrumentation. The luxurious cockpit features comfortable bucket seats and full carpeting, while the boot was decently sized as well. Sometimes described as a ‘poor man’s Ferrari’, the 2300 remained in production from 1961 until 1968 and roughly 7,000 examples were built. However the number of cars to reach Australia is tiny due to the high price - it was more expensive here than an E-type Jaguar when new – and so locally delivered examples rarely come on the market. With prices of its contemporaries now all pushing (or well beyond) six figure sums, the Fiat remains one of the last affordable Sixties GT cars and offers superb value for money in today’s market.

HISTORY
- Stylish, beautifully made Italian thoroughbred GT
- One of a handful of surviving RHD cars in Australia
- Offered at No Reserve

One of the few Fiat 2300 Coupes built in right-hand drive configuration, this is an original Australian delivered car still bearing the plaque of Dominion Motors – the Queensland distributors - in the engine bay and is understood to have remained in the Sunshine State for most of its life. The current Sydney owner bought the Fiat in 2300 and has enjoyed driving the car on a regular basis ever since. The driving experience has been enhanced with a later all-synchro five-speed Fiat gearbox, a pair of twin-choke Weber carburettors come with the car should someone wish to bring it up to 2300S specification. A very stylish and eminently affordable Italian classic Gran Turismo, the Fiat 2300 would benefit from some cosmetic attention but everything is there, including the original Nardi steering wheel. Only fifty 2300 Coupes are thought to have reached Australia when new and few survive in roadworthy condition today. Currently registered in NSW until November 11th 2018, the Fiat will be sold at No Reserve.

Note: Shannons advise that all potential buyers research all vehicles before purchase to authenticate originality.