28 July 2011

1953 FIAT 8V Zagato 'Elaborata' Expected to Bring Over $1.0M at Pebble Beach...


FIAT has produced only one V-8 engine (under the FIAT brand) in it's entire 100+ year history. Initially intended for a stillborn post-war flagship luxury sedan, the diminutive 2.0 liter V-8 featured 70-degree architecture, formed from two FIAT V-4s with dual Carter carbs perched atop. 

This gem of a V-8 put out 110 hp @ 5600rpm -respectable for two liters in 1952- and seemed perfectly suited to a new FIAT sports car: one that could whip the big boys -Ferrari, Maserati, and Lancia- on what they thought was their 2.0L sports-car racing turf...

02 June 2011

FIAT to Buy-Out All of US Government Stake in Chrysler 'within Ten Business Days'

Move brings FIAT majority ownership...


FIAT officials have announced that they inted to buy the US government’s full stake in Chrysler and achieve controlling interest/majority ownership of the company. The announcement comes just three days after Chrysler paid back its bailout loans from the Treasury Department, and the transaction will eliminate further government from involvement in Chrysler...

19 May 2011

FIAT-Chrysler to Pay Back All $7.5B in Controversial 'Bailout' Loans Next Week


Sergio Marchionne's managerial prowess on display for all to see: I don't know how many observers expected this- probably not too many.  But like Lee Iacocca at 1980's Chrysler, the new FIAT-Chrysler is paying off politically-controversial government rescue funds nice and early...