Giannini 500 TVS. Seasoned and rare backpack

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Purchasing classics there

Historically, Italy has had a captivating name in the automotive field. And there is also a patent on the manufacture of countless special bodywork on the basis of existing principles. The country also produced wonderful companies in the field of tuning. We don't have to explain anything about Abarth. But a name like Giannini has also traditionally been illustrious. The original construction company split up in 1963 after financial difficulties. One of the trends became Giannini Automobili Spa. It focused on tuning kits. And took many regular Fiat model in progress. One of the results was the Giannini 500 TVS.

The Fiat 500 was a rewarding object for various tuners and manufacturers to make a special version or even a separate brand. The 500 was a great source of inspiration for Steyr-Puch. Carlo Abarth also knew what to do with the small Fiat, and Giannini was also a party who added the necessary pepper to the backpack. Take the car we are highlighting today. That's the Giannini 500 TVS, one Turismo Veloce Special. This was built in a relatively small series, and of course was based on TV.

Finely taken care of

Now that TV was already a special cart. Giannini, for example, brought many 500 to Rome. There the 500 was technically taken care of. For example, the camshaft and the Weber carburettor were adjusted. For example, they took a little more horsepower from the 499 cc engine. It resulted in a power increase from 18 SAE-PK to 25 SAE-PK. In addition, the Giannini 500 TV naturally received the emblems of the Roman tuner and a variety of aluminum accents. It was only a basis for further personalization, because anyone who, for example, wanted to mount an aluminum crankcase, a wooden or leather steering wheel, a Giannini dashboard with four clocks and / or special open-worked wheels could simply fill in the option form.

More extensive options list, even more pepper

The TVS was thus an edizione limitata of the TV. It had the same options list as the Turismo Veloce, which was supplemented with front disc brakes / improved brakes, an 8/39 crown wheel (for a different transmission). The TVS was basically a rapper. Giannini had re-equipped the TVS with the 499 cc engine. But the Giannini 500 TVS got an even sharper camshaft, stronger valves and the even more modified Weber 26 IMB 4 downdraft carburettor. The compression ratio rose to 9,2: 1. This made the TVS good for 29 SAE-PK (25 DIN-PK) and a top of more than 110 kilometers per hour.

Number 465

A rarity, a Giannini TV and similar are now readily paid for. Catawiki once offered a copy located in the south of Italy. There is a Giannini 500 TVS in Lecce. With original license plates and documented. This documentation shows that this 500 TVS is the 465th copy in the series. Moreover, it carries a beautiful relic from that time: the Monza sports exhaust. The first buyer did not opt ​​for a dashboard with four clocks (including tachometer and fuel gauge), but kept the original small clock in the car. He did opt for an aluminum crankcase, of course with Giannini in red spray-painted letters. At a later stage the car was completely restored.

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6 comments

  1. In my international Registro Giannini Bicilindriche, an international register / club for owners of original Giannini's based on the Fiat 500 and 126, I currently have 150 Gianninis based on the Fiat 500 registered. Most are located in Italy, but we also have members in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Japan. It is estimated that we have now registered half of the survivors.

    The 500TVS from the link is a fairly rare appearance, but that applies to all Giannini's. They are all built in small series and differ from series to series. The papers shown are inconclusive as to whether it is a 500TV or 500TVS. The part of the papers from which this can be traced is not in the photo. We have also registered the sister of this car in our register. That is also a 66-er in Grigio Medio 653 newly registered in Lecce. When opening the link I thought it was that car, but it is still another.

    The car on Catawiki has very few original Giannini parts. Many of the original decals, specific chrome parts and other details are missing. It will be a huge job for the buyer to find these parts again. I know people who have been looking for parts that are missing from this car for years. The estimated value by the “experts” is in my opinion very high. Especially since it concerns an incomplete car for which searching for the missing parts can take years. I wonder if it will actually be sold.

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