A 1934 Fiat & other Pre-1950 Fiats

karlosdeville · 8th October 2015, 15:48

Here is a very pretty 1938 Fiat Topolino that has been recently complete restored by Mr. C S Ananth. The car was in bad shape with a cracked engine and gearbox, and even the wheel rims have been made in house.

A 1934 Fiat & other Pre-1950 Fiats-01.jpg

A 1934 Fiat & other Pre-1950 Fiats-02.jpg

mbz180 · 27th October 2015, 15:14

I've mentioned this before but here I go again:

My great grand father, Raja P.N. Tagore, whose Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and Vauxhall Hurlingham have been tracked thanks to members of Bhp, also owned a very large 1920s Fiat.

Now, my family members have always referred to that car as a "Rolls-Fiat", insisting that there actually existed such a marque. Apparently the car was far grander than the RR.

I know there was no such marque but could it be that this car was a Fiat 520 "Super Fiat" with a V12 engine or a very large Fiat 519? The car would likely be a tourer or sedanca de ville, 1920s, from Calcutta. Any Fiat of a similar description still around? It would have to be considerably larger than Doc's Fiat.

mbz180

Bulldogji · 27th October 2015, 15:43

Hi MBZ,

Do you have any pictures??

Your family is correct, the large luxurious fiats of those days were called Rolls Fiats by many, though not by the company, as they were thought to be as big, comfortable and reliable as a Rolls.

When you are next my side, let me know and I will show you a 519 of the early twenties, much larger than Doc's.

karlosdeville · 27th October 2015, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbz180

I've mentioned this before but here I go again:

My great grand father, Raja P.N. Tagore, whose Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and Vauxhall Hurlingham have been tracked thanks to members of Bhp, also owned a very large 1920s Fiat.

Now, my family members have always referred to that car as a "Rolls-Fiat", insisting that there actually existed such a marque. Apparently the car was far grander than the RR.

I know there was no such marque but could it be that this car was a Fiat 520 "Super Fiat" with a V12 engine or a very large Fiat 519? The car would likely be a tourer or sedanca de ville, 1920s, from Calcutta. Any Fiat of a similar description still around? It would have to be considerably larger than Doc's Fiat.

mbz180

Tweety bird tells me the car was probably registered "13080"

Bulldogji · 27th October 2015, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Tweety bird tells me the car was probably registered "13080"

Tweety is very wrong

Karl, how couldthere be five numbers??

mbz180 · 27th October 2015, 16:27

Er...did tweety bird tell you anything else? Is it covered on the forum? Are there any photos?

He also had some other nice cars:

Roamer roadster
Napier
Daimler
Minerva
Isotta Fraschini

P

karlosdeville · 27th October 2015, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulldogji

Tweety is very wrong

Karl, how could there be five numbers??

We should give tweety more credit, he knows more than us all. Early Calcutta registrations were upto 5 digits. Then they moved to BLA, BLB etc, finally to WBA, WBB etc.

A Rolls Silver Ghost was registered 4, a Wolseley was registered 2024, a Studebaker was registered 2307, the Minerva was registered 2831, a Ford was 3668, Overland was 3897. Another Ford was 4878, another Overland was 12139. All these cars were from the Tagore family. Now over to mbz180 to tell us more

mbz180 · 27th October 2015, 17:38

Hmm...this is something.

Rolls we know was BLB 8489.

Minerva registration no. I have no idea. Yes the family did have a Wolseley!

If this an early (1930s or 40s) Studebaker then it would have been my grand uncle's.

Overland's I have no idea. Maybe the name is uncommon so no one in the family remembers?

How about some photo's of the Fiat? Is this the huge one which was being done up in Swadi's?

travancore · 27th October 2015, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

We should give tweety more credit, he knows more than us all. Early Calcutta registrations were upto 5 digits.

A 1934 Fiat & other Pre-1950 Fiats-calcutta-26903.jpg

Here is a fairly high Calcutta 5-Digiter. Believe someone has posted this before.

Bulldogji · 27th October 2015, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

We should give tweety more credit, he knows more than us all. Early Calcutta registrations were upto 5 digits. Then they moved to BLA, BLB etc, finally to WBA, WBB etc.

A Rolls Silver Ghost was registered 4, a Wolseley was registered 2024, a Studebaker was registered 2307, the Minerva was registered 2831, a Ford was 3668, Overland was 3897. Another Ford was 4878, another Overland was 12139. All these cars were from the Tagore family. Now over to mbz180 to tell us more

Credit happily given, as always this acts as a reminder that we all keep learning till the good lord sends summons

travancore · 27th October 2015, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulldogji

Credit happily given, as always this acts as a reminder that we all keep learning till the good lord sends summons

Well said Bulldogji.......just remember to use Upper case when referring to the "L"ord

A 1934 Fiat & other Pre-1950 Fiats-datia-fiat-ny-times-dec-19-1909.jpg

Datia 1909

travancore · 31st October 2015, 05:00

A 1934 Fiat & other Pre-1950 Fiats-fiat-1927-times-india-annual-cropped.jpg

Times of India Annual, 1927

Looks like a Diwali Sale with prices slashed!

8th October 2015, 15:48	#91
karlosdeville Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 11,976 Thanked: 18,275 Times View My Garage	Re: A 1934 Fiat & other Pre-1950 Fiats Here is a very pretty 1938 Fiat Topolino that has been recently complete restored by Mr. C S Ananth. The car was in bad shape with a cracked engine and gearbox, and even the wheel rims have been made in house.
	(8) Thanks

27th October 2015, 15:14	#92
mbz180 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kolkata Posts: 893 Thanked: 1,023 Times	Re: A 1934 Fiat & other Pre-1950 Fiats I've mentioned this before but here I go again: My great grand father, Raja P.N. Tagore, whose Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and Vauxhall Hurlingham have been tracked thanks to members of Bhp, also owned a very large 1920s Fiat. Now, my family members have always referred to that car as a "Rolls-Fiat", insisting that there actually existed such a marque. Apparently the car was far grander than the RR. I know there was no such marque but could it be that this car was a Fiat 520 "Super Fiat" with a V12 engine or a very large Fiat 519? The car would likely be a tourer or sedanca de ville, 1920s, from Calcutta. Any Fiat of a similar description still around? It would have to be considerably larger than Doc's Fiat. mbz180
	() Thanks

27th October 2015, 15:43	#93
Bulldogji BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: planet earth Posts: 888 Thanked: 1,188 Times	Re: A 1934 Fiat & other Pre-1950 Fiats Hi MBZ, Do you have any pictures?? Your family is correct, the large luxurious fiats of those days were called Rolls Fiats by many, though not by the company, as they were thought to be as big, comfortable and reliable as a Rolls. When you are next my side, let me know and I will show you a 519 of the early twenties, much larger than Doc's.
	(2) Thanks

27th October 2015, 16:27	#96
mbz180 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kolkata Posts: 893 Thanked: 1,023 Times	Re: A 1934 Fiat & other Pre-1950 Fiats Er...did tweety bird tell you anything else? Is it covered on the forum? Are there any photos? He also had some other nice cars: Roamer roadster Napier Daimler Minerva Isotta Fraschini P
	() Thanks

27th October 2015, 17:38	#98
mbz180 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kolkata Posts: 893 Thanked: 1,023 Times	Re: A 1934 Fiat & other Pre-1950 Fiats Hmm...this is something. Rolls we know was BLB 8489. Minerva registration no. I have no idea. Yes the family did have a Wolseley! If this an early (1930s or 40s) Studebaker then it would have been my grand uncle's. Overland's I have no idea. Maybe the name is uncommon so no one in the family remembers? How about some photo's of the Fiat? Is this the huge one which was being done up in Swadi's? Last edited by mbz180 : 27th October 2015 at 17:42. Reason: Addition
	(1) Thanks

31st October 2015, 05:00	#102
travancore Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 2,934 Thanked: 8,551 Times	Re: A 1934 Fiat & other Pre-1950 Fiats Times of India Annual, 1927 Looks like a Diwali Sale with prices slashed!
	(3) Thanks