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The Fiat Tipo was an important turning point for the Turin manufacturer, with an undeniable leap in quality. Officially launched with great fanfare in January 1988, this 3.96 m long saloon stood out for its exceptional roominess, excellent suspension and safe road holding in all circumstances. The Fiat Tipo 1.8 initially embodies the ” sporty”, before the release in 1991 of the 2.0-litre 16-valve. On the Catawiki platform is offered the car offered in 1990 by Cesare Romiti, then CEO of the Turin-based company, to Nigel Mansell, “il leone”, who was then competing in the colors of Ferrari in Formula 1.
The gift, as reported by the prestigious magazine Ruoteclassiche, came to celebrate the millionth Fiat Tipo built. in Formula 1, which the British ace finished in fourth place, behind Ayrton Senna, his team-mate Alain Prost and Gerhard Berger.
This is a Fiat Tipo 1.8 in the DGT finish which offered at that time the digital board, the velvet seats, the closing of the windows and the electric doors. A real luxury then! It presents itself to the gaze with an atypical and specific color, linked to the origins of Nigel Mansell: the British Racing Green.
The configuration of this right-hand drive specimen benefits from a leather interior and there are all possible options, including the sunroof. Obviously, on the same day, another similar car, but in blue color (racing color of France), was delivered to Alain Prost.
The car offered by Catawiki was first registered in 1992. Held by Mansell for a year, it was sold to a resident of the Isle of Man. According to the documents, the Type 1.8 DGT had only done 425 miles at the time of handover. In 2003, the car was bought by the manager of the Fiat dealership in Guernsey, the westernmost of the Channel Islands, who in turn sold it to a small private museum in England. Finally, the current seller purchased the Fiat in March 2008 and has since used it occasionally to attend some rallies.
to summarize
This 1989 Fiat Tipo 1.8 DGT in a British Green color is not common, since it was offered by the brand to Nigel Mansell in 1990, to celebrate the millionth Tipo produced, when the Englishman was racing for Ferrari alongside by Alain Prost.
