The gorgeous Samantha by Vignale was one of the rare FIAT models of 1960s

Rare Rides Well, this time we will return to Italy for discussing a unique classic car figure that was customized result of Carrozzeria Vignale in late of the 1960s built based on one of the many models made by the Italian automotive giants, Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino or better known as FIAT. As we all know, Carrozzeria Vignale is one of Italian famous, respectfull coachbuilder companies which was founded in 1948 by Alfredo Vignale.

The FIAT 125S Samantha has a sleek coupé body design with exotic lines, combined with small round headlamps and a chrome-plated bumper. (Picture from: Bonham)

Actually, this Italian coachbuilder company had been started its pro career in the pre-World War II era, and succeeded with its car body designs that was built based on the FIAT Topolino chassis. Meanwhile in the mid-1960s, apart from FIAT, Carrozzeria Vignale was also known to design and build on many Lancia and Maserati models, before finally trying to produce their own models.

This FIAT 125S Samantha by Vignale was one of the rare FIAT models of 1960s. (Picture from: SecretClassic)

Carrozzeria Vignale's collaboration with FIAT at that time was indeed very harmonious. For FIAT, Vignale built various show cars, prototypes and several limited edition models. Furthermore, the Italian auto giants also gave Carrozzeria Vignale freedom to be creative with its own models.

The FIAT 125S Samantha built by Vignale based on the FIAT 125S models. (Picture from: Bonham)

Eventually, Carrozzeria Vignale built the 'Samantha' in 1967, which was built based on the FIAT 125S models. As we could be seen, the Samantha has a sleek coupé body design with exotic lines, combined with small round headlamps and a chrome-plated bumper, and was built in small numbers of production. While for its drivetrain, the Samantha is equipped with a 2.0-liter capacity engine.

The FIAT 125S Samantha provides enough comfortable space for four passengers with ample luggage space inside of it. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

Even though it has a relatively small body, the gorgeous Samantha still provides enough comfortable space for four passengers with ample luggage space inside of it. In addition, the Samantha's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is capable of developing 112 bhp of power coupled with a five-speed manual gearbox.

The FIAT 125S Samantha is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is capable of developing 112 bhp of power coupled with a five-speed manual gearbox. (Picture from: SecretClassic)

With the such a kind of engine configuration, the FIAT 125S Samantha capable makes an acceleration from zero to 60 mph (100 kph) in 11.0 seconds, and runs up to a top speed of 106 mph or 170 kph. Unfortunately, if it compared to its donor of the FIAT 125S model, the gorgeous Samantha costs twice as much.

At the time, the FIAT 125S Samantha was only produced around 100 units, and was not distributed through FIAT's main dealers, but through independent specialist importers. Today, only a handful of the FIAT 125S Samantha's remain, and making it one of the rarest of 1960s FIAT car models. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CLASSICDRIVER | BONHAM | SECRETCLASSIC ]

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