Puzzle #691 - Solved! Riva Fiat 1400

[SeaLion]

This is a mystery even to me, I don't know the answer myself. What is it? Who designed it? When?

[Otto Puzzell]

I think I have this one catalogued at home - I'll look it up when I'm there over the weekend...

[Arthur Dent]

Looks sort of like a Nash Healey prototype. I think Karn has done this one before. I probaby gave the same wrong answer then too. 

[ecurie]

It looks French to me.

[grobmotorix]

It is a Riva-bodied Fiat 1400, presented in 1951 at Torino.

[Paul Jaray]

Grobmotorix is quite right...the Riva Serenissima based on a Fiat 1400 with a body by Mario Riva & son of Carzaniga Merate (COMO)
was presented after the Monza berlinetta (this one) based on a Fiat 1100E chassis and it was so successful that he applied the same design on the Fiat 1400, but there the design was not so good, because it appeared too long...the differences between this one (Riva 1100 Monza) and the Riva 1400 Monza are in the shape of the rear part of the roof and the absence of two holes (like Vignale's) on the side...I've the pics on a book but I can't scan them.... 

[SeaLion]

OK? So this one was the 1100 or the 1400? And what was this car called? Riva .... Monza Berlinetta?

[Paul Jaray]

This is most likely the Riva Monza Berlinetta based on a Fiat 1100E chassis but it is Grobmotorixhe's credit because is quite the same of the Riva Serenissima based on a Fiat 1400 chassis as he said! According to my book, the 1400 chassis, due to his longer dimension was not well fit into the Monza design because the hood was too long...in my picture in fact the hood is quite longer that in this one posted here there are two "portholes" and the roof is more squared and THAT is the Serenissima 1400. So this car posted here is the Monza Berlinetta 1100 but the design is quite the same as the Serenissima.
Wow, reading what I wrote I nearly understand myself.....

[SeaLion]

Thanks. I gave you both one point each for solving the mystery.

[Otto Puzzell]

Know what it is?

Please, respond below and let us know the make and model designation of the car posted here.

If you haven't registered yet, you need to do so in order to reply with your answer.  You can do so by clicking here.

Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier.

Thanks!

[Otto Puzzell]

OK, Experts, have at it! 

[Paul Jaray]

Hi, that is a Fiat 1400 by Riva presented at Torino Automobile Salon, April 1951

[Arunas]

...where could I finf/get any history of "Mario Riva & Son" ? Thank You!

[Allemano]

As far as I'm aware of it's based on a Fiat 1400. The car was discussed on a well known board a couple of months ago. All I can do for you is to contribute some other pics. One of a Riva Alfa Romeo 2500 Speciale with some additional (sorry, only German) infos: (click to enlarge!)

[Arunas]

As far as I'm aware of it's based on a Fiat 1400. The car was discussed on a well known board a couple of months ago. All I can do for you is to contribute some other pics. One of a Riva Alfa Romeo 2500 Speciale with some additional (sorry, only German) infos: (click to enlarge!)

Allemano, You are just great as always! Thank You! 

[SeaLion]

As far as I'm aware of it's based on a Fiat 1400.

Hmm, very interesting. I gave you a point, sir, and changed the title of this thread.

[Allemano]

Not at all! 

[Arunas]

I hope this will be great 

The Dutch text about the 4th car of Allemano's pictures:

"Carrozzeria Riva uit Merate (Como) was in zijn bestaan niet altijd bezig met bouwen van auto's. Het was de journalist en coureur Giovannino Lurani Cernuschi die zijn wagenpark liet onderhouden door Riva en Riva soms de opdracht gaf om een wagen te bouwen, zoals bijvoorbeeld de 'Nibbio' recordauto uit 1935. Op basis van een Gilco-Cattaneo chassis werden in opdracht van Lurani ook een aantal Alfa's gebouwd. Het Gilco-Cattaneo buizenframe was ontworpen door de ingenieur Guido Cattaneo in samenwerking met de gespecialiseerde firma Gilco, die ook leverancier was van buizenframes voor de eerste Ferrari's. Cattaneo had nog een aantal Alfa 2500 SS motoren liggen van voor de oorlog en bouwde deze op het Gilco-Cattaneo chassis. Een aantal van deze Alfa Romeo-Cattaneo's werd voozien van een carrosserie van Colli, maar ook Riva heeft één of twee exemplaren gebouwd naar een ontwerp van Lurani. Dit is ook het model op de foto hierboven en het won de Grote Ereprijs op het in september 1950 gehouden Concours d'Elégance van het Lido di Venezia. Na deze periode stopt Riva met het produceren van auto's naar eigen model en houdt zich voornamelijk bezig met het repareren en ombouwen van bestaande carrosserieën." 

Maybe anyone would be so kind to translate it (but it is not necessary 

[DynaMike]

"Carrozzeria Riva from Merate (Como) hasn't always been connected to car production. Journalist and racer Giovannino Lurani Cernuschi came to Riva for the maintenance of his cars, and sometimes he asked Riva to build him a car, e.g. the 'Nibbio' record car from 1935. On a basis of a Gilco-Cattaneo chassis Lurani also let build some Alfa Romeos. The Gilco-Cattaneo tube frame was designed by the technician Guido Cattaneo in cooperation with the specialised company of Gilco, who also delivered the tube frames for the first Ferraris. Cattaneo still had some pre-war Alfa 2500 SS engines and placed these on the Gilco-Cattaneo chassis. Some of these Alfa Romeo-Cattaneos got a body by Colli, but also Riva has made one or two cars after a Lurani design. So is the model on the above picture, a car that won the big Prize of Honour in the Concours d'Elégance of the Lido di Venezia, held in September 1950. After this period Riva stopped the production of car bodies and concentrated on reparation and transformation of existing bodies."

[Arunas]

"Carrozzeria Riva from Merate (Como) hasn't always been connected to car production. Journalist and racer Giovannino Lurani Cernuschi came to Riva for the maintenance of his cars, and sometimes he asked Riva to build him a car, e.g. the 'Nibbio' record car from 1935. On a basis of a Gilco-Cattaneo chassis Lurani also let build some Alfa Romeos. The Gilco-Cattaneo tube frame was designed by the technician Guido Cattaneo in cooperation with the specialised company of Gilco, who also delivered the tube frames for the first Ferraris. Cattaneo still had some pre-war Alfa 2500 SS engines and placed these on the Gilco-Cattaneo chassis. Some of these Alfa Romeo-Cattaneos got a body by Colli, but also Riva has made one or two cars after a Lurani design. So is the model on the above picture, a car that won the big Prize of Honour in the Concours d'Elégance of the Lido di Venezia, held in September 1950. After this period Riva stopped the production of car bodies and concentrated on reparation and transformation of existing bodies."

THAT is really great! Thanks! 

[DynaMike]

You're welcome   Just a pity the original text wasn't really first class (nor is my English)...

[Allemano]

I think these have to be merged.

[Otto Puzzell]

I think these have to be merged.

There are some detail differences between the two puzzle cars - front bumper and door handles, for instance. Are these actually the same car, or variations on a theme?

[grobmotorix]

No visible puzzle photo...

The 1950 version of the Riva bodied Fiat 1400:

[Allemano]

Wonderful car!

I think Grob's posting shows a different Riva Fiat. It has no scoop on the bonnet.