11 Sep

The Fina Sport, Mid-Century Italo-American Hybrid Built in New York City – Part 1

Part I: The Inspiration and the Cars

1954 Fina Sport Special

1954 Fina Sport Special

Norwalk, Conn. – Perry Fina was an American born, Italian-trained master mechanic who opened an imported car dealership and service center on West 54th St. New York City back in the early 1930’s. After World War II, Perry’s son Joe, who had served with distinction in the Army Air Corps during the war, joined the business with his father. Together they came up with the idea of building a stylish Italian sports car on an American chassis.

As Perry was quoted at the time, “Many of our foreign car customers with expensive Ferraris, Mercedes and other high quality cars would consult with us on the safety of a long trip; always fearing a break-down in some forsaken place a long way from home where service and parts would be impossible to obtain. It was this that started my son and I on a venture of building an American sports car with foreign influence and handling characteristics. Having had considerable experience in racing, we constructed a chassis with excellent handling qualities, along with all American components, including Cadillac or Chrysler engines. We made arrangements with the Vignale Company of Torino Italy, for our coachwork and they do such an excellent job for us that our Fina Sport, with its elegant interior appointments and all leather work, is the most beautiful sports family car in America.”

Perry Fina with 1954 Fina Sport

Perry Fina with 1954 Fina Sport

The Fina Sport was advertised as “An Exclusive Car to please the man of discriminating taste.” It was built on a modified 115 inch Ford chassis with a Cadillac V8 engine reworked to produce 300 horsepower, Cadillac Hydromatic transmission and an aluminum body by Vignale. Other V8 motors such as Chrysler or Lincoln were said to be provided at the customer’s request. Vignale was a Torino-based automobile coach building company who built their first body on a Fiat in 1948. Features of the car included 12 volt battery system, Marchal headlights, turn signals, dual electric Marchal horns. Suspension was knee action in front with dual shocks (one telescopic and the other adjustable arm type), semi elliptical leaf springs in the rear also with dual shocks. The car had an overall length of 15 feet 8 inches, width 70 inches and height of 54 inches. At the 1954 World Motor Sports Show held in Madison Square Garden in New York, the car was awarded the Grand Prix in the custom sports car division.

Another view of the Fina Sport Special – “A Bargain at $14,000” (As captioned in the July 1954 issue of Italamerican Magazine)

Another view of the Fina Sport Special – “A Bargain at $14,000”
(As captioned in the July 1954 issue of Italamerican Magazine)

A model at the World Motor Sports Show,  Madison Square Garden, 1954 (Italamerican Magazine)

A model at the World Motor Sports Show,
Madison Square Garden, 1954 (Italamerican Magazine)

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Brochure for 1954 Fina Sport

Brochure for 1954 Fina Sport

Data plate for unbuilt 1956 Fina Sport

Data plate for unbuilt 1956 Fina Sport

1955 Fina Sport Convertible with Continental Kit and Borrani Knock-off Wheels

1955 Fina Sport Convertible with Continental Kit and Borrani Knock-off Wheels

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Here are excerpts from the press release describing this 18-foot-long convertible introduced in 1955: “In addition to such fancy accessories as Carlo Borrani wire racing wheels with “knock-off” hubs, Continental mounted spare wheel and tire, radio, heater, defroster, 6,000 RPM tachometer; the Italo-American creation also features fully adjustable airplane-type reclining seats and a manually adjustable André Tele-Control shock absorbing system. The sleek body … is upholstered entirely in genuine calfskin leather … the tire size is 6:50 x 16″. Suspension in the front is by coil springs, aircraft shock absorbers and manually adjustable tele-control shocks; the rear suspension is the same except semi-elliptical springs are employed instead of coil springs. The Fina Sport is fitted with two sets of Marchal lights, one for driving in normal traffic, another for night-time highway touring; these are fitted gracefully into the radiator grille. The very professional looking steering wheel is of the competition type being made by Nardi-Denese of Italy. The wheel frame itself is made of aircraft duralumin and polished Honduran mahogany; lock to lock 2½ turns.

Other features of this automotive masterpiece includes a panoramic “wrap-around” windshield, Rochester 4-barrel carburetor, automatic windshield washer, electric windshield wiper, 22 sq. ft. of luggage space and triple-chromium plated fittings. The car had optional power brakes, a 3.31:1 rear axle and an estimated top speed of 120 MPH.”

Overall height with top up was 56 inches; wheelbase and width were 114 inches and 74 inches, respectively. In early 1956, the convertible won the prestigious Concours d’Elegance trophy at the Philadelphia Autorama.

1956 Philadelphia Autorama trophy 60 years later courtesy David Reed

1956 Philadelphia Autorama trophy 60 years later courtesy David Reed

To be continued next week, Part II: Perry Fina, Master Mechanic for over 50 Years

Original Photographs & Artifacts contributed by David W. Reed, Redding, CT
Article compiled by Nick Ord, New England Auto Museum
nord@neautomuseum.org