1935-36 Fiat 508 Balilla Berlinetta Aerodinamica MM

Streamlining was one of the major styling fashions of the 1930s.  Most examples that either passed through wind tunnels or at least incorporated considerable "teardrop" sculpting were not small.  That's because the real or imagined flow of air over a car body required a certain proportional length to look right or perform right.

I came across one exception, a rather small, stubby car with all the usual teardrop items that actually is attractive.  It is the 1935-1936 Fiat 508 Balilla Sport Berlinetta Aerodinamica Mille Miglia -- to list all the names associated with it (though usually only some of these are mentioned on one Web site or another).

Some background can be found here at RM Sotheby's auction site as well as here.

Both sites mention that its designer was Conte Mario Revelli di Beaumont, an important stylist who worked with Fiat and various Italian coachbuilding firms over a long career. The second link mentions that Beaumont designed a Balilla-based Mille Miglia streamliner for SIATA, this leading to Fiat having the Balilla Aerodinamicas built. Its form was probably sketched sometime in the second half of 1934, so the styling was highly advanced.

Only 11 of the Fiat-built cars were made, and three or perhaps four survive, based on what can be viewed on the Internet.  There might even be more than that: remarkable, considering they were built nearly 85 years ago and had to survive a war along with the usual entropy.

Besides some 1930s items, the images below are of three known survivors photographed as sales publicity.

Gallery

The initial version for SIATA.  So far as I can tell, this car no longer exists.  Carryover details include its general profile (but not the rounded nose), the window profile, and the teardrop-shape fenders -- though even these are not identical.  However, the spirit of the design was retained.

Factory photo of the Balilla Aerodinamica.

Another likely factory image.

Front quarter view of a 1936 car.  Unlike the SIATA, the hood, grille, and light assemblies are close to stock Balilla items.  Due to its short size, the windshield is flat, not V'd (which would have made the greenhouse slightly longer, perhaps adding visual bulk).  None of these cars seems to have had bumpers.

Rear quarter view: taut and well-shaped teardrop elements, especially considering how small the package is  The chromed quasi-windsplit is a nice touch.  A rear bumper would have badly interfered with the design, practical though it would have been.

Overhead view of a 1935 Aerodinamica emphasizing the teardrop theme.

This side view of another 1936 car is the only one that reveals how stubby the car actually was.  Beaumont did a fine job of disguising this.