Offered with no reserve is another significant, but small collection of cars once owned by the late Gianni Agnelli, Fiat’s principal and the wealthiest man in modern Italian history.
Agnelli was considered more than the majority shareholder of Fiat, he was a style icon and often credited as single-handedly influencing the fashion industry both in Italy and internationally.
His eccentric tastes were reflected in some of the cars he drove, often coach built examples from the companies he owned. These three cars offered are no different.
The 1974 Fiat 130 Familiare was commissioned for Agnelli and owned by him for 11 years.
At the model’s introduction at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 1969, Fiat intended for the 130 to be produced in sedan or coupe body styles, but the Agnelli family had a slightly different idea.
Meeting the family’s desire for something just as luxurious but altogether more practical, the Fiat Centro Stile penned the 130 Familiare, which was then built by Officina Introzzi, a coachbuilder based just outside of Como.
Only three were made, this one for Gianni Agnelli, with the other two built for Umberto Agnelli and a friend named Guido Nicola. They were fitted with a 3.2lt V6 and a three-speed auto and had all-round independent suspension, making them extremely comfortable to ride in.
All three cars were unique, with this example arguably the most recognisable. Gianni had it painted in silver and fitted with faux wood trim on the sides while the roof rack was fitted with a wicker basket, the only one of the trio to be equipped so. Finally, an asymmetrical third rear brake light was installed, to better alert Gianni’s security team to his movements while following him.
The car was garaged at Agnelli’s St Moritz home and used by him during the winter months, with the roof rack and basket carrying skis to and from the slopes. Being such a powerful and influential figure in Italy, Agnelli always attracted attention of the paparazzi, and he was photographed with this car on many occasions. He obviously very much enjoyed his 130 Familiare, and it remained in his ownership until 1985.
The vendor has preserved the car well and it has appeared at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza in 2014 and at The Ice at St Moritz in 2022, where it received the Classic Driver Spirit of St Moritz Award.
The Fiat Panda 4×4 was delivered new to Agnelli in February 1986 and remained in his possession for 15 years. It recently underwent a significant restoration to return it back to its original configuration.
It has the finest provenance of any Panda 4×4 in existence and like his Fiat 130 Familiare, this Panda was used by Agnelli for trips in and around St Moritz during the winter. The car was retained by him for 15 years, being sold from his ownership in 2001, two years prior to his passing.
The resto was completed in early 2025 and the Panda is now ready for the 2025-26 ski season.
Making up the trio of Agnelli specials is the 1985 Lancia Thema Familiare by Zagato and it is one of two prototypes built.
After taking possession Agnelli kept the Thema for just two years. But he saw the potential in the market for an estate version of the Thema and Lancia contracted both Pininfarina and Zagato to design estate cars on the Thema chassis and drivetrain.
Zagato built two cars: one with a turbocharged diesel engine and the other, this car, with a naturally aspirated, 2.8-litre petrol V6. Visually, both the production-ready Pininfarina-designed Thema estates and the Zagato-bodied cars were very similar.
The Zagato car boasted a black finish to the rear boot-lid pillars, making for an overall lighter appearance. Differences can also be seen in the boot handle, rear side windows and the interior trim.
Agnelli used the Thema as his personal car for two years, it being first registered in May of 1985 as TO 56639D in Torino. The car has remained in Italy all its life and shows 92,329km on its odometer.