Buried 1904 Fiat
The Royal Automobile' Club's London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, celebrating its 115th anniversary and taking place on 6th November 2011, will feature a 1904 Fiat, which avoided the scrap yard by being buried on an American state.
The Fiat will be joined by over 500 pre-1905 Veteran cars who will take part in the world's longest running motoring event.
The 1904 Fiat 24/32 travelled from Italy to Cape Cod and across the US before finally settling in Northern Europe. Originally owned by Mrs George Agassiz, the car had such sentimental value, due to being purchased while she and her husband were honeymooning in Italy, Mrs Agassiz decided to have the car interred in the grounds of her Cape Cod estate when no collectors were available to purchase the car in 1932.
In 1942, Ted Robertson - co-founder of the US Vintage Sports Car Club - was granted permission to exhume the Fiat following a legend which had been building for ten years. The car was buried on its back, with the wheels removed and folded across its "chest", it had survived surprisingly well.
The car was bought for $50 and passed around enthusiasts in an unrestored state before being stored by a Milwaukee owner for 40 years. Restoration began on the Fiat in the 1990s, and in 2007 was passed on to its current owner, Jan Brujin in the Netherlands, who returns the car the the Royal Automobile Club's event.
500 Veteran cars will converge to London's Hyde Park before setting off to Madeira Drive, Brighton.
The free-to-spectate motoring event will run over three dates, starting on Friday with the Veteran Car Run Auction of eligible vehicles and automobilia by auctioneers Bonhams at new Bond Street, London.
100 Veteran cars - including the Fiat - will take to the stage in the Concours d'Elegance on the Saturday in Regent Street, providing the public an opportunity to view a variety of machines which will be taking part in the Run on Sunday.
The 115th anniversary Run will start when the first car leaves Hyde Park ar 7.02am on Sunday. The cars must arrive in Preston park, Brighton before 4.15pm to be classified as a finisher, before gathering along Madeira Drive for the ceremonial finish.
