Perhaps the most eye-catching of all the Ottu Vu incarnations was the futuristic Supersonic by Ghia, drawing inspiration from the burgeoning aerospace industry in terms of its stylised, streamlined forms and subtle tail fins. The very first of the Ghia-bodied Fiat 8V Supersonics was ordered new by Paul Farago, but in 1955 he sold it on to Paul Lazaros, an engineer and machinist who worked for him and who had long admired the car.

Mr Lazaros kept the car for a stunning 55 years, before selling it in January 2011 to only its third owner – a noted New York collector, who proudly took the 8V Supersonic to the 2011 Pebble Beach concours and saw the evocative Italian sportscar sweep all before it to win its class.

Photo: Cathy Dubuisson