1904 Buried Fiat Will Drive In London to Brighton Run

Fiat 1904 24/32 Buried And Restored To Drive Again

A 1904 Fiat that was buried for ten years in the grounds of a Cape Cod estate will take part in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run later this year.

The legendary vintage automobile will compete in the 60-mile route as part of the biggest free-to-spectate motoring event in Europe over the weekend of November 4th to 6th. The route traces and commemorates the historic Emancipation run of 1896 and sees 500 pre-1905 motor vehicles set off from Hyde Park in London to Brighton's Madeira Drive.

Insurance for classic car may well be useful for the drivers as they showcase the motors that formed the foundations of the modern day car industry.

Fiat's 1904 24/32 is just one example of the history on display. At the time it was interred, the Italian car was owned by a Mrs George Agassiz who insisted on purchasing the vehicle following her honeymoon in Italy.

Would You Bury A Classic Car?

Following lack of interest from auction houses, buyers or collectors in 1932, she had the car buried in the grounds of her Cape Cod home to save it from dishonourable end in a scrap heap. Ten years later Ted Robertson, co-founder of the US Vintage Sports Car Club, obtained a licence to unearth the vehicle - as well as spark off a legend.

Restoration did not start for another 40 years, before being passed in 2007 to its current owner, the Dutchman Jan Bruijn, who will be entering the car in the 115-year-old race this year.

Meanwhile, the modern day Fiat 500 - based on the Dante Giacosa designed 1950s classic - was recently honoured with Europe's oldest design award, the Compasso d'Oro ADI (the ADI Golden Compass).

It was the second time that the award was bestowed to the manufacturer, with the prize adding to the compact city-car's 40 international awards already achieved.

On November 6th, the first car will leave London's Hyde Park at 07:02 BST and must arrive by 16:15 at Brighton's Preston Park to qualify as a finisher.

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