Fiat, 1927, 509 A Weymann

Fiat "509 A Weymann", 1927, Italy

An example of popular car, the 509 was presented in 1925 and updated in 1926 with the “A” version to fix some mechanical issues immediately highlighted. The 509A had a wide spread, thanks also to the variety of bodies offered, among them the Weimann sedan. This type of flexible body was patented in France by Charles Torres Weymann and allowed to build lighter and soundproof bodies than the traditional ones. It was based on a light frame, fixed to the chassis with rubber supports, and was covered by an oilcloth and by a jut cloth which was covered with leatherette (pegamoide).
This system had a big spread during the 20’s and the patent was purchased by many automobile companies and by many private coachbuilders; the largest limits of the Weymann system were the poor shock resistance and the need to adopt rather squared lines for the bodywork.
The car shown in the museum is kept in its original and still well-preserved conditions, as you can see by its wooden frame, the basis of the Weymann patent.