Taking 2 x V4 engine blocks, Fiat created a 1996cc V8 engine within a special chassis for the 'Fiat 8V' (or 'Otto Vu') intended to contest the 2-litre racing formula. Dante Giacosa was responsible for the engine and the engineering and Fabio Lucio Rapi for the bodywork, the 8V was launched at the 1952 Geneva Salon. However, many of the 113 cars were given coach built bodies including 34 developed by Carozzeria Zagato and still giving them race victories in 1958. The Zagato cars had a trademark 'double bubble' roof panel which both gave extra headroom for driver and passenger and extra rigidity in the lightweight body. Elio Zagato raced an 8V himself and one of his cars won its class in the final 1957 Mille Miglia race.