[Read more…] about Fiat 1100-1900-500 Dealer Brochures Part 1
Fiat
Fiat’s New 124 Spider as seen by Wallace Wyss
By Wallace Wyss
New 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Announced at LA Auto Show: Time will tell if it’s better than the Mazda it sprang from…
Photos courtesy Fiat
Lately I have been straying from cars and messin’ with horses…thoroughbred horses, and the most important thing you can say about a thoroughbred is its pedigree…its DNA.
[Read more…] about Fiat’s New 124 Spider as seen by Wallace WyssFiat’s X1/9: The 1300 and 1500 Street Cars
By Roberto Motta
Photos by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles press archive and GGRM archive
Read the history of the X1/9 Prototipos
Read X1/9 Prototipos Today
Characterized by taut lines, and equipped with the engine and various mechanical components taken from the 128 sedan, the Fiat X1/9 was, and remains, a dream car.
The “X1/9” was part of a design series designation that began with the Fiat 128, which was the “X1/1”. The X1/9 was the first ‘Targa’ car produced by FIAT and Bertone.
In the past, it was been a normal Fiat practice to realize an highly-tuned Spider versions of its standard sedans; for example the 1100 TV (in the mid 1950s), the 1200 and 1500 Roadster (in the early 1960s) or, from 1969, the 124 Spider. During the 1965, with the Bertone’s help, Fiat produced also a low-priced car, the little 850 Spider. This Spider was a great commercial success, helping cement the relationship between Bertone and Fiat.
[Read more…] about Fiat’s X1/9: The 1300 and 1500 Street Cars
Fiat X1/9 Prototipos Today
Story and photos by Roberto Motta
Last week Roberto Motta described the rally successes of the X1/9 prototipo: This week he photographs two of these rare Fiats and wonders where the rest are…perhaps you can help!
The Fiat X1/9 provided a good basis for a new rally car: mid- engine, good weight distribution, excellent handling, a strong 16 valve engine and top speed of 200 km/h were the makings of a winner.
However, the Protoipo’s history is still shrouded by some mysteries. For example, we are not sure how many chassis were really built.
The first car was the chassis #128 AS 0000133. This car is still in Italy.
Then in the summer of 1974, Abarth prepared five new chassis with a numerical sequence from #128 AS 0023001 to #128 AS 0023005. The first three chassis numbers were definitely registered on September 4th, 1974.
Some years ago, the author endeavored to photograph three of these cars. All these car were found in Italy, near Torino;
#23001 Deila’s car which can be seen below.
#23002 Seen in a Volta, Italy, work shop.
#23003 Macaluso’s car and the first subject car here.
#23004 Legend says that in the chassis series, there was the ‘stradale’ and another spare chassis that was never used in race events. Some think #23004 would have been the stradale chassis, but I never seen the car. Reportedly, this car was in the Al Cosentino workshop, and some years ago the car was sold. Cosentino claims to have bought at least one, but never provided the chassis number.
There are many images of this car, but no one has confirmed the chassis number.
The second mystery is about #23005; was really built? If so, where is the chassis today?
Any reader that has some information or documentation that can help to solve the mystery can send a comment to VeloceToday.
Fiat Abarth X1/9 Prototipo
Story and color photography by Roberto Motta
The Fiat Abarth X1/9 prototipo made a brief, but impressive, appearance in the rally World during the 1970s, but as soon it was competitive, it became the victim of Fiat politics. The history of the Fiat Abarth X1/9 prototipo started at the end of ’73 season, when the Fiat’s Rally Competition department began work on the project that would replace the 124 Abarth Rally.
The Competition department was manned by Renzo Avidano, Abarth’s Director, Giulio Lampredi, the engine designer, Mario Colucci, chassis expert, Giorgio Pianta, the test driver and Gino Macaluso, one of the best Fiat Rally Team’s co-driver and future Fiat Sport Director.
The first car used for the project was the Chassis 128 AS 0000133 and registered with the license plate number TO H29040. The car featured here is one of the Fiat X 1/9s used in the press presentation, on November 26th, at the Targa Florio’s roads. [Read more…] about Fiat Abarth X1/9 Prototipo
Cobra in a Sharkskin Suit
Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
The well-known story goes that John Willment of Willment racing fame had a spare 427 competition Cobra chassis gathering dust in the workshop, so he decided to fit the Savonuzzi- designed Ghia built body from a Fiat 8V which he had previously found in a scrap yard.
The power unit was a Holman and Moody 427 V8 with twin four barrel carburetors. Unfortunately, John lost interest in the project and sold the car before it was properly finished. But here is the untold backstory of the Cobra Italiano. [Read more…] about Cobra in a Sharkskin Suit
Fiat 1900 Brochure
A Visit to Fiat’s Remarkable Lingotto
Story and color photos by Jonathan Sharp
You may not be that familiar with Lingotto but if you have seen the original (and by far the best version) of The Italian Job, you may recall the scene in the film where the three Mini Coopers containing the stolen gold are pursued by the Police in their Alfas around a banked test track. That test track is on the roof of Lingotto, the Fiat factory which is located in a suburb of Turin. [Read more…] about A Visit to Fiat’s Remarkable Lingotto
Fiat 508 Balilla Mille Miglia Berlinetta
The neatest, prettiest, most Italianate small displacement pre-war coupe ever made.
In one sense, the paltry 998 cc 36 hp Fiat Balilla Mille Miglia Berlinetta Coupe is much ado about very little. In another sense, it is the quintessential example of prewar Italian design in miniature and very nearly takes your breath away. And the name is no auction house hype; Mille Miglia Berlinetta it was from the day it rolled out of the factory in 1935.
If looks aren’t enough, consider that the ultra-rare MM Berlinetta may be one of the first true Grand Touring cars ever conceived, and most certainly one of the first small displacement GT cars ever built.
[Read more…] about Fiat 508 Balilla Mille Miglia Berlinetta
New Fiats at the L.A. Auto Show
Fiat Innovates at LA Auto Show
By Richard Bartholomew
Photos by Wallace Wyss
At the LA Auto Show, Fiat had a large display, and showed signs of continuing to offer models that will appeal to those nostalgic for the “good old days” of Fiat. For instance, they came out with what is called the 500 1957 edition, copying the colors of the ’57 model imported to America. Of course back then it just had a two-cylinder city car but still was a worldwide hit, Autoweek saying 3,893,294 were built before production ended in 1975. [Read more…] about New Fiats at the L.A. Auto Show
Fiat Invades the L.A. Auto Show
By Eric Musarra
Photos courtesy Fiat
Buyers these days seem to want cars that only look tiny; a personal tardis if you will. The Minis of the 60s were tiny then, but today they are merely a figurine for anyone over six feet tall. Over years, the new Mini Coopers seem to steadily gain size and weight, creeping the scale along and distorting the beauty of the original. Thankfully a model that doesn’t cheat on her diet continues to be offered.
Now Fiat, still considered a new car in America is fattening up its models, and unveiled a four-door (five if you count the hatch) 500 L at the L.A. Auto Show. It made sense to debut the car in California which accounts for a quarter of Fiat’s sales in America.
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Testing the Fiat 500 Cabriolet
How it almost charmed a curmudgeon
In the road-testing world there’s a little bit of Stephen Stills “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with”. You have to forget about the car you drove last week and like the one you’re driving now.
When it first arrived here, I was at first very skeptical of the new Fiat and didn’t ask for one to test drive. I remember when Fiats were big back in the Sixties and how there was precious little parts and service and the dealerships seemed like back alley operations. So I wondered, “When Fiat comes back, will they do a better job in parts and service this time around?”
[Read more…] about Testing the Fiat 500 Cabriolet