Fiat 850 1964 - 1973 - History of the Fiat 850

It all began with the introduction of a simple sedan in the spring of 1964. The new model Fiat 850 is inherited from the famous model Fiat 600. With a completely new design, more space and a new more powerful engine, the model Fiat 850 has brought one major change: the so-called. The "suicide" door-opening system used by the 600 was replaced by a more modern and, above all, a more secure system as we know it today. Why the name "suicide"? Because when they were driving (children, etc.), the doors would simply fly away in the air, and in many cases those who tried to catch them would fly.

Fiat 850

850 engine - certified quality

The engine to be fitted had, of course, 850 cubic meters (843 to be exact), and could be purchased in the normal Normale version with 34 hp and the more powerful Super with 37 hp. Interestingly, this engine was based on an engine that dates back to the late 30s, and even though they could rightly be called old, they also had to acknowledge a completely open future. So it was, so this engine, of course, with modifications, found its place in many models in the 80's (!) Years; one of them is Panda. The engine, like the 600, was located behind the rear axle with rear-wheel drive.

Fiat 850 Coupé and Fiat 850 Spider

Fiat 850 was loved by many, and so it is today. It was known for its excellent usability, comfort and very importantly, reliability. You could always count on the Fiat 850. However, what we associate with his name and what was and remains the object of desire are his derivatives presented a year later (1965) at the Geneva Motor Show - Coupé and Spider models.

At first glance, these models evoked a stronger feel than the sedan. The coupe was designed by Fiat itself while Spider was made by famous designer Bertone. The mechanics were much the same as they had tuned engines - a 47hp Coupé and a 49hp Spider. Enough at 145 km / h, with the sedan speeding at 125 km / h.

Fiat 850 coupe

Better brakes come with power, so the front axles of the drum are replaced by efficient discs, and to fit the wheels, 12 inch wheels replace 13 inches. The interior also had to be different from the sedan. The profiled sports seats, sporty wooden steering wheel and other instruments were all makeup. All at a price lower by almost DEM 1000 compared to Karmann-Ghia. Consequently, Coupé and Spider soon became popular outside their homeland and even in America.

2,3 million produced

The entire gamut was restored in 1968. With looks, dual lights and some more details, the Coupe and Spider models get an even stronger engine - 52 bhp from 903 cc. In addition, Fiat also offered customers of the sedan a sporty ride in the Special model: a 47-horsepower engine, sports steering wheel and wide tires. The story ends in 1971 for the Coupé, 1972 for the sedan, and 1973 for Spider. A total of approximately 2.3 million units of these ingenious and infectious Italian machines have been sold, which today still evoke the same sentiment as many 40 years ago.

Fiat 850 Spider

Familiare - with six!

With the three models listed Fiat In 1965 he introduced the successor to the legendary 600 Multipla. Familiare, as the name implies, was intended for families or anyone who needs a real human transporter. Three rows of seats or six people could accommodate this conveyor. By folding down some seats, the space could be transformed into a factory, which was a good fit for many Italians. Based on this Italian, Zastava later produced a van that became a common image on the streets of Yugoslavia in the 70s and 80s.

Production: 1964-1972.
Engine: R4, 843 cm3 (sedan)
Power (kW / hp): 25/34 @ 4800 / min (sedan)
Top speed (km / h): 125 (sedan)
Number of produced copies: 2.203.380

Prepared by: Luka Lukčić
Source: www.vidiauto.com