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Other models followed soon, the 8, then 10,
then 12HP. The 8HP was the first front engined Fiat, with a two
cylinder 1082cc engine producing 10hp, built at a rate of one per
week. The 12HP, with a 3768cc engine was the first Fiat to be
widely exported, around Europe and to the US. A total of 134 were
built.
During these first ten years, Fiat also
diversified into the production of trucks, buses, trams and marine
and aero engines and became involved in motorsport. Six new models
were introduced in 1910, the 12-15HP (1847cc, 1000 produced), the
15-20HP (2612cc), the 20-30HP (3969cc), the 30-45HP (5699cc) and
two 50-60HP (9025cc). The first mass produced Fiat, the Zero
12-15HP was introduced in 1912. This used a 1847cc engine
producing 18hp and over 2000 were built up until 1915. 1912 also
saw a Fiat, the S76, set the world land speed record. This monster
was powered by a 28355cc four cylinder engine with three spark
plugs per cylinder and 290hp. The war years saw Fiat producing
mainly trucks for military use.
1919 saw the introduction of
several new models. The 501, with a 23hp 1460cc four cylinder
engine, was produced until 1926, by which time around 45,000 had
been built. The 505, introduced in the same year was a 'bigger
brother' of the 501, with a 2296cc engine. The top of the range
was the 510 with a 3446cc six cylinder engine.
The V12 Superfiat was
introduced in 1921 (6805cc and 90hp), the same year that Polski
Fiat was founded in Poland, whilst in Italy in1923 the Lingotto
factory was opened. Models in the 1920's included the 519 (1922)
with a 4766cc six cylinder engine, the 509 (1925) with a 990cc
engine producing 22hp, which won the Montecarlo Rally in 1928, the
503 (1926) built only for two years (42,000 cars), the 520 (1927)
with a 2244cc engine and the 514 (replacing the 509 in 1929 after
a production run of about 90,000) which used a 1438cc engine and
featured hydraulic suspension. Around 32,000 were bult up to 1932.
The 1920's also saw the first use of an aluminium cylinder head in
a production engine, obviously a Fiat, in 1928.
1919 saw the introduction of
several new models. The 501, with a 23hp 1460cc four cylinder
engine, was produced until 1926, by which time around 45,000 had
been built. The 505, introduced in the same year was a 'bigger
brother' of the 501, with a 2296cc engine. The top of the range
was the 510 with a 3446cc six cylinder engine.
The V12 Superfiat was
introduced in 1921 (6805cc and 90hp), the same year that Polski
Fiat was founded in Poland, whilst in Italy in1923 the Lingotto
factory was opened. Models in the 1920's included the 519 (1922)
with a 4766cc six cylinder engine, the 509 (1925) with a 990cc
engine producing 22hp, which won the Montecarlo Rally in 1928, the
503 (1926) built only for two years (42,000 cars), the 520 (1927)
with a 2244cc engine and the 514 (replacing the 509 in 1929 after
a production run of about 90,000) which used a 1438cc engine and
featured hydraulic suspension. Around 32,000 were bult up to 1932.
The 1920's also saw the first use of an aluminium cylinder head in
a production engine, obviously a Fiat, in 1928.
The Milan Motorshow of 1932
saw the introduction of the new 508 Balilla. This had a 995cc four
cylinder engine with 20hp and a three speed gearbox. The first
series ran until 1934, by which time 41,395 cars had been
produced. It was facelifeted in 1934 and adopted a four speed
gearbox, reulting in the second series, of which 71,700 were built
until 1937. 1932 also saw the introduction of the 518 Ardita 1750,
later increased to 2000, and the 527 Ardita 2500.
At the Milan Motorshow some
three years later, in 1935, Fiat introduced the 1500. this was the
first Fiat production car to benefit significantly from
aerodynamics, it was developed using a wind tunnel. It had a six
cylinder 1493cc engine with 45hp, four speed transmission and was
produced until 1948 (42,500 built).
Maybe the most famous Fiat,
the 500 'Topolino', was first shown in1936. A small (the smallest
mass produced car in the world at the time), two seater, it was
powered by a 569cc four cylinder engine with just 13hp. Up to 1948
122,000 were produced.
The 508 Balilla was developed
into the New Balilla 1100 or 508C with a new 1084cc engine and
styling similar to the 1500, produced from 1937 to 1939 (about
57,000 cars) and then became the 1100 and was produced until 1948
(around 74,000 units).
1939 saw the start of the war
and thus the turning of most Fiat capacity to military
requirements, it was also the year in which the Mirafiori factory
was opened, employing 22,000 workers.
After the war in 1948 the
range was revised, becoming the 1100B (25,000 built) and 1500D and
the 500B (21,000 produced) which incorporated many changes. In
1949 the 500C was introduced at the Geneva Motorshow with a
completely new bodyshell. This continued in production until 1955
by which time 376,370 cars had been produced, bringing total 500
production to around 550,000 cars. 1949 also witnessed the
introduction of the 1100E and 1500E, both further developments of
the pre-war cars.
The 1400, first seen at the
Geneva Motorshow in 1950, was the first all new Fiat after the
war. It was also the first Fiat to have a structural body, and was
built until 1954 (77,000 cars). Two years after the launch of the
1400 there appeared a bigger brother, the 1900. In between, in
1951, Fiat launched the Campagnola, a four-wheel drive jeep like
vehicle, mainly for the military.
The old 1100 soldiered on,
and was heavily revised in 1953 as the 103. This series, which
included an estate (Familiare) continued in production until 1956
when it was facelifeted and became the 103E and was produced for
another year. In 1953 Fiat also launched their first diesel
powered car, the 1400 diesel (although the engine was a 1901cc
unit!), of which they produced some 13,500 until 1954. That year
saw the introduction of the 1400A and 1900A facelifted models,
revised again in 1958 to become the 1400B and 1900B.
The Geneva Motorshow was
again the launch site for a new model in 1955, this time the 600.
This had a four cylinder 633cc engine mounted at the rear and was
built in large numbers (about 950,000) until 1960. The range
included the Multipla (introduced in 1956), a mini-MPV with three
rows of seats, the latter two folding into the floor. Given a new
767cc engine in 1960 the 600 became the 600D. Four years later it
got front hinged doors and a year after that was slightly revised.
The 600 continued in production until 1969 by which year a total
of 2,695,197 cars had been built.
Two years after the 600 came
the new 500, also with a rear mounted engine, this time a two
cylinder 479cc unit. 1958 saw the arrival of the 500 Sport with a
larger 499,5cc engine which was introduced to the rest of the
family in 1960 with the arrival of the 500D. That year also saw
the introduction of the Giardinetta, the estate version.
thesemodels continued until 1965 when the 500F arrived with
numerous changes to the engine and body. Production of the 500
finally ceased in 1975.
1957 was also the year when
the new 1200 was introduced, developed from the 103. Two years
later, in 1959, a new family of six-cylinder engined cars, the
1800 and 2100 were introduced to replace the 1400/1900. These were
revised in 1961, the 2100 became a 2300 whilst the 1800 became the
1800B. Both mechanical and styling modifications were made to the
range which included a saloon, estate and coupe.
The new 1300/1500 family was
introduced in 1961 to replace the 1200, and was the first Fiat
production car to feature disc brakes. It continued in production
until 1967 as a saloon, estate and cabriolet. The 600 evolved into
the 850 which was released in 1964 and featured a 843cc motor it
two states of tune, with 34 or 37hp. Coupe, spider and estate
versions were built from 1965, and in 1968 a 903cc engine was
introduced in the coupe and spider. Production stopped in 1972.
In March 1966, at the Geneva
Motorshow, the Fiat 124 was revealed. This replaced the 1300/1500
family and was awarded car of the Year in 1967. Featuring an
1197cc engine, the 124 was produced in saloon, estate (Familiare),
Spider (designed by Pininfarina) and Coupe form. The latter two
models were introduced in 1966 and 1967 respectively and featured
common mechanicals, including a 1438cc dohc engine.
With the help of Ferrari,
there appeared in 1966 a 1987cc V6 engined car, the Dino Spider.
Joined a year later by a Coupe model, a 2418cc engine replaced the
1987cc unit in 1969.
A bigger version of the 124
appeared as the 125 in 1967, designed to replace the 1500. The
mechanicals of the 1500 were used, coupled with the 1608cc dohc
engine from the 124. Two years later the 2300 was replaced by the
new 130, powered by a 2866c V6 engine.
Fiat introduced front-wheel
drive in March 1969 in the form of the 128. This used the 1116cc
engine from the 1100 but was otherwise all new and replaced that
model. In that same year Fiat purchased Lancia. In 1971 a coupe
version was shown. That year also saw the introduction of the 127,
and was followed a year later by the 132 to replace the 125. The
132 was heavily revised and relaunched as the Argenta in 1981.
1972 saw two further significant model launches, the X1/9 designed
by Bertone and the 126 to replace the 500.
Jumping on, 1974 saw the
introduction of the 131 followed in 1978 by the Ritmo, 1980 by the
Panda and 1983 by the Uno.
1984 saw Fiat purchase Alfa
Romeo.
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