Try our newest merchandise
You already know what’s humorous about Italian automobiles? Everybody’s minds go straight for the prancing horse, however a few of us know the true enjoyable was occurring over at Fiat. We’re not saying there’s something unsuitable with Ferrari (we couldn’t even faux there’s), however Fiat has proved time and time once more that you just don’t must promote organs on the black market to have a blast on winding roads by means of the European countryside.
Give it some thought: when was the final time you noticed a Ferrari at a grocery retailer? Until you have been at Monterey Automotive Week or have some actually cool neighbors, I suppose. In the meantime, Fiats have been hauling households to the seaside, getting faculty children by means of their broke years, and nonetheless managing to place large grins on faces. These weren’t simply automobiles; they have been enablers of excellent occasions, and so they did it with extra character per greenback than something sporting a dearer badge.
How We Traced the Joyride
What qualifies a Fiat for this listing? Easy: they’re enjoyable to drive. After all, “enjoyable” is totally different for everybody. For a few of us, enjoyable driving entails stepping into a straight line very, very quick. For others, enjoyable driving means taking twisty roads and switchbacks with ease, the automotive responding to each little motion of the wheel. And others? Enjoyable simply means an pleasurable shoreline cruise. That’s why we included 12 Fiats with a variety of designs, efficiency capabilities, and functions. We wished to ensure we coated every kind of enjoyable (all authorized enjoyable, that’s).
Not each Fiat talked about right here has mindblowing statistics. It’s not about straight-up horsepower or high pace. As you become older, like me, you notice that enjoyable encompasses a broader spectrum than simply asking a couple of automotive’s horsepower in a parking zone. In reality, a few of my favourite automobiles have horsepower so low you’d suppose they couldn’t even make it up a hill (the Miata can in the event you shut off the AC, thanks very a lot). Fiat knew that enjoyable is available in a bunch of various packages, so let’s have fun the innovation and carefree enjoyable of a number of the model’s greatest.
Fiat Dino
Right here’s a automotive with an identification disaster that labored out completely. Ferrari wanted to construct 500 engines for Formulation 2 homologation, however they have been too busy specializing in earnings to construct street automobiles. Enter Fiat, which mainly stated, “We’ll take that 2.0-liter V6, thanks very a lot.”
The outcome? A automotive that price a fraction of what you’d pay for a Ferrari, but shared the identical Aurelio Lampredi-designed engine. The spider model, penned by Pininfarina, regarded prefer it ought to price twice what it did. Bertone dealt with the coupe, and by some means, each variations managed to look costly parked subsequent to anything from the period.
With 160 horsepower it wasn’t setting any land pace information, however it gave the impression of opera each time you touched the throttle. Plus, you bought precise again seats. Solely about 7,800 have been made, which explains why they’re now price greater than a pleasant home in some locations (or so I’ve heard, I’ve by no means discovered one on the market close to me).
Fiat 124 Spider
Okay, so technically it is a Mazda MX-5 in Italian garments, however hear us out. Fiat took Mazda’s good roadster formulation and stated, “What if we made it appear like one thing Sophia Loren would drive?” The reply was fairly spectacular.
The 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo made 160 horsepower, which was truly greater than the naturally aspirated Mazda. It sounded higher, too, with a turbo whistle that reminded you this wasn’t simply one other Japanese roadster. The styling was pure Italian drama: longer, decrease, and extra curvaceous than its Mazda cousin.
Certain, it solely lasted 4 years within the U.S. market, however generally one of the best events finish too quickly. A minimum of now you may choose up a barely used one for the value of a loaded Camry, which looks like a fairly whole lot for every day doses of Italian-style remedy.
Fiat Coupe
Earlier than Chris Bangle grew to become well-known for controversial BMWs, he designed this stunning maniac for Fiat (and we imply that in all the greatest methods). The Coupe regarded like somebody had folded a chunk of paper right into a automotive form, and by some means it labored completely. These spherical taillights? Pure genius. The body-colored dashboard? Courageous sufficient to make at this time’s designers weep.
The turbocharged 2.0-liter five-cylinder within the 20V Turbo made 220 horsepower and gave the impression of an Audi Quattro having an argument with itself. Zero to 60 occurred in 6.5 seconds, which was correctly fast for 1993. The restricted version variations – particularly the Plus and Turbo Restricted Version – are actually price critical cash.
The inside was typical ’90s Italian insanity: beautiful to take a look at, sometimes useful, and assured to begin conversations. However whenever you’re doing 140 mph on an empty autobahn (the place authorized, after all), who cares if the cup holder is in a bizarre spot?
Fiat Barchetta
Whereas everybody else was constructing more and more critical sports activities automobiles, Fiat determined to make one thing that regarded completely completely happy. The Barchetta (Italian for “little boat”) was like a golden retriever in automotive type: enthusiastic, pleasant, and all the time prepared for an journey.
The naturally aspirated 1.8-liter made 130 horsepower, which doesn’t sound like a lot till you keep in mind the automotive weighed lower than 2,400 kilos. It was fast sufficient to embarrass individuals who thought small meant gradual, and the dealing with was sharp sufficient to remind you that Italians truly know a factor or two about making automobiles go round corners.
The gentle high was a correct convertible setup, not some targa compromise. Wind-in-the-hair driving at its most accessible, and it regarded so cheerful that even BMW drivers would smile and wave. That’s saying one thing.
Fiat 8V
So stunning, however so uncommon (okay, some folks could not suppose this automotive is gorgeous, pleasant reminder that these are all opinions). Solely 114 of those have been ever constructed, making them rarer than most Ferraris. The title “8V” took place as a result of Ford owned the “V8” trademark – forms at its best.
The two.0-liter V8 made about 105 horsepower, which was critical enterprise in 1952. Every automotive was basically hand-built, with our bodies coming from varied coachbuilders together with Zagato, Pininfarina, and Vignale. No two have been precisely alike, making every one a singular piece of automotive artwork.
This stuff are actually price greater than most individuals’s homes, assuming yow will discover one on the market. They pop up at Concours occasions the place they’re handled just like the rolling sculptures they basically are. When you ever see one in particular person, you’re taking a look at one of many rarest and most stunning Fiats ever created.
Fiat X1/9
Bertone checked out supercars and determined that we common folks (aka, the center class of automotive consumers) ought to get that very same expertise. The X1/9 put its 1.3 or 1.5-liter engine behind the driving force, identical to a correct unique, however at a value that wouldn’t require a second mortgage.
The pop-up headlights have been pure ’70s theater, and the targa high setup meant you would have open-air motoring with out the complexity of a full convertible. At round 2,000 kilos, it felt correctly gentle and tossable, even when the horsepower numbers (75-85 relying on 12 months and market) sound quaint by at this time’s requirements.
The perfect half? You would truly work on these your self. Strive doing your personal upkeep on a mid-engine Ferrari from the identical period – you’ll want a workforce of Italian monks and a small fortune in particular instruments.
Fiat 131 Abarth Rally
This boxy sedan doesn’t appear like a lot till you realize it received the World Rally Championship in 1977, 1978, and 1980. The road-going Abarth variations have been homologation specials that introduced rally know-how to your native Fiat supplier.
The dual-cam 2.0-liter made round 140 horsepower, however it was the best way it delivered that energy that mattered. Huge fender flares housed correct racing rubber, and the suspension setup was tuned for all the pieces from forest phases to your every day commute. The long-lasting Alitalia livery made it immediately recognizable, even when most individuals had no concept they have been taking a look at a world champion.
Walter Röhrl and Markku Alén proved this stuff may fly over Finnish jumps and sideways by means of Italian mountain passes with equal enthusiasm. The truth that you would drive one to work on Monday morning was only a bonus.
Fiat Uno Turbo i.e.
Take a smart household hatchback, add a turbocharger, and stand again. The Uno Turbo i.e. was all the pieces nice about ’80s scorching hatches: easy, efficient, and utterly mad whenever you wished it to be.
The 1.4-liter turbo made 118 horsepower, which was sufficient to shock far more costly automobiles at site visitors lights. The “i.e.” stood for “injection digital,” as a result of within the ’80s, gasoline injection was nonetheless price bragging about. Turbo lag was a part of the expertise: nothing occurred, nothing occurred, then all of the sudden you have been plastered to the again of your seat.
The inside was fundamental however useful, with sport seats that really held you in place throughout enthusiastic cornering. This stuff have been widespread with younger Europeans who wished most enjoyable per lira/mark/franc, and so they delivered precisely that.
Abarth 595 Competizione
Carlo Abarth would have cherished this little factor. Take a cheerful Fiat 500, add a turbo, stiffen all the pieces, and switch the exhaust as much as 11. The outcome was a automotive that sounded prefer it was perpetually clearing its throat and able to trigger hassle.
The 1.4-liter T-Jet made 180 horsepower, which was sufficient to propel the tiny hatch to 60 mph in about 6.7 seconds. However the true social gathering was the sound – pops, bangs, and overrun that may wake the neighbors three blocks away. The Report Monza exhaust system was mainly automotive theater.
Sabelt racing seats, Brembo brakes, and suspension tuning that made metropolis potholes really feel like rally stage jumps. It was utterly impractical as a every day driver and completely excellent for anybody who missed the times when small automobiles had huge personalities.
Fiat 850 Coupe
Earlier than the X1/9, Fiat proved they might make small sports activities automobiles look costly. The 850 Coupe’s sleek traces have been penned by Fiat’s personal design workforce, and by some means they managed to create one thing that regarded prefer it price twice what it did.
The rear-mounted 903cc engine made simply 52 horsepower, however in a automotive weighing lower than 1,800 kilos, it was sufficient for real enjoyable. The dealing with was typical rear-engine quirky – grippy and impartial till it all of the sudden wasn’t – however that simply added to the expertise.
Fiat Panda 100HP
Giorgetto Giugiaro’s angular Panda design was already excellent for what it was. Including the 100HP model was like staying for the after-credit scene in a Marvel film (again when the after-credit scene was truly a cool bonus).
The 1.4-liter 16-valve engine made precisely what the title promised: 100 horsepower. In a automotive that weighed simply over 2,000 kilos, that was sufficient for correct scorching hatch conduct. The suspension was firmed up, the brakes upgraded, and the outcome was a metropolis automotive that might embarrass far more costly equipment on a twisty street.
The inside obtained sporty seats and purple stitching, as a result of even in a Panda, Italians perceive the significance of trying good. These are actually turning into cult classics amongst lovers who respect the purity of the formulation.
Fiat Seicento Sporting
The newborn of the Fiat household obtained the sporting therapy too, and the outcomes have been surprisingly entertaining. At simply 139 inches lengthy, the Seicento was barely longer than a golf cart, however the Sporting model had sufficient character to make you overlook its dimension.
The 1.1-liter engine made 54 horsepower, which sounds pathetic till you keep in mind the automotive weighed lower than 1,700 kilos. It felt genuinely fast round city, and the tight dimensions meant you would park it just about wherever.
The Michael Schumacher Restricted Version was peak early-2000s advertising and marketing genius: Formulation 1 branding on a automotive that made much less energy than most lawnmowers, however by some means it labored. These are actually those collectors need, as a result of generally essentially the most ridiculous automobiles grow to be essentially the most cherished.
The Fiat Formulation
Right here’s the factor about these Fiats: they understood one thing that appears to have gotten misplaced in at this time’s world of 700-horsepower grocery getters. Enjoyable doesn’t require large energy or unique supplies. It requires character, accessibility, and the willingness to make choices that prioritize smiles over spec sheets.
Every of those automobiles had a character that emerged earlier than the horsepower did. They have been designed by individuals who clearly loved driving and wished to share that pleasure with as many individuals as potential. In a world the place all the pieces is getting larger, heavier, and extra critical, possibly we may use just a little extra Fiat philosophy.
Certain, they weren’t excellent. Italian automobiles from this period had a singular relationship with reliability, and components availability may very well be an journey. However the individuals who owned these automobiles keep in mind them with the form of affection normally reserved for favourite pets or faculty roommates. They have been a part of the household, full with quirks and surprises.
The perfect half? You possibly can nonetheless discover most of those at this time, typically for lower than you’d pay for a loaded pickup truck. Which suggests the enjoyable remains to be on the market, ready for somebody sensible sufficient to know that one of the best driving experiences don’t all the time include essentially the most prestigious badges.
The street is extra attention-grabbing when there are Fiats on it. It has all the time been, and it all the time will probably be.
