| Manufacturer | Fiat |
|---|---|
| Production | 1964-1973 |
| Successor | Fiat 127 Fiat 133 |
| Body style | coupe/sedan spider station wagon van |
| Layout | RR layout |
| Engine | 817 cc straight-4 843 cc straight-4 903 cc straight-4 |
| Transmission | 4 speed manual: synchromesh on top 3 ratios (earlier models)[1] 4 speed manual: all- synchromesh (later models)[2] |
| Wheelbase | 2,025 mm (79.7 in) |
| Length | 3,575 mm (140.7 in) (saloon) 3,735 mm (147.0 in) (familiare)[2] |
| Width | 1,385 mm (54.5 in) (saloon) 1,500 mm (59.1 in) (familiare)[2] |
| Height | 1,385 mm (54.5 in) (saloon) 1,655 mm (65.2 in) (familiare)[2] |
| Related | SEAT 850 SEAT/Fiat 133 Siata Spring |
The Fiat 850 is a small longitudinal-rear-engined rear wheel drive car which was produced between 1964 and 1973.
Contents |
Its technical design was an evolution of the very successful Fiat 600. The internal name for the Fiat 600 development project was "Project 100" and consequently, the internal Fiat codename for the 850 project was 100G (G for the Italian word "grande" - big). The engine of the 850 was based on that of the Fiat 600, but had its capacity increased to 843 cc. The 850 came in two versions: "normale" (standard) with 34 hp (25 kW) and "super" with 37 hp (28 kW). The maximum speed was approximately 125 km/h (78 mph). While it was not a large step forward in technical development, it possessed a certain charm with its large rolling eyes and its short tail, in which the engine sat.
The 850 family included several body styles with similar technical components underneath.
At the time of their introduction into the United States the Sedan, Coupé, and Spider were marketed with a reduced capacity, high compression 817 cc / 49.8 ci engine in order to beat US emissions regulations at the time which applied only to engines equal to or larger than 50 cubic inches. Compression was raised from 8.8:1 to 9.2:1, requiring premium octane fuel.
In order to separate the sportier variants Coupé and Spider from the basic version, apart from the increase of engine performance, the equipment was also extended and adapted to the higher expectations. Both received sport seats, a sport steering wheel and round speedometer; Spider even received a completely rearranged instrument panel. The previous drum brakes were replaced by better disc brakes. In 1972 Fiat developed a mid-engined car, the more modern X1/9 which would replace the 850 Spider in the US in 1974.
In 1968, Fiat revised the successful Spider and Coupé again and gave them an even stronger engine with 903 cc and 52 hp (39 kW). They were called Sport Spider and Sport Coupé. The Sport Spider body stayed essentially the same, but with a restyled front. The headlamps were moved forward slightly and the plastic covers were eliminated giving the car a 'frogeye' look, and the original flush front turn indicators were replaced with units hung below the bumper. The same year saw the launch of several special versions of the Spider: the vinyl-clad metal-roofed Racer, and the Berlinetta, a convertible with a removable hard-top. Today, they are considered classics.
There was a transporter model as a successor of the Fiat 600 Multipla, which was later renamed to 900T and likewise received the larger capacity of 903 cc.
The production of the Coupés was stopped in 1971, of the sedan in 1972, and of the Spiders in 1973, after altogether nearly 2.3 million models were sold worldwide. Under the name SEAT 850, it was however further produced for some years in Spain, also in a four-door variant. As a successor the Fiat 127 was brought to the market in 1971 which combined the 903 cc push-rod OHV engine with the FIAT 128 transmission and suspension components in a fashionable fast- and later hatch-back 2-door sedan.
The Fiat 850 was also produced under the name Pirin-Fiat in Lovech, Bulgaria, on the basis of complete knock down (CKD) kits between 1967 and 1971.
Between 1978 and 1983, the U.S. government issued a highly unusual recall for the Fiat 850 - going back 10 years - for rust problems.[3]
In 1967, Road & Track called the Fiat 850 coupe "one of the handsomest, best-balanced designs ever seen on a small car."[3]
| Type | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| City car | 500 | 126 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 600 | 133 | Panda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supermini | 850 | 127 | Uno | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car | 1100 | 128 | Ritmo | Tipo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1300 | 124 | 131 | Regata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car | 1500 | 125 | 132 | Argenta | Croma I | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive car | 1800/2100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2300 | 130 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé / Roadster | Dino / 124 Sport Spider | 124 Sport Spider | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 124 Coupé | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports car | 850 Spider | X1/9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Panel van | Fiorino I | Fiorino II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact MPV | 600 Multipla | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Van | 600 T | 850 T | 900 T | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1100 BLR / ELR / I / T | 238 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 241 | 242 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Daily* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ducato I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Off-road | Campagnola (1101) | Campagnola (1107) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Rebadged Iveco model | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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