FIAT 850 Spider

Generations Timeline, Specs and Pictures

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FIAT 850 Spider 850 Sport Spider
FIAT 850 Spider 850 Sport Spider  1968 None
1968 None

The Fiat 850 was already successful on the market as a 3-door hatchback and as a coupe.
The addition of the open-top version was nothing but enhanced pleasure for its driver.

Fiat was already known for its small-sized vehicles, with its very good fuel-efficiency engines. Models such as 500 and 600 were already crossing the European continent and managed to find parking spots where no other cars could fit. The 850 was a larger vehicle, so four adults could fit in. But there also was an increasing demand for open-top vehicles. By using the same platform, Fiat managed to introduce the 850 Spider in 1965, simultaneously as the 850 Coupe, at the Geneva Motor Show.

Fiat hired Bertone studios to design the open-top version of the 850, and he started from the coupe version. It narrowed the front end and succeeded in building one of the most classical Italian roadsters, apart from the Alfa Romeo Spider. Its raked windshield and the completely hidden roof behind the seats left a clean image of the roadster. Due to the rear engine architecture and the small wheelbase, the car was able to fit only two passengers aboard.

Inside, Fiat asked Bertone to carry-over most of the Coupe parts to cut costs. A five-dial instrument cluster was fit into a flat dash panel split into two separate areas, so it gave the driver a race-car feeling. A floor-mounted gear-stick and an ashtray placed in the middle of the dash were the car’s main visible features.

Fiat installed the 0.9-liter engine from the Coupe and paired it to a 4-speed manual gearbox under the hood. The 49 hp engine was upgraded in 1968 and gained another three ponies.

Full Description and Technical Specifications
FIAT 850 Spider
FIAT 850 Spider   1965 1968
1965 1968

The Fiat 850 Spider was designed to be a sports car on a budget.The mid-60 convertible was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the one who designed some other great cars as the DeLorean DMC-12, Maserati Ghibli and other concept cars.

The car ran on a 843 cc engine which produced 49 hp and had a top speed of 145 km/h. The Spider had an all wheel independent suspension, an amazing feature for those times.For a clear difference between the Spider and the basic version, aside from the more performant engine, the interior was redesigned. The car received sport seats, a leather steering wheel and a round speedometer. The instrument panel was also completely rearranged.The basic version had drums brakes on all wheels, while the Spider replaced the front ones with disc brakes.
The Spider, along with the Coupe got a refresh in 1968 due to their success on the market. Bigger engines were added, 903 cc with 52hp, the top speed increasing to 150 km/h. The new cars were named Sport Spider and Sport Coupe.

The new versions had radial tires, improved brakes and an alternator to replace the regenerator.
Previous buyers say that the biggest problem of this car was rust. Many of them were recalled even before they were up for sale.

Full Description and Technical Specifications

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