CC5Cinema: Return of the Spiders!

Benvenuti amici!

The title of this blog entry tells you everything you need to know about the content therein. We follow-up our short history of the legendary X1/9 with an abbreviated look at the evolution of the FIAT Spider… specifically, the infamous 1966 124 Sport Spider.

Drawing from his [Pininfarina] designs of the  Corvette Rondine & Ferrari 275 GTS, Tom Tjaarda helped FIAT birth a never-to-be-repeated ultimate sunny day driver. Correction. The inventor of the city car recently revealed their plan to deliver a new 124 Spider for 2017 (from a former Pininfarina designer). So, it is due time we revisit what was hinted about here and in our X Marks the Spot entry.

The idea of the original 124 [Sport] Spider took firmly planted root long ago. Like the original 500, she branches from the 508/508C Balilla family tree.

FIAT 508 Balilla Sport

FIAT 508S Bailla Spider

The idea of sporty, or as is truly the case sporting, versions of successful production models is as old as automobile history. The 508 Balilla, itself, earned that very honor. Spider variations of these sport cars had the distinction of competing in Grand Touring. Manufacturers would match their power engineering and body design for homeland and continental supremacy. This is still practiced, today, in closed and open-wheeled endurance Motorsport (following the path paved by FIAT's purpose-built 24hp Corsa). But there was also a burgeoning production niche for these open-aired variants.

FIAT 1100 TV Transformabile

FIAT 1200 Spider

Like many other automakers, FIAT seized the opportunity to capitalize on the increasingly expensive to manufacture sporting coaches. (We owe the very existence of street legal Ferraris to the high cost of racing.) Sport, Sport Spider and… eventually… GIANNINI or ABARTH versions were quickly added to the range or "family" of the most important models. With transformabile, cabrio or spider (Also; spyder and roadster outside of Italy) variants of the 1100 and 1200, the groundwork was laid for the cross-continetal pleasing 124.

The FIAT 124 made good use of the DNA developed in its predecessors and the size-to-power ratio challenge sorted by its older cousins, the iconic 600 and 500. Putting to work all that had been discovered, under the leadership of don Dante Giacosa, countless engineers toiled and finally created a fine 4-door family sedan that worked well in the city and was ripe for range building.

FIAT 124 Sport Famiglia

The 124 family of runabouts was a crucial variable in the success equation of FIAT in the mid-to-late '60s and '70s... complete with the sedan, coupè, wagon and sport models. As the automaker did with so many sales hits before it, the [Oscar Montabone] simple and affordable city sedan was handed to "amici di famiglia" for a fresh look and a quick spin. This time, the task was entrusted to the House of Farina. Of course, the Pininfarina-penned open cockpit version -- of the in-house designed Sport -- was nothing short of elegance on wheels. This further cemented FIAT S.p.A. as the premier producer of the working stiff's sport car… in/outside of Italy.

The coach builder reports 80% of all 124 Sport Spiders ever built were sold in North America, specifically the US of A. So, when rumors of a second coming began circulation the internet was alight with artist renderings and other speculative fodder. I, myself, have seen/read/heard more musings than I can recall in this entry. Rather than add to what you can already find elsewhere, I choose to offer a bit of the past that got us to where we are today. I also offer you comparative photos of vintage 124s and their contemporary counterparts.

As I leave you to your critiquing, I encourage an attention to the details… bonnets, grilles, head/tail lights and forward/rear "overhang". Look to the stance and attitude of what has been built upon the Mazda chassis. Determine, for yourself, whether the modern 124 Spider has retained the soul the Sports and Sport Spiders that came and went before it without aping what their designers delivered to showroom floors. More importantly, post-research and/or investigation, I beseech you to answer two questions.

Does the spirit of the 124 Sport Spider and FIAT Dino Spider burn in the heart of these images? Is there something worth celebrating in this new halo car?

Lines & Curves Do Not Lie

                     

Whether or not FIAT hit the mark with the coming of the ABARTH 500-powered 124 Sport Spider remains to be seen (next summer). Now, for the sake of this fan of hardtops & targas, bring on an Alfa Romeo-powered 124 ABARTH Rally variation. Can you hear all iterations of these wonderful runabouts roaring through backroads, streets and highways now? Heed their call...

Vivere.Amare.Guidare.

Ciao!

@

X Marks the Spot

Benvenuti amici!

I always felt the desire to write about the most important Italian runabouts, but I fully admit to having limited knowledge on so many of them. This may have something to do with my obsession with the various iterations of the 500. To be certain, I could probably spend years focusing solely on the 'cento. But doing so would exclude way too many historical FIAT benchmarks.

The poor man's Ferrari. The first true working man's sports car. One of the top 10 styled cars for the '80s. The X1/9 has been dubbed many things since its 1972 debut and they all fit the special model. But how did the city car queen come into existence? Well, the short answer is "probably not how you imagine". This blog entry is the slightly longer answer.

As is the case with the majority of great FIAT runabouts, the successful introduction of the first true People's Car, the 500, owns the space that is the genesis of what would become the X1/9. While a quick glance at the original Cinquecento may not clearly illustrate this fact, a little bit of digging through the annals of Italian Motorsport history will. The Cisitalia D45 and the corso version of the the 'Topolino' exhibit don Dante Giacosa's desire to make small things go fast while appeasing his employer's desire to make cars of any speed affordable to the broadest demographic.

FIAT 500 'Topolino'

Unfortunately, or fortunately -- depending on one's perspective, most of il Maestro's creative hours would continue to be monopolized with the mandate to bring to market a car every Italian could afford. Sr. Giacosa did just that in 1955, with the FIAT 600. While it is true its predecessor, the Little Mouse, became more affordable with every generation/update, the Seicento hit the market at a lira-saving price.

In addition, the model has the distinction of being the first rear-engined FIAT. In fact, the 'Fitito' a/k/a 'Fičko' was packed with many innovations and distinguishing features when it forever changed the course of engineering/designing small automobiles. Perhaps the greatest of these notables is the fact it is the clear design inspiration of the 1957 Nuova 500. But spending too much time on that model would mean taking an early exit from the road trip to the X1/9. So, let's keep cruising.

FIAT 600

The direct successor to the mega popular 600 would need to build upon its technical advancements. Knowing this all too well, don Dante continued the internal technical name of the Seicento, 100 A-F, with the 850 (internal name of 100 G). The 850 proved so popular it was available in several versions/trims; a sedan, a sport coupè, a van and… most important to the telling of the story at hand… a sport spider. 

The 850 Sport Spider, among the other models hanging from the X1/9 family tree, bears some resemblance to the subject of this entry. The primary reason for the shared styling is the House of Bertone.

There is a long held tradition, at FIAT, of handing off their most successful offerings to "amici di famiglia" for a good shot of fresh ideas. Bertone, among others, played a key role in providing don Giacosa with the fuel he needed to push his engineering (and the future of Italian motoring) further. Perhaps there is an unspoken knowledge of this fact, among FIATisti, and that helps explains why we hold Gruppo Bertone is such high regard.

A little more on that later.

FIAT 850 Sport (Spider)

The next two turns on the road from 500 to X may not look and/or feel logical to most, but they are crucial steps in arriving at our destination. Although not apparent with a first or second or third glance, the FIAT 128 holds a very special place in the evolution of Italian automotive engineering. Much in the same way the 600 had done, 14 years earlier, the 1969 128 marked a break from Turinese mechanical thinking of the time. As the first front-engined and front wheel drive FIAT, one could comfortably crown it as the first modern FIAT model. Major improvements to/advancements on the power layout introduced by Sir Alec Issigonis were tested & proven with don Dante's 1964 Autobianchi Primula and continued with the 1969 Bertone-designed Autobianchi A112.

FIAT 128

The A112 is, perhaps, the most popular Autobianchi among fans of spirited driving. The love child of two FIATs, the 850 Sport Spider and the 2-dr/3-dr hatch version of the 128, the A112 stands on the shoulders of automotive giants.

Although he admired the space saving layout Sir Issigonis introduced, Mister Giacosa did not care for the engine and transmission utilizing the same lubrication source… and space. He felt it cumbersome and this is evidenced by necessary engine removal, in some generations, to replace the clutch with Sir Issigonis' design. Likewise, don Dante had trouble accepting the lack of fresh airflow inherent in the original engineering of Sir Alec. A problem solver, in the truest sense of the word, the father of the city car put his mind and hands to work at FIAT-held Autobianchi.

The automotive world (and market) was changing and automakers either ushered said change or followed in the footsteps of those that did. If you frequent this page, you know the oldest mass producer of 4-wheeled goodness most often fills the role of usher. Autobianchi, for nearly 40 years, is where the Italian powerhouse tested many of it's most ambitious ideas. As successor to breakthroughs like the Primula and A111, the Autobianchi A112 enjoyed a full five years of tweaks and improvements to the ideas introduced in its predecessors. With the 128, the Primula and A112, FIAT and Bertone would discover just how adaptable the new Giacosa ideas could be and herald the next generation of Italian runabouts.

Oh, look, it's a segue!

Autobianchi A112

We finally arrive at a more obvious predecessor to the X1/9. The 1969 Autobianchi Runabout concept, like the A112 and Primula, utilized the engine of  the FIAT 128. Although, due in large part to the Autobianchi-Lancia merge, it never made it beyond the conceptual phase, the Runabout would see the light of day again… as a FIAT. One doesn't need to look too hard to recognize the production model it would become. And one doesn't need to think too hard to understand why don Dante Giacosa (FIAT) & don Marcello Gandini (Bertone) made sure this design dream rolled onto showroom floors. 

Autobianchi Runabout

The numerous race track & sport coupè variations of especially popular FIATs prove Sr. Dante Giacosa was always keen to engineer/design an economical, standalone production sports car. In many ways, the X1/9 (the destination of this blog entry trip) is arguably the first purpose-built FIAT track car since the 1902 24hp Corsa. Unfortunately, with his stepping down from full-time employment in 1970, he was no longer the head of FIAT's engineering division at the arrival of the 1972 X1/9. Fortunately, he continued to serve as a consulting engineer and the concept-become-reality utilized the power unit developed in his Primula, A111, A112, 128 and 127. The FIAT X1/9, itself, began life as ideas for a FIAT 128 sport coupè and/or spider.

FIAT life

The X1/9, like no other model before it, exhibited the "adapt and overcome" nature of Giacosa's transversely-mounted engine side-by-side the transmission & suspension when FIAT-Bertone chose a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive setup for the mini sports car. This choice further led to the decision to move the spare tire and fuel tank ahead of the engine… maximizing the already great weight distribution and handling of the X1/9. Perhaps all these characteristics, coupled with the aerodynamic and singular (among FIAT runabouts) design and nomenclature, secured the legendary status of the model… and explain why it was not released as the sportiest member of the 128 famiglia.

The X1/9 enjoyed strong enough US sales to warrant three generations outside of Europe. In fact, the sales led to Bertone taking over production and sales after FIAT left the North American market in 1982. Sales fueled the Bertone production years until 1987, in the US, and 1989, in the homeland. The radical nature of the engineering/design that birthed the economical sport-about most easily answers the "why" regarding its popularity among FIATisti, ABARTHisti and non-FIAT petrol heads alike. So deep was the impact of the 'X' the Italian targa-topped two-seater eventually found itself an obvious engineering & design influence in the USA (See; 1984 Pontiac Fiero) as well as Japan (See; 1992 CR-X Honda del Sol).

FIAT style

This all seems to be the FIAT way; Dream it, draw it, build it and they will come. No other automaker takes manufacturing small-to-mid-sized city cars quite so seriously and no other automaker has more surely shaped the look of backroads, streets and highways around the world. Well, X1/9 fans, I trust I did your favorite model justice while providing all FIATisti with another reason Cream City 500 Club is the all-inclusive Wisconsin life experience arm of FIAT Club America. With the re-introduction of the 124 just around the corner, the second coming of two seat wallet-friendly Italian fun is once again drawing nigh. Let the celebration commence… or, for restorers, continue...

Vivere.Amare.Guidare.

Ciao!

@

Countdown to 500!

Benvenuti amici!

We recently overtook the 400 'Like' mark on our Facebook page, and we featured a great vintage photo of a 508C on said web community. So, we thought now would the perfect time to write an entry about don Dante Giacosa's creative race to the FIAT 500 Topolino checkered flag.

Most Italian car enthusiasts know and celebrate the 1957 FIAT Nuova 500. And there is a lot to celebrate in its introduction to the automobile market. The '57 Cinquino is small, cute, simple, elegant, affordable and the inspiration behind the design of the widely successful 2007-to-present FIAT 500 family range.

Although the 500 (Cinquecento) may seem like a no-brainer overnight success, it is/was anything but that. The idea of a small, attractive family car can be traced back to the earliest of FIAT S.p.A. mandates, but the first true step to making the idea… the dream… a reality must be credited to the 508 'Balilla'. 

Before we continue with this automotive tale it's important to address another. That is the use of the nickname 'Balilla' and its perceived origin.

Balilla may be recognized, by some (especially anti-facists), as the name of a folk hero mentioned in the Italian national anthem. As is the case with many fascist leaders, Mussolini co-opted everything that made Italians feel proud and branded them with the mark of his philosophy. This has left an ugly stain on quite a few marvelous inventions. The national anthem was originally written in 1746, as a protest song against Austrian occupation. It is a sad twist of irony it, too, fell prey to the blood-soaked tyranny of Mussolini.

In any case, many Italian industrialists began using the nickname of the boy (Giambattista Perasso) who threw stones at Austrian oppressors for their own inventions. In the case of Fessia, Giacosa, Nebbia, Tranquillo and Zerbi, they used the name for the 1932 508. The Balilla was ambitious, but it fell short of the affordability goal. Yes, it was modestly priced… for someone already able to afford an automobile. But that important distinction meant the 508 was earmarked for an early replacement. Enter the 1936 500 'Topolino' and the 1937 508C a/k/a the 1100 'Balilla'.

The design of the 508C/1100 may look glaringly familiar to fan of the "Little Mouse" and there is good reason for that. Both models were designed/engineered by none other than don Dante, but the Balilla is clearly larger and has more doors & windows than the Topolino. The most important similarity, between the two small family cars, is the price point. Mister Giacosa continued to find ways to cut costs, paving the way to the ultimate city car.

One would think, with the introduction of the 1936 "People's Car", this countdown to 500 is complete. One would be incorrect. FIAT followed up the '36 500 with the not as famous, but equally praiseworthy, 600 (Seicento). FIAT, and Dante Giacosa, took quite the leap forward in the 1950s. With Mussolini gone, and fascism out of control, designers and engineers could get back to their art form of choice. In the case of those working for FIAT S.p.A., the goal of making the roads inside and outside of Italy as accessible to the have nots as it was to the haves became more important than ever.

The 1955 Seicento was an absolute blast of fresh air. In many ways, it played the role of herald to the the modern day automaker. After decades of close-but-not-quite-there attempts at delivering a model that could put every Italian behind the wheel of a car, Sr. Dante finally came through… and in a major way. The FIAT 600 is the direct descendent of the original FIAT 500.

By the time of the arrival of the 600, the engineering of automobiles, In Europe, was in the midst of a shift. The small car standard, established in large part by FIAT, was firmly in place and engineers were faced with finding new ways to create ample space for traveling holidays. In the case of what was codenamed Progetto 100 (Project 100), the goal was to; fit four adults, luggage while weighing in at approximately 1000 lbs and capable of at least 52 mph top speed. When one considers the corresponding numbers of the preceding model it's plain to see Mr. Giacosa had his work cut out for him. But he delivered. He placed the engine at the rear of the car, an established engineering idea, and included several innovative features… not found in other small cars of the era.

The 600 includes; a water-cooled engine, hydraulic drum brakes, single double-mounted leaf spring suspension, gas-charged & coil-over shock absorbers, 4-speed 3-synchro transmission and… wait for it... a cabin heater. Oh, don Dante also over-delivered in the speed department. His new runabout was capable of 68 mph top speed (even more, with the ABARTH version)! Along with the Scorpion stung version, the Seicento was available in a cabrio and the 6-seater minivan version called the Multipla. As a complete family range, the 600 was the stylish ticket to ride for a nation… and, later, a continent (and beyond).

So, this begs the question, how do we get back to 500?

Well, simply put, rolling average people on the road forever changed the world. With husbands working beyond the confines of one village or another, wives found the need to get around… faster... to hold down the fort. The new responsibilities required a new skill set and tools. They needed help and FIAT, once again, rose to the occasion. A second 600 for one household would be excessive, in regards to load capacity, and cost way too much money. The true need was something smaller and costing less than the Fitito/Fičko but bigger than and costing close to the price of an open air Vespa. Briefed on his mission, the General [Giacosa] went to work.

Already having delivered (in one sense) with the Seicento, don Dante gave himself the time and laid the styling and spacial foundation he needed to engineer a vehicle large enough to carry a growing Italian family with picnic gear and/or groceries but small enough to drive through pre-automobile roads and  park on cramped streets. After several proposals, each edging closer to the full intent of the 1932 attempt at the perfect small city car, the master engineer and maestro of design arrived at a viable offering. 

The automaker revived the 500 name in 1957, with a new 479cc-499cc rear engined addition to their range. This car lived up to its name in every conceivable way. Although not an instant hit, as was her bigger and slightly older sister, the Cinquino would eventually become the iconic symbol for La Dolce Vita. While many of the models that paved the path for her 9 foot (2.97m) footprint are oft times forgotten, the little mouse that could is celebrated in virtually every medium. The Ballila, the Fitito and the Cinquino were each spun-off to define different automobile segments -- that still exist today. FIAT continued to grow in marketshare, with models that perfectly fit into the morphing lifestyles of Italy's inhabitants.

Flash-forward to the '90s when FIAT would, once again, revive the 500 and 600 names… this time replacing the numerical with Cinquecento and Seicento. These models set the stage for the triumphant Nuova 500 reintroduction, in 2007. The latest iteration of the ultimate runabout, now a full range of city cars, is a testament to the timeless of original and groundbreaking design.

The engine has returned to the front of the vehicle, where it was in the original 1936, and the styling of the 1955 and 1957 solutions have been re-imagined for the modern age. The design/engineering language is a continually evolving one. But sometimes, as is the case with what Sr. Dante Giacosa wrought, it is so far ahead of its time that decades pass before we truly understand and make the best use of its intended purpose. Sr. Roberto Giolito carries that torch and has proven, to this FIATista, he understands the heart of the task at hand.

Onward and upward!

Vivere.Amare.Guidare.

Ciao!

@