Fiat Balilla

The name 'Balilla' is given to the car of the population. It must be seen related to the national and fascist movements in Italy at the time. The name was given in 1746 a young Genoese, who as leader successfully fought against the Austrian occupying forces.
1930 is also the time after the stock market crash, difficult for car manufacturers. Salable in great quantities are just small cars only, financed by (Fiat) per hire purchase. The challenge for the engineers is the most cost-effective production. Frequently also a new design succeed in such economic hard times, which in this case ranges from the Fiat 1100 to the Fiat 124 and further.
The Fiat Balilla is a rock-solid construction with little specifics. This is already visible in the position of the engine and the conventional underbody. But the body affords an extra that will be taken up again still now at Rolls Royce and Mazda RX 8, because it has at the four-doors (fig. 2) no B-pillar. This is probably due to the short wheelbase and the little space for access to the rear seats. Above in figure 2 you see a Balilla of the second series from 1934, that has additional a trunk rear which is accessible from inside.