1931 Fiat 522
In the Long version with two folding seats it was considered a seven-seater. It was also available as a Phaeton, also with up to seven seats. Both are also available in a shorter version. The chassis is reinforced by
a cross-shaped cross member.
There was also the 522 C, also with a shortened wheelbase, as a Cabriolet Royal with only two doors or as a Spider. On the four-door models except the Phaeton, the doors opened in opposite directions despite the
presence of a B-pillar.
At 23,000 lire, the Phaeton was surprisingly much cheaper than the closed short version of the same length (Berlina). The Coupé as Spider was even more expensive at 29,000 lire and as Royal at 30,000 lire.
The long versions, the Torpedo at 28,000 and the Spyder at 30,000 lire, were priced significantly higher than the short ones. The L version (pictured above) only started at 33,000 lire, the Coupé was at the same price and the
522L was a little cheaper as a Landaulet with a soft top only at the back.
| Because of the existing support frame, the open cars were cheaper than the closed ones. |
The two spare wheels indicated the enormous consumption of tires due to loss of air also still in 1931. Here they are attached to the rear, but on this car they also fit on the two running boards in front of the front doors.
No effort was spared with the engine. There were filters for air, gasoline and oil. The automatically adjustable ignition could be supplemented by a lever on the steering wheel. The fuel was pumped using a pump instead of
negative pressure.
The third gear, which was by no means a matter of course also synchronized in addition to the fourth, also promised comfort. The driver and passengers may also have benefited from the careful suspension of the leaf
springs using silent blocks.
In addition to the fourth gear, freewheeling was also possible. It was also not a given that the seats could be readjusted simply by moving them without getting out.
The 522 differed from its predecessor, the 521, in that it had a smoother steel body, of which it was unclear whether there were any load-bearing wooden parts at all. If you compare the result of the production with that from
Sindelfingen at that time, it was significantly more advanced.
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