Summary
kfz-tech.de/YFi171
Nine gentlemen from the upper class of Turin's society founded a car company on July 11, 1899. In contrast to other start-ups at that time, they evidently had a more than solid capital base.
The first car was built in the same year. It was probably not built by hand without any accompanying tools, but at least the nameplate was hand-engraved. Three examples still exist, two in the Museo dell' Automobile in Turin
and one in the Ford Museum in Dearborn.
The traditional face-to-face seating arrangement was only used for 20 examples. At least the vehicle was light enough to be pushed backwards by hand. In the next model, at least the engine was moved to the front.
The two-cylinder engine was retained, but as displacement and power increased, the radiator was completely redesigned. The car was then built in 1901 in the newly built large factory on Corso Dante in a total of 56 units.
The number of employees grew rapidly from around 500 in 1904 to 2,500 in 1906. The shape of the car also changed from a short wheelbase with a top open at the front and possibly emergency seats behind it to a basic
torpedo shape, if possible also with an auxiliary top and a long wheelbase.
According to Wikipedia, exports to France and England already began in 1903, playing a major role in the search for foreign currency for the Italian state and for Fiat from then on. Initially, little changed in the chassis, with the
two brakes acting practically only on the rear wheels.
But with the doubling of the two-cylinder engine and ever larger displacement, the performance and thus the expansion of the models increased. The development only ended with the 21.7 liters with the Mefistofele racing
version, still with four cylinders.
But Fiat's focus on the entry-level versions was always remarkable. The engine capacity initially shrank to 1.5 liters, particularly in times of need, such as after the First World War, but again with a rather lavish body.
Nevertheless, the vehicles always remained technically modern. For example, four-wheel brakes were introduced relatively early in the 1920s. There were even attempts to synchronize gears in the gearbox. There have long
been bodies with fixed roofs, e.g. as taxis.
Nevertheless, the vehicles always remained technically modern. For example, four-wheel brakes were introduced relatively early in the 1920s. There were even attempts to synchronize gears in the change speed gearbox.
There have long been bodies with fixed roofs, e.g. as taxis.
Fiat often acquired shares in other companies, often followed by takeovers. This also meant that regulations aimed at preventing the sale of too many foreign cars in other countries were sometimes circumvented.
Displacement and number of cylinders were spreaded to 12 cylinders and one liter. We know where that ended up, namely a 500 with four cylinders. Fiat had achieved pretty much everything, the speed record of 1924 as
well as the production record of more than 22,000 in 1932.
One person seemed to have been the driving force behind the events, well connected with the respective government and earning good money in wartime with weapons, ships and even airplanes. We are talking about
Giovanni Agnelli, whose inheritance first went to a loyal servant and then to his grandson.
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