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1983 Fiat Uno
Inline-four-cylinder, 903/999/1.116 cm3, cylinder block, Cast iron, cylinder head, aluminum, engine control ohv, valves, 2 per cylinder, carburetor, torque, 67/76/87 Nm at 3000/2750/- rpm, 33/32/40-43
kW (45/44/55-58 HP), Rated speed 5.600/5000/- rpm, clutch, Single-disc, dry, four-/five-speed, later also CVT, front engine transversal, wheelbase 2.360 mm, steering, gear rack, McPherson suspension struts front,
twist-beam axle rear, brakes f/r, disks, drums, tyres, 145 SR 13, body, 2/4-doors, hatchback, length 3.640 mm, width 1.549 mm, height 1.430 mm, luggage compartment, approx. 280 liters, tank capacity, 40 liters,
kerb weight from 700-840 kg + driver, Car of the Year 1984, manufactured, 1981 - 1993, approx. 140/140/150/165 km/h , purchase price 920.000 Lire, electric system 12 V/ 34 Ah/ 45 A.
It would be unthinkable to write a book about Fiat after World War II without mentioning the Uno. The name says it all: anyone who wants to prove Fiat's supremacy in the compact car segment should do so with the Fiat
Uno.
You may notice that we avoid using the term 'small car', because that's not what the Uno actually was, at least when you consider the amount of space in the interior. One of the tricks was that it was slightly higher
than many of its competitors.
| Uno, because it only has one windshield wiper? |
Sitting high not only means a better view, but also that you need less legroom. In this respect, the model name 'Uno' was certainly justified. But there are many other reasons for naming the car differently than the previous
models with a number.
As people in Germany eagerly await the new ID.Polo, it is easy to forget that this not only involves creating a new car and platform, but also that VW is guaranteed to take advantage of the opportunity to make production
even more efficient.
And the Fiat Uno is a role model in this respect, one of the first cars whose body was assembled and welded almost exclusively by robots. Later, it also received an engine called the ‘Fully Integrated R
obotised Engine'.
The name says it all. So you have a choice when it comes to the engines later on. And yet one was still offered that had already been used in the Fiat 600 in the 1950s, only modernized. They always had an eye for people
with less money too.
Uno is justified again when you look at the design. A drag coefficient of 0.34 is quite something for the time and the space-efficient design, naturally originating from the grand master Giugiaro, improved to 0.30 in 1989.
Added to this is the emphasis on functionality.
And the name continues to be justified because the Uno, with 8.8 million units sold, has overshadowed everything that came before at Fiat. In addition to Italy, it is also manufactured in Yugoslavia (parts), Brazil, Argentina,
South Africa, Poland, and India.
There are lots of special shapes and corresponding names. One, namely the 'Mille' commonly used in South America, covers a large part of the others. It is available as a station wagon, with a notchback, and the Fiorino
panel van, which is also delivered to us.
The Uno also has disadvantages, as its successor, the Punto, made clear from 1993 onwards. Initially, it was prone to rust and not particularly well manufactured, offering little passive safety, especially from the side due
to the rather thin doors. But it was economical, especially as a diesel with a displacement of 1.3 and 1.7 liters.
The turbo version is definitely worth mentioning, as it is said that nowhere else could you get so much power for your money. The Golf GTI and Peugeot 205 GTI couldn't keep up, nor could the corresponding Renault 5
models. 77 kW (105 hp) from 1.3 liters at 0.6 bar boost pressure, L-Jetronik, unbeatable.
Of course, the second series from 1989 onwards pushed engine performance even higher. A 1.4-liter engine, a more powerful turbocharger (Garrett T2), and Bosch Motronic not only increased the power output to 87 kW
(118 hp), but also boosted the torque from 147 to 172 Nm. And all this with a weight of still only approx. 850 kg.
| A Fiat Uno, capable of speeds between 195 and 200 km/h, but unfortunately also prone to accidents.
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| Agnelli in a short interview . . . |
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