1932 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. 1) no B-pillar. This is probably due to the short
wheelbase and the little space for access to the rear seats.
An advanced car, for the time, with adjustable padded seats with folding backrests front and fully retractable windows by cranks. The windshield is foldable. A Balilla of the second series as of 1934 has
additionally rear a trunk accessible from inside.
| Extras with surcharge |
| Improved fabric covering inside |
| Chromed bumpers |
| Ornaments on door and window panes |
| Chromed headlamps |
| Running boards with chromed edge |
| Precious wood with trim strips |
| Curtains laterally rear |
| Rear stop lamp |
| Time clock, ashtray |
| Safety glass, also laterally |
| Parking lamps on fenders |
| Rear suitcase |
| Second spare tyre |
| Leather upholstery |
| Spoke wheels |
Fiat itself has a restructuring behind at the time. It is now processed steel instead of wood in the body, the will welded to a car. More than 250 cars run of the assembly line in the factory Lingotto daily, more
than 100,000 in the six years of production
It will already electrically welded and the standardization of parts has found its way, by no means self-evident in vehicle manufacture that time. Hydraulic brakes and vibration dampers as well as a 12V
installation make it something special.
In connection with the Fiat Balilla, the licensed companies are mentioned for the first time, manufacturers which we will discuss individually: NSU-Fiat, Polski-Fiat and Walter (Czechoslovakia).
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