Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 71

Thread: Fiat 850 Coupe

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Rozenburg, Holland
    Posts
    27,329

    Fiat 850 Coupe

    Fiat 850 Coupe

    One of the nicest small sportscars of the sixties was the Fiat 850 Coupe. It was introduced in 1965 on the basis of the bland looking 850 sedan, and the in-house designers of Fiat turned into something special. The OHV engine received some extra boost, with a very nice exhaust system, and horsepower was increased from 34 for the standard 850 to 47 for the Coupe at 6250 rev/min. Maximum speed officially was 135 kph, but good ones reached 145 at which speed the engine was running close to 6500 revs.

    At the same time the Bertone designed spider was also introduced, which even had a slightly more powerful engine, producing 49 Bhp, at even higher revs.

    In 1968 the Series 2 version appeared which had double headlights and a 52 BHP 903 cc engine at 6400 revs this time.

    Production stopped in 1971, and almost 343,000 cars were produced.

    It was my fathers' first car and it arrived at about the same time as my drivers license. When delivered the car was fitted with crossplies, and it took me about 12,000 km of “sharp” driving to wear them off completely. The XAS radials that replaced them transformed the car. One of the options was to buy a large rev counter in the right hand clock of the instrument panel. I made sure my father spent the 150 additional guilders to buy that.

    Shown here are two nice examples, one taken at Zolder in 2003, while the second car is no other than McReis’ immaculate example that has not fallen victim to the rust eaters, which are much rarer in Portugal than over here. I recently got it confirmed that my fathers’ car ceased to exist a long time ago.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    "I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Euroland
    Posts
    5,856
    McReis will go nuts

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Porto - Portugal
    Posts
    5,593
    Quote Originally Posted by henk4
    Shown here are two nice examples, one taken at Zolder in 2003, while the second car is no other than McReis’ immaculate example.

    Correction: on the first two photos is McReis car at Porto, and on the other two is the Zolden one. I'll post the rev counter tomorrow.
    And immaculate is not the word I'd use to describe it!

    Quote Originally Posted by McLareN
    McReis will go nuts
    Yes! Nuts of prowd!
    Last edited by McReis; 10-28-2005 at 02:44 AM.
    Money can't buy you friends, but you do get a better class of enemy.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    2,948
    Quote Originally Posted by McReis
    Correction: the first one is McReis car at Porto
    This is your car? N-i-c-e!!!
    I thought you drive Peugeot 205 or something?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Porto - Portugal
    Posts
    5,593
    Quote Originally Posted by smxi
    This is your car? N-i-c-e!!!
    I thought you drive Peugeot 205 or something?

    I have a Peugeot 206 2.0 HDI as my daily transport. The Fiat is stored for weekends, classic events and those mornings in wich you want to make a different trip to the office.
    Last edited by McReis; 03-01-2006 at 03:49 AM.
    Money can't buy you friends, but you do get a better class of enemy.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Eindhoven, The Netherlands
    Posts
    7,833
    I saw one for the first time this summer in a town in Austria called Mayrhofen.It was quite rusty and missed wheels, but it still had a certain appeal. My dad told me he had done his driving lessons in one... the lucky bastard... hese FIAT's are much nicer to learn driving in as a boring corolla 2.2d

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Porto - Portugal
    Posts
    5,593
    Quote Originally Posted by drakkie
    I saw one for the first time this summer in a town in Austria called Mayrhofen.It was quite rusty and missed wheels, but it still had a certain appeal. My dad told me he had done his driving lessons in one... the lucky bastard... hese FIAT's are much nicer to learn driving in as a boring corolla 2.2d
    Well, at least those were very stylish driving lessons!
    If on your lessons you learned out do deal with the awful turn-in, with the oversteer in the wet and with the heavy steering, you'd certainly be prepared for everything.
    Money can't buy you friends, but you do get a better class of enemy.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Rozenburg, Holland
    Posts
    27,329
    Quote Originally Posted by McReis
    Well, at least those were very stylish driving lessons!
    If on your lessons you learned out do deal with the awful turn-in, with the oversteer in the wet and with the heavy steering, you'd certainly be prepared for everything.
    after having done my lessons in a Fiat 124, the 850 was a treat in terms of light steering and willingness to turn in...
    "I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Porto - Portugal
    Posts
    5,593
    Quote Originally Posted by henk4
    after having done my lessons in a Fiat 124, the 850 was a treat in terms of light steering and willingness to turn in...

    I guess the crossplies should be great to lighten steering.
    When my father bought the car from the previous owner (an adorable lady who worked for my father and was like part of the family and one of the persons I miss most since cancer took her away) the car was still on the original crossplies! The car is from 1967 and we were in 1991!
    Last edited by McReis; 03-01-2006 at 03:50 AM.
    Money can't buy you friends, but you do get a better class of enemy.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Rozenburg, Holland
    Posts
    27,329
    Quote Originally Posted by McReis
    I guess the crossplies should be great to lighten steering.
    When my father bought the car from a the previous owner (an adorable lady who worked for my father and was like part of the family and one of the persons I miss most since cancer took her away) the car was still on the original crossplies! The car is from 1967 and we were in 1991!
    crossplies definitely were for the ladies....
    "I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Porto - Portugal
    Posts
    5,593
    Pride and joy!
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Money can't buy you friends, but you do get a better class of enemy.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Porto - Portugal
    Posts
    5,593
    I thought I should add a link to my egg-nog test..
    http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum...&postcount=108
    Money can't buy you friends, but you do get a better class of enemy.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Essex, UK
    Posts
    407
    Quote Originally Posted by McReis
    I guess the crossplies should be great to lighten steering.
    When my father bought the car from a the previous owner (an adorable lady who worked for my father and was like part of the family and one of the persons I miss most since cancer took her away) the car was still on the original crossplies! The car is from 1967 and we were in 1991!
    Eek! 25 year old rubber??

    Re: turn in - Fiat 500's don't turn in ... they bounce in! They're worse than a 124! The chassis and suspension shares more in common with a pony and trap than a car!! They have a great big leaf spring across the front of the car. Sturdy as hell but not exactly good for a smooth ride and good handling - especially when you factor in little wheels. Hang on to your falsies!!
    "Work is the curse of the drinking classes."
    Oscar Wilde

    Classic Motoring Blog -
    http://classicmotoring.blogspot.com/

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Porto - Portugal
    Posts
    5,593
    True love doesn't die easily so, although being a bit distracted since my new affair started with the acquisition of the hairdresser's dream in late January, I still feed my long time relation with the experienced Italian lady. I'm always trying to know her better, so I was very happy when I recently found this fantastic and very detailed article about the three 850 coupé generations in the fantastic June issue of Automobilismo d'Epoca.
    Lots of important details for those craving for originality. Great magazine.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Money can't buy you friends, but you do get a better class of enemy.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Porto - Portugal
    Posts
    5,593
    Automobilismo d'Epoca part II
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Money can't buy you friends, but you do get a better class of enemy.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Hide-Out Index
    By Sauc3 in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 59
    Last Post: 06-20-2008, 02:43 AM
  2. BMW Z4 Coupé Concept Car 2005
    By Colin17 in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 37
    Last Post: 02-09-2006, 03:54 AM
  3. HSV Coupe 4
    By Matt in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 25
    Last Post: 10-02-2005, 07:21 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •