Latest news with #Fiat850
Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
UK's rarest cars: 1971 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe, one of only two left
In its heyday, the 850 Sport Coupe always managed to convey an air of good living – La Dolce Vita for those with Ferrari dreams but a Fiat income. Today, they are a more exclusive sight than many a hand-built Italian sports car, and Rory Donnelly's 1971 example is believed to be one of only two third-generation versions still on the road in the UK. Fiat launched the original 850 saloon in 1964, with the Coupe following at the 1965 Geneva Motor Show; Mario Boano and his son Gian Paolo, of the company's Centro Stile design department, created the fastback styling. The firm's renowned engineering director Dante Giacosa thought the Coupe 'one of the most beautiful ever built' by Fiat. The 850 Coupe proved so popular that shortly after its introduction, Fiat doubled output from 100 to 200 units per day. Motor Sport s aid it had 'real merit' and that 'girls go crazy over the appearance of this fastback from Turin'. In 1967, Road & Track magazine in the USA thought the 850 Coupe 'one of the handsomest, best-balanced designs ever seen on a small car'. That year, Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that the Duchess of Kent drove an 850 Coupe. This prompted an irate response from UK trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders: 'We always hope, and expect, that the Royal Family and English embassies abroad will use British cars. It is truly farcical that they should resort to foreign cars.' However, in 1967, Fiat sold 16,500 vehicles in this country, and 'Britain's lowest-priced 2+2 GT' could only enhance the Italian marque's appeal. In March of the following year, Fiat launched the 850 Sport Coupe with a 903cc engine in place of the earlier 843cc unit, quad headlights and slightly altered lines. It informed the British motoring public: 'There are three types of GT. The ones that are little more than an ordinary saloon car, nicely packaged. The ones that are hot but leave you cold aesthetically. And the ones that are real stoppers to look at – real goers when you get behind the wheel.' Naturally, the 850 Sport Coupe fell into the last-named category, with its highly appealing looks, 91mph top speed and air of having just emerged from a film starring Marcello Mastroianni. The fact that Enzo Ferrari used a Sport Coupe with a tuned engine for the commute from his home to his office at the factory in Maranello further highlighted its pedigree. By early 1969, the Sport Coupe cost £916, while the Sunbeam Stiletto (a fastback version of the Hillman Imp), its nearest UK-built rear-engined coupé rival, was priced at £910. For those who wanted front-wheel-drive (and a more practical back seat), the obvious choice was the Austin/Morris Mini Cooper Mk2 at £710, while the German-built NSU 1200TT was another rear-engined competitor at £857. That £916 list price was not especially cheap by 1969 standards when the far larger HB-series Vauxhall Viva 1600 SL four-door cost £910. For motorists who wanted a practical yet sporting saloon, the Mk1 Ford Escort GT was £851, while the MG 1300 Mk2 was £931. But what the Fiat had to offer the discerning buyer was the kudos of owning a 'foreign 2+2' – one with a rev counter from Italian specialist Veglia, 'reclining bucket seats' and a 'GT steering wheel'. The Sport Coupe received a further update with a new frontal treatment making its debut at the 1971 Geneva motor show. Production ended later that year after approximately 180,000 units with the introduction of the 128 Coupe. To say that corrosion drastically reduced the 850's ranks as the 1970s progressed is akin to observing that candy floss is known for its high sugar content. Donnelly's car is not only a rare example of a 'facelifted' Sport Coupe, but also one of the very few surviving UK-market right-hand-drive members of the Fiat 850 family. Fifty six years ago, Autocar opined: 'There is little or nothing which offers the blend of value, performance, economy, chic styling and reliability plus above all a sporting temperament.' Meanwhile, some Italian male chauvinist motorists referred to the 850 Sport Coupe as 'the secretary's Ferrari'. They were almost certainly jealous.
Scottish Sun
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Greatest car transformations of all time… from Aston Martin's glitzy DB4 revamp to Fiat's whole new look
SHAPE SHIFTERS Greatest car transformations of all time… from Aston Martin's glitzy DB4 revamp to Fiat's whole new look HUMANS aren't the only ones to go under the knife for a makeover. Plenty of motors have also undergone dramatic transformations. 11 The Fiat 850 was given a noticeable makeover Credit: Getty Cars can often change body, engine, and even badge to become unrecognisable from their previous selves. Below are five of some of the most breath-taking motor metamorphoses, featuring everything from Aston Martin supercars to the basic VW Beetle. Aston Martin DB4 → Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato 11 The DB4 became iconic for its role in the James Bond franchise Credit: Getty "No Mr Bond, I expect you to change you car's bodywork" doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it? This iconic four-wheeled star of the 007 film 'Goldfinger' first wowed onlookers at the London Motor show in 1958, and boasted a 240bph straight-six engine which could accelerate to 100mph and break to a standstill in less than half a minute. Even this classic underwent some changes, however, as it lost more than 85kg in a bodywork diet, got an engine upgrade, and even a body rework in 1960 by Italian coachbuilder, Zagato. The result was 19 hugely rare models of the DB4 GT Zagato, which are both eye-catching and eye-wateringly expensive - one sold for $9.52 million at an auction in the US in August 2021. 11 One of these GT Zagato models was sold for nearly $10 million Credit: Getty Citroën 2CV → Citroën Mehari 11 The 2CV was produced over five decades Credit: Getty Back to basics we go. First drawn up in the 1930s, sold in the 1940s and still being produced in the 1990s, the Citroën 2CV has one of the longest legacies in car history, and was a masterstroke of simple but effective design. Popular car dealership abruptly shuts after 'trade-in trick' uncovered – as drivers blast 'worst experience ever' Its body was bolted onto its chassis, which made conversions very easy, and resulted in a number of cousins being produced including the British-built Bijout - but none were quite as striking as the Mehari. But the Citroën Mehari was built for the optimistic buyer. It was mechanically identical to the 2CV, but had a plastic body and no roof, so while perfect for a reliable trip to the beach, it wasn't much use for a rainy day. 11 Citroën Meharis didn't come with a roof Credit: AFP Fiat 850 → Fiat 850 Coupe 11 The Fiat 850 had a functional look Credit: Getty Who doesn't love a glow-up? The Fiat 850 was first introduced in 1964 as a larger, more powerful version of the 600 which had been brought out nine years earlier. The technology in the 850 wasn't much of an upgrade, but the car was a relatively successful for small, mid-engine European cars, and it became recognisable for its soft, yet unremarkable look. This was a feature someone at Fiat clearly took issue with, as they redesigned the 850 and produced the much prettier coupe and spider models. The cute coupe was described by one car reviewer as 'one of the handsomest, best-balanced designs ever seen on a small car,' and it's rather hard to disagree. 11 The coupe version of the Fiat 850 was widely lauded as beautiful Credit: Getty Volkswagen Beetle → Volkswagen Karmann Ghia 11 The Beetle has quite the story behind it Credit: Getty The most produced car in history - first commissioned by arguably the worst person in history. The Beetle did indeed start life as a cheap, functional car for Germans under Nazi rule in the late 1930s, and was commissioned by Adolf Hitler. But it was resurrected by the British Army for the Allied forces occupying Germany at the end of the Second World War, and was then put into mass production with unrivalled popularity - and even underwent a rebrand as a cute, wholesome family motor. The Beetle was then given a sporty, Italian makeover by Ghia, and manufactured in Karmann, Germany, thus giving it the joined title Karmann Ghia. This stylish cousin of the Beetle debuted in 1955, and has since been regarded as one of the most beautiful cars in history. 11 The Karmann Ghia was hugely stylish Credit: Getty Mercedes-Benz SLK → Chrysler Crossfire 11 The original SLK was released in 1996 Credit: Getty Outfit change anyone? First produced in 1996, the Mercedes-Benz SLK was a successful sports offering from the German outfit, with various engine options including a fearsome 3.2 litre V6 AMG version producing 350bhp. The SLK had many incarnations before Mercedes changed its name in 2016 to the SLC, with one even having a different badge... Enter the Chrysler Crossfire, the product of a corporate merger between Mercedes and Chrysler, who became DaimlerChrysler and discontinued the original SLK model. Well, not quite. They gave it an American-style body and badge, and sold it as a Chrysler Crossfire. Sales of the model started well, but soon tanked, and the Crossfire was pulled in 2007, the same year its parent companies divorced.
The Irish Sun
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Greatest car transformations of all time… from Aston Martin's glitzy DB4 revamp to Fiat's whole new look
HUMANS aren't the only ones to go under the knife for a makeover. Plenty of motors have also undergone dramatic Advertisement 11 The Fiat 850 was given a noticeable makeover Credit: Getty Cars can often change body, Below are five of some of the most breath-taking motor metamorphoses, featuring everything from Aston Martin supercars to the basic VW Beetle. Aston Martin DB4 → Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato 11 The DB4 became iconic for its role in the James Bond franchise Credit: Getty "No Mr Bond, I expect you to change you car's bodywork" doesn't quite have the same This iconic Advertisement Read more Motors News Even this classic underwent some changes, however, as it lost more than 85kg in a bodywork diet, got an engine The result was 19 hugely rare models of the DB4 GT Zagato, which are both eye-catching and eye-wateringly expensive - one sold for $9.52 million at an 11 One of these GT Zagato models was sold for nearly $10 million Credit: Getty Citroën 2CV → Citroën Mehari 11 The 2CV was produced over five decades Credit: Getty Advertisement Back to basics we go. First drawn up in the Most read in Motors Latest Live Blog Popular car dealership abruptly shuts after 'trade-in trick' uncovered – as drivers blast 'worst experience ever' Its body was bolted onto its chassis, which made conversions very easy, and resulted in a number of cousins being produced including the British-built Bijout - but none were quite as striking as the Mehari. But the Citroën Mehari was built for the optimistic buyer. Advertisement It was mechanically identical to the 2CV, but had a 11 Citroën Meharis didn't come with a roof Credit: AFP Fiat 850 → Fiat 850 Coupe 11 The Fiat 850 had a functional look Credit: Getty Who doesn't love a Advertisement The The This was a feature someone at Fiat clearly took issue with, as they redesigned the 850 and produced the much prettier coupe and The cute coupe was described by one car reviewer as 'one of the handsomest, best-balanced designs ever seen on a Advertisement 11 The coupe version of the Fiat 850 was widely lauded as beautiful Credit: Getty Volkswagen Beetle → Volkswagen Karmann Ghia 11 The Beetle has quite the story behind it Credit: Getty The most produced car in history - first commissioned by arguably the worst person in history. The Beetle did indeed start life as a cheap, functional car for Germans under Advertisement But it was resurrected by the The Beetle was then given a sporty, Italian makeover by This stylish cousin of the Beetle debuted in 1955, and has since been regarded as one of the most 11 The Karmann Ghia was hugely stylish Credit: Getty Advertisement Mercedes-Benz SLK → Chrysler Crossfire 11 The original SLK was released in 1996 Credit: Getty First produced in 1996, the The SLK had many incarnations before Mercedes changed its name in 2016 to the SLC, with one even having a different badge... Advertisement Enter the Chrysler Crossfire, the product of a corporate merger between Mercedes and Chrysler, who became DaimlerChrysler and discontinued the original SLK model. Well, not quite. They gave it an American-style body and badge, and sold it as a Chrysler Crossfire. Sales of the model started well, but soon tanked, and the Crossfire was pulled in 2007, the same year its parent companies divorced. 11 The Chrysler Crossfire had an American badge but was manufactured in Germany Credit: Getty Advertisement
The Sun
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Greatest car transformations of all time… from Aston Martin's glitzy DB4 revamp to Fiat's whole new look
HUMANS aren't the only ones to go under the knife for a makeover. Plenty of motors have also undergone dramatic transformations. Cars can often change body, engine, and even badge to become unrecognisable from their previous selves. Below are five of some of the most breath-taking motor metamorphoses, featuring everything from Aston Martin supercars to the basic VW Beetle. Aston Martin DB4 → Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato "No Mr Bond, I expect you to change you car's bodywork" doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it? This iconic four-wheeled star of the 007 film ' Goldfinger ' first wowed onlookers at the London Motor show in 1958, and boasted a 240bph straight-six engine which could accelerate to 100mph and break to a standstill in less than half a minute. Even this classic underwent some changes, however, as it lost more than 85kg in a bodywork diet, got an engine upgrade, and even a body rework in 1960 by Italian coachbuilder, Zagato. The result was 19 hugely rare models of the DB4 GT Zagato, which are both eye-catching and eye-wateringly expensive - one sold for $9.52 million at an auction in the US in August 2021. Citroën 2CV → Citroën Mehari Back to basics we go. First drawn up in the 1930s, sold in the 1940s and still being produced in the 1990s, the Citroën 2CV has one of the longest legacies in car history, and was a masterstroke of simple but effective design. Popular car dealership abruptly shuts after 'trade-in trick' uncovered – as drivers blast 'worst experience ever' Its body was bolted onto its chassis, which made conversions very easy, and resulted in a number of cousins being produced including the British-built Bijout - but none were quite as striking as the Mehari. But the Citroën Mehari was built for the optimistic buyer. It was mechanically identical to the 2CV, but had a plastic body and no roof, so while perfect for a reliable trip to the beach, it wasn't much use for a rainy day. Fiat 850 → Fiat 850 Coupe Who doesn't love a glow-up? The Fiat 850 was first introduced in 1964 as a larger, more powerful version of the 600 which had been brought out nine years earlier. The technology in the 850 wasn't much of an upgrade, but the car was a relatively successful for small, mid-engine European cars, and it became recognisable for its soft, yet unremarkable look. This was a feature someone at Fiat clearly took issue with, as they redesigned the 850 and produced the much prettier coupe and spider models. The cute coupe was described by one car reviewer as 'one of the handsomest, best-balanced designs ever seen on a small car,' and it's rather hard to disagree. Volkswagen Beetle → Volkswagen Karmann Ghia The most produced car in history - first commissioned by arguably the worst person in history. The Beetle did indeed start life as a cheap, functional car for Germans under Nazi rule in the late 1930s, and was commissioned by Adolf Hitler. But it was resurrected by the British Army for the Allied forces occupying Germany at the end of the Second World War, and was then put into mass production with unrivalled popularity - and even underwent a rebrand as a cute, wholesome family motor. The Beetle was then given a sporty, Italian makeover by Ghia, and manufactured in Karmann, Germany, thus giving it the joined title Karmann Ghia. This stylish cousin of the Beetle debuted in 1955, and has since been regarded as one of the most beautiful cars in history. Mercedes-Benz SLK → Chrysler Crossfire Outfit change anyone? First produced in 1996, the Mercedes-Benz SLK was a successful sports offering from the German outfit, with various engine options including a fearsome 3.2 litre V6 AMG version producing 350bhp. The SLK had many incarnations before Mercedes changed its name in 2016 to the SLC, with one even having a different badge... Enter the Chrysler Crossfire, the product of a corporate merger between Mercedes and Chrysler, who became DaimlerChrysler and discontinued the original SLK model. Well, not quite. They gave it an American-style body and badge, and sold it as a Chrysler Crossfire. Sales of the model started well, but soon tanked, and the Crossfire was pulled in 2007, the same year its parent companies divorced.
