Autocar UK – 24 April 2019

FCA HERITAGE INSIDE STORY

24 APRIL 2 019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 59

Officina 81 was built in 1963

as a transmission facility that

manufactured, turned and

milled semi-finished gears,

driveshafts and bushings. It

reached full capacity in 1968.

It pursued this activity for 30

years, until the workshops

were converted to spare

parts warehouses which were

subsequently shut in 2003.

It has since been restored,

featuring the same polished

concrete floor and the same

1960s red, mustard and

green colour scheme for

its glassy, steel pillar-

supported structure.

As well as the cars, the

display includes storyboards

about the building itself

and, vitally, a series of long

wooden tables around which

discussions can take place.

OFFICINA 81

2011 FIAT 500 ZAGATO

Lightly reworked by Zagato to feature the coachbuilders’ signature

double-bubble roof, this coupé version of the 500 appeared at the

2011 Geneva show, where it also showcased the more powerful 104bhp

version of the fizzy little Twinair engine.

1975 LANCIA STRATOS

A spectacular car in spectacular colours, the Ferrari

Dino V6-powered mid-engined Stratos won the World

Rally Championship in 1974, ’75 and ’76, driven by

Sandro Munari and Bjorn Waldegard. Probably the best-

looking rally car ever, and one of the most successful.

2003 LANCIA FULVIETTA

Th i s exce p t i o n a l l y p r ett y u p d ate of th e 1965 Fu l v i a

Coupé was intended to spearhead a renaissance of

Lancia. The meat of the range was to be the new Ypsilon

and Delta, as well as a badge-engineered Chrysler 300C

to replace the Kappa saloon. The relaunch was coming

here, too, but was abandoned late enough that UK Fiat

dealers had the banners and bunting at the ready.

1936 FIAT TOPOLINO

Fiat’s first 500 soon became known as the Topolino –

‘Little Mouse’ – and was one of the smallest cars you

could buy. Despite this, it was offered in convertible,

two-door saloon and van forms, and later as an estate.

During the 19 years it was made there were three

generations and 520,000 were built, contributing

significantly to the motorisation of Europe.

1972 FIAT^ X^1 /^23

This^ pitch-roofed^ two-seater^ was^ Fiat’s

exploratory^ city^ car^ for^ the^1970 s.^ Originally^ petro

l-engined, it

reappeared^ in^1976 with^ a^13.^5 bhp^ elect

ric motor. Its^ range^ was^ only^50 miles^ despite^ regen

erative braking^

and a top speed^ of^ only^45 mph.^ Primitive^ lead-acid^ b

atteries and^ an^820 kg^ weight^ were^ largely^ to^ blame

.

(^1999) FIAT ECOBA
SIC
The Roberto Giolito-desi
gned EcoBasic is now 20 y
ears old but (^) still looks like
tomorrow’s car. A^
n amazing (^88) % of its inter
nal volume was dedicated
passengers to^
and luggage, yet it had a C
d of only 0. (^28). Fiat built 10
prototypes.