Fiat 600
The Fiat 600 (or "Seicento") is a supermini produced by the Italian automaker Fiat from 1955 to 1969. It was only 3.22 m long and cost the equivalent of about € 6,700 or US$ 7300 (590,000 lira then). Over 2.6 million cars were produced at the Mirafiori plant. During the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, the car became very popular in countries such as Argentina, nicknamed Fitito.
Characteristics
Fiat 600s were fitted with generators with mechanical external regulators that provided braking through hydraulic drum brakes on all four wheels. The suspension setup included a unique single double-mounted leafspring as a stabilizer between the front wheels, coupled with gas-charged shocks, and an independent coil-over-shock connected to semi-trailing arms in the rear. All models had a 3-synchro (no synchro on 1st) 4-speed transaxles. Unlike the Volkswagen Beetle, the Fiat 600 came with a water-cooled engine and cabin heater. The top speed ranged from 95 km/h to 110 km/h, depending on the engine size. The 600s were also fitted with good ventilation and defrosting systems.
A soft-top version and six-seater variant called the Multipla were introduced in 1956, considered a precursor to modern multi-purpose vehicles. The Soviets created their own version, the Zaporozhets ZAZ-965, produced from 1960 to 1963. Spain also produced the SEAT 600 (known as the 600E) during the Franco era. In the former Yugoslavia, the 600 was produced as the Zastava 750 (Fico) from the early 1960s until 1981. The Fiat 850 is typically seen as an upgraded version of the 600, as it features a fully-synchronized transaxle, front disc brakes, and an alternator. However, parts between the two are not always interchangeable.
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