Fiat honours 125 years of creation in classical fashion
The Fiat story began on July 11, 1899, with the brains behind the operation, Giovanni Agnelli. Agnelli envisioned Italian motoring at the start of global automotive manufacturing, and with a small team of only 35 staff members and an annual output of 24 vehicles, the Fiat brand emerged in 1900. He was known for his creativity, and his staff reflected engineering talent and out-of-the-box thinking, opening a new world of manufacturing opportunities.
Their first vehicle was the 3 ½ CV, which was based on the Ceirano GB and C, and by 1903, the brand’s production had increased from 24 to 135 units. By 1906, Fiat had upscaled production to 1,149 vehicles and began selling shares to the public on the Milan Stock Exchange. It was around this time that Fiat invested a stake in aircraft engine manufacturing, which further boosted the brand’s reach.
125 years is a big milestone for any brand, and with its rich Italian history, Fiat has become a beloved brand across the globe. To celebrate the occasion, it has created the La Pista 500 in the brand’s hometown of Turin. This exhibition displayed iconic vehicles from the brand throughout its lifespan, along with various other historic Italian cars from Abarth and Alfa Romeo. Through its “Smiling to the Future” event, Fiat reminded its supporters that its ball is still rolling while also honouring the bridges crossed in the past.
In addition to showcasing the best from the brand, Fiat unveiled a special edition 500e named the Giorgio Armani and shone a spotlight on the new Grande Panda. Fiat claims that what sets its products apart is its understanding of cars, which provides its customers with a unique approach to motoring.
To ensure the event was orchestrated exceptionally well, the show vehicles were grouped into city cars, compact cars, family cars, and light commercial vehicles. For the avid Fiat fans out there, some of the exquisite vehicles on display include:
1932, 508 Balilla 3 Marce
1936, 500 A Furgone
1950, 500C Topolino
1954, 8V
1955, 600
1959, Nuova 500
1965, 850 T Autocarro
1966, 600D Multipla
1969, 238 Ambulanza
1970, 124 Sport Spider 1600
1972, 124 Familiare
1980, 126
1980, Panda 30
1992, Cinquecento ED
1992, Uno 1.1 S i.e.
1994, Punto 55 6 Speed
1998, Multipla 1.6 ELX
Once we understand the rich heritage of Fiat as a brand, seeing its years of success and engineering marvels in one place is a parade worth celebrating, and as much as Fiat is becoming more electrified in its modern environment, it’s a brand that mobilised millions around the world and played a role in the creation of motoring as we know it today.
