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Fiat 1200/1500/1600
Cabriolet and Coupé
Fiat 1200/1500/1600; Cabriolet and Coupé
Overview
Manufacturer	Fiat; Pinin Farina;
Production	1959–1966
Designer	Pinin Farina
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car
Body style	2-door convertible; 2-door coupé
Layout	FR layout
Related	Fiat 1200; Fiat 1300 and 1500;
Powertrain
Transmission	4-speed manual (1959-1965); 5-speed manual (1965-1966);
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,340 mm (92.1 in)
Length	4,030–4,060 mm (158.7–159.8 in)
Width	1,520 mm (59.8 in)
Height	1,300 mm (51.2 in)
Kerb weight	905–1,050 kg (1,995–2,315 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Fiat 1200 Spider/Trasformabile
Successor	Fiat 124 Sport Spider

The Fiat Pininfarina Cabriolet (tipo 118G) was a two-door, two passenger, front engine rear drive convertible manufactured by Pinin Farina,^[1] and marketed by Fiat across two generations (1959-1963, 1963-1966), superseding the Fiat 1200 Spider.

By the end of manufacture in 1966, total production had reached 34,211 with sporting versions (1500 S/1600 S), equipped with OSCA built twin cam engines, reaching a production of 3089.^[2] The Cabriolet was superseded by the Fiat 124 Sport Spider, introduced in 1966.

First generation

1200 Cabriolet

Pininfarina had shown a similar, OSCA-powered convertible called the Fiat-OSCA 1500 GT at the 1958 Turin Motor Show.^[3] Production models received the same 1221 cc OHV engine as the earlier 1200 TV Trasformabile/Spider, albeit somewhat more powerful, with 59 CV (43 kW). The two-seat 1200 Cabriolet also retained the chassis of the 1200 TV Trasformabile. Front suspension is independent with coil and wishbone, combined with a live, leaf sprung rear axle.^[2] The first units built of the 1200 Cabriolet came without separate wind deflector windows in the doors and without side indicators in the front fenders, but those details were added after a few months of production.^[4]

1500 S/1600 S

The 1200 was not fast enough to be considered a sports car, so Fiat decided to take a short cut to this market by using OSCA's existing twin cam engine design.^[5] Chief engineer Dante Giacosa got in contact with OSCA in a July 1957 meeting with Ernesto Maserati.^[1] The Maserati brothers could not raise the funds to start series production for their engine, which they wanted to sell to racing teams, and therefore asked Fiat for help.^[6] The Tipo 118 engine was a close relative of the 1500 tipo nuovo (TN) unit fitted to the OSCA MT4 racing car (as well as the later road-going OSCA 1600 GT2 and SP). Fiat adapted the design of the engine to its needs - now with a cast-iron rather than the original aluminium block - and took over production at its Mirafiori factory.^[1] OSCA bought engines built by Fiat for their own purposes, and fettled those units further.^[5] In November 1959 the 1500 Cabriolet appeared with this 1491 cc engine, fitted with twin Weber carburetors and developing 80 CV (59 kW). The new model was called the Fiat 1500 Cabriolet (tipo 118S) and received a wider (non-functional) air scoop on the bonnet, a tachometer, as well as the larger drum brakes from the larger 1800/2100 saloons, and 15-inch wheels. In July 1960 the name was changed to "Fiat 1500 S Cabriolet," and it now had disc brakes front and rear. About 1000 of the OSCA-engined 1500/1500 S models were built.^[7]

In mid-1962 this engine was replaced with one bored out by 2 mm to 1568 cc. The twin-cam four of the 1600 S (tipo 118SA) had 90 CV (66 kW) (100 hp SAE). These cars received a distinctive, asymmetric air intake until 1963 when the 1600 S was facelifted while the 1200 was replaced by the pushrod-engined 1500 Cabriolet.

In 1960 Pininfarina presented a coupé version of the 1500 Cabriolet. This model, built in small numbers and sold by Pininfarina themselves, received a smaller windscreen as well as a shortened bootlid to accommodate the larger rear window. The grille was in one piece, as in the cabriolet prototype and contrary to the split grille of the production Fiat. The coupé remained a strict two-seater and continued to be built with the 1600 engine after the range was facelifted in 1963. Fiat also offered a removable hardtop for the Cabriolets.

Abarth 1600 Spider

Abarth built a very small series of roadsters, fitted with the OSCA twin-cam engine and Michelotti-designed, Allemano-built bodywork similar to that used for the company's larger 2200 Spider. Presented at the 1959 Turin Show, sources estimate no more than three examples were built.^[8]

1962 Fiat 1200 Cabriolet (rear)
Fiat 1500 S Coupé, with the O.S.C.A. twin cam engine (tipo 118S)
1963 Fiat 1600 S Cabriolet (tipo 118SA)
Fiat 1200 Cabriolet interior
Allemano-bodied Abarth 1600 Spider

Second generation

In 1961 the 1200 Saloon was replaced by the new, larger, 1300/1500. The 1200 and 1600 Coupés and Cabriolets continued to be built without major alterations until September 1963, when they were equipped with the larger 1481 cc pushrod engine. Power was up to 72 CV (53 kW) (80 SAE) and the 1500 (tipo 118H) now also benefitted from front disc brakes. The grille, previously two segments, was now a wider, single piece. Inside, the seats were renewed for more comfort and a better seating position. The ignition switch moved from the dashboard (left of the steering wheel) to the steering column (right of the steering wheel), in order to accommodate a steering lock.^[4] The Fiat-engined 1500 (tipo 118H) was now also available with Pininfarina's limited production coupé bodywork. The O.S.C.A. engined 1600 S, with a twin cam 1568 cc engine developing 90 CV (66 kW) continued to be available albeit with the same new front end treatment as that of the 1500 Cabriolet. This was called the Fiat 1600 S Coupé/Cabriolet (tipo 118SB) and can easily be recognized by its additional lamps at the outer corners of the grille. New, lower engine mounts meant a lower centre of gravity and allowed the bonnet to be flatter.

In early 1965, the four-speed transmission was replaced with a five-speed unit, while the brakes received servo assistance. The 1500 became the tipo 118K, along with a slight engine upgrade for 75 CV (55 kW) (83 SAE). This last edition can be distinguished by the round emblem with laurel wreath in the grille, as Fiat started using it from that year for its sporting models. The range was replaced by the new 124 coupés and spiders in 1966, although the 1500 Coupé continued to be sold into 1967.^[9]

Fiat 1500 Cabriolet (tipo 118H)
Fiat 1500 Coupé (rear)
Fiat 1600 S Coupé (tipo 118SB)

Coachbuilt variants

OSCA themselves built a series of sporting passenger cars using this engine in their own tube frame chassis, fitted with bodywork from a variety of independent designers (mostly Zagato). There was also a small series (sources speak of three examples) built of the OSCA Fissore 1600 S Coupé. These used the larger OSCA engine in the Fiat chassis but with special Fissore coachwork. Fissore sold an additional 18 to 25 examples of this body to Argentina, where Piero Dusio marketed them as Cisitalias.^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Hudek, Franz-Peter (July 2017). "Der kleine Maserati" [The little Maserati]. Motor Klassik (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motor Presse Stuttgart. p. 43. ISSN 0177-8862.
^ ^a ^b "Lot 72: 1961 Fiat OSCA 1500S Spider by Pininfarina" (Auction listing). RM Sothebys. 2014-01-16. Archived from the original on 2018-09-16. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
^ Hudek, p. 41
^ ^a ^b Sannia, Alessandro (2013). Fiat 1200-1500-1600S, 1959-1966 (in Italian). Il Cammello.
^ ^a ^b "Successful Marriage". Autocar. 1959-12-18. Archived from the original on 2007-04-17 – via Fiat 1500 cabrio page.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ Robson, Graham (1984). Fiat Sports Cars. Osprey Publishing Limited. p. 30.
^ Hudek, p. 42
^ "1959 Abarth 1600 Spider by Allemano". Classic Driver. Veloce Classic. Archived from the original on 2024-03-31.
^ Hoogenraad, Henk. "Models". Fiat 1500 Cabrio page. Archived from the original on 2017-08-10.
^ Hoogenraad, Henk. "Fissore 1600S Coupe". Fiat 1500 Cabrio page. Archived from the original on 2007-04-17.