Source: Stellantis image archive
FIAT Barchetta - small but powerful
The diminutive form of the name FIAT Barchetta (Barchetta means “little boat”) emphasizes the only seemingly essential characteristic of a car that boasts refined stylistic details from the glorious past of Italian sports cars, but at the same time is refined by sophisticated mechanics and a thoroughbred spider chassis.
Development began on the basis of the “Tipo B”, which was smaller than the coupé, even before the Fiat Punto was built on this new platform. Greek designer Andreas Zapatinas, who joined Fiat in 1988, recounts that on Christmas Eve 1990 he was asked by the then head of the Centro Stile Fiat Mario Maioli to design a spider on the floorpan of the car that was to replace the FIAT UNO.
Source: Stellantis image archive
Diavola vs. MArinara
There were many young talents in the Centro Stile Fiat team at the time, and two teams were formed to compete with each other. Their ingenuity was already evident in the names given to the two projects, which came straight from the menu of a pizzeria: “Diavola” was the suggestion of the team led by Chris Bangle, while Andreas Zapatinas ‘ group chose “Marinara”. The first project was the transformation of the Fiat Coupé into a Spider. This project was already somewhat further advanced in the design phase and also came from the group led by Chris Bangle. The second proposal was less innovative in terms of style, but drew on various stylistic elements from famous Italian spiders.
Source: Stellantis image archive
The Fiat management opted for the second project, also to distinguish the car more clearly from its brother with the tin roof. The wheelbase was 17 cm shorter than that of the future Fiat Punto, which meant that the passenger compartment was set back behind the long hood.
Source: Image archive Stellantis
Source: Stellantis photo archive
The lines are soft and rounded
The general appearance and the absence of frills were essential to keep the weight as low as possible. Nevertheless, there were some very sophisticated details reminiscent of the glorious sports cars of the past. This is how the smaller Fiat Barchetta came into being. Even its name, emblazoned in italics on the dashboard on the passenger side, hints at its smaller size.
Technical data: FIAT Barchetta
Brilliant from low revs, but with a good extension up to 6,300 rpm, with 131 hp maximum output
1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 16 valves
Production began at the end of 1994 in a “diffuse” assembly system in a wide radius around Turin: the company ILCAS in Sparone formed and welded the sheet metal, Maggiora assembled the cars in the former Lancia plant in Chivasso and used the engines from Pratola Serra, while the gearbox and differential came from the plant in Termoli. Finally, the bodies were painted in Grugliasco in the Bertone body shop.
The most striking color of the “little boot” was a bright orange.
After more than 57,000 units had been produced, production was finally discontinued in 2005.
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