Fiat 1500 Spider

The name Fiat 1500 was known long before the Spider. There were three different model series with this name.

The first Fiat 1500 was produced before the Second World War, from 1935 to 1948. The mid-range vehicle with a central box frame was available as a two- and four-door saloon and as a two-door convertible. The vehicles had a 6-cylinder in-line engine with a displacement of 1493 cm³ and an output of 33 kW. The power was transmitted to the rear wheels via a 4-speed gearbox with a gearshift in the middle of the car. The top speed was 114 km/h.

In 1948, the second model appeared with the name 1500 D and a full 34.5 kW. The top speed increased slightly to 115 km/h. The subsequent 1500 E model with a steering wheel gearshift achieved a top speed of 120 km/h and was discontinued in 1950. Its successor was the Fiat 1400.

In the late fall of 1961, the four-door sedans and a five-door station wagon with the designation Fiat 1300 and 1500 appeared as successors to the Fiat 1200 Granluce with a new body, which were built until the end of 1966 and the end of 1968 respectively.

As representatives of the so-called „Corvair line“, both corresponded to the taste of the time with their strongly emphasized side lines, also known as the bathtub shape. The engine of the 1500 was an in-line engine with a displacement of 1,481 cm³ and an initial output of 49 kW. In keeping with the fashion of the time, the 4-speed gearbox was shifted from the steering wheel. The top speed was 150 km/h.

The first revision followed in the summer of 1964 and the 1500 mutated into the 1500 C, which could be recognized by a 10 cm extension of the body and thus the wheelbase and the rear doors for more rear legroom. The 1.5-liter engine now produced 75 hp and whipped the beautiful body up to 155 km/h. A modified radiator grille and larger rear lights were also added. The 1500 Familiare and the 1300 saloon remained visually and technically unchanged. The 1300 always had 60 hp and was capable of 140 km/h.

The two-door 1500 Cabriolet and the 1500 Coupé, produced from autumn 1963 to the end of 1967, also had the same engine. Both vehicles were designed by Pininfarina and from 1965, instead of 4 gears, they now had 5 gears and a lever in the center console. Their top speed was 160 km/h with 67 hp and 165 km/h with 75 hp from the end of '64. The successor model was the famous Fiat 124 Spider.