Tag Archives: 128

Designed and Assembled By Bertone – FIAT Super Strada Cabrio

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The launch of the hatchback Volkswagen Golf to rave reviews and wild customer enthusiasm in 1974 left all the other big manufacturers wanting to cash in on the hatchback market that boomed with the arrival of the boxy little car from Wolfsburg.

FIAT Super Strada Cabriolet, BIAMF, Bristol

FIAT’s response was to commission Bertone to design a completely new body to fit onto the chassis and running gear of 1970’s European Car Of The Year the front wheel drive FIAT 128.

FIAT Super Strada Cabriolet, BIAMF, Bristol

The internal code for the new model was FIAT 138 but FIAT’s marketing department decided to give the car the Ritmo name in most non English speaking markets and Strada in most English speaking markets excluding the USA until the Italians found out that Ritmo was a US brand of non automotive product.

FIAT Super Strada Cabriolet, BIAMF, Bristol

The Strada was launched in the UK with the strap line “Designed with a computer, silenced by a laser and built by robot” in 1978 and remained in production until 1988 with over a million units being manufactured. In 1982 the Ritmo / Strada range received the quad lamp face lift and further changes including large plastic side protection strips were introduced in 1985.

FIAT Super Strada Cabriolet, BIAMF, Bristol

Just as Volkswagen had contracted Karmann to build the Golf Cabriolet, FIAT contracted Bertone to design and build a Cabriolet version of the Ritmo/Strada which was sold as the Bertone Cabrio in some markets but was registered as a FIAT with the authorities in the UK.

FIAT Super Strada Cabriolet, BIAMF, Bristol

This particular 1.5 litre / 91.5 cui Super Strada Cabriolet, seen at the Bristol Italian Auto Moto Fest, was first registered in January 1985 and originally painted Metallic Brown with a Cream roof. It was repainted red and fitted with it’s current roof during a 15 year lay off from the road.

Thanks for joining me on this “Designed and Assembled By Bertone” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be starting a month long series on vehicles that competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Stojadin – Zastava Type 101 / Yugo 511

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Zastava, Serbian for flag according to Google Translator, was a Yugoslavian, now Serbian manufacturer that was born out of a Army Technical Institute founded in 1851 that in turn became a firearms manufacturer in the 1880’s. From 1939 to 1941 the vehicle arm of Vojno-Tehnicki Zavod assembled 400, Chevrolet according to some sources and Ford according to others, trucks before the ’39/’45 war closed operations down. In 1953 the renamed Zavodi Crvena Zastava, Red Flag Institutes 96% of the employees voted to resume vehicle manufacture and 162 Willy’s Jeeps were built. If you know have information pertaining to the first Zastava trucks being Ford or Chevrolet please chime in below.

Zastava Yugo 511, The Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

In 1954 Zavodi Crvena Zastava entered an agreement to assemble FIAT’s under license which led to the production of FIAT 128’s called Zastava 128’s in 1971. In 1972 a hatchback version of the 128 was introduced and it is a 1986 version of the hatch back known as the Type 101 that is featured today.

Zastava Yugo 511, The Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

The front end is indistinguishable from the revamped 1976 FIAT 128, voted 1970 European Car of the Year, minor differences to the bumper and manufacturers badges not withstanding.

Zastava Yugo 511, The Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Power for todays featured car comes from a 1116 cc / 68 cui with an aluminium cylinder head and overhead cam, originally designed by the legendary Aurelio Lampredi, which produces 55 hp.

Zastava Yugo 511, The Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

The Zastava 101, known colloquially in Serbia as the “Stojadin”, was sold under a variety of names in different markets, these include Yugo 311/313/511/513 and Skala 55 in its most recent 2008 incarnation when production ceased after 1,045,258 of the hatchbacks had been built. Production of the hatch backs was also licensed by the Polish FSO company and sold as the Zastava 1100p.

Zastava Yugo 511, The Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham

Like just about every other passenger vehicle built under the communist regieme in the 1970’s and 1980’s some Zastava 101’s were used for competition with a class win on the 1973 Tour d’Europe probably counting as it’s most significant achievement.

Thanks for joining me on this “Stojadin” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Meica Red 908 – Bertone X1/9

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Marcello Gandini working for the Bertone studio is credited with designing the FIAT X1/9 which was based on the futuristic boat inspired Autobianchi A112 Runabout of 1969.

Bertone X 1/9, Race Retro

FIAT launched the X 1/9 in 1972 with Bertone responsible for building the monocoque body at it’s Torino factory and FIAT’s Lingotto factory responsible for the final assembly.

Bertone X 1/9, Race Retro

With 140,500 units produced unto 1982, FIAT handed over the final assembly responsibilities and marketing for the X 1/9 to Bertone in 1982. Bertone continued to develop the X 1/9 applying rust protection and revised seating to accommodate taller driver. 19,500 X 1/9’s were manufactured with Bertone badges.

Bertone X 1/9, Race Retro

The X 1/9 featured a rear mounted 4 cylinder transverse motor and transmission taken from the 1970 European Car of the Year Award wining front wheel drive FIAT 128 featuring and iron block and alloy head with a single overhead camshaft.

Bertone X 1/9, Race Retro

This 1989 example would appear to be painted Meica Red 908 a paint code borrowed form the Volvo colour palate which was used on the rare Volvo 780 Coupé which was also built by Bertone at the same time.

Bertone X 1/9, Race Retro

The longitudinally compact transverse mid engine and transmission layout not only gave the car excellent handling characteristics but also luggage space under the bonnet hood in the front and in the boot / trunk behind the engine.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Meica Red 908’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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