The 60hp FIAT 1300 Berlina replaced the FIAT 1200, the chassis of which was used for the 1200TV, in 1961 offered with a price of Lira 1,190,000 (Italian Lira one million one hundred and ninety thousand with and identical version with a larger 73 hp 1500 cc / 91.5 cui motor offered for Lira 1,250,000.

The 1300/1500 range, marketed with an elegant modernity strap line, included estate / station wagon along with 2 door Coupé and Cabriolet versions which were fitted with the 73 hp motors only.

FIAT 1300’s, like the example seen here at a Brooklands Double Twelve meeting, were fitted with all synchromesh four speed transmissions and were early adopters in this class of disc brakes all round.

The 1300/1500 range was also produced by Zastava in Yugoslavia where the Zastava 1300, also known as the Tristać, production continued until December 1979, twelve years after 1300/1500 production had ceased in Italy.

Fans of Italian Comedy might remember a FIAT 1300 being abused in the 1966 film Operazione San Gennaro see from 1:25:30, in which Armandino Girasole detto Dudù the character played by Nino Manfredi terrifies his side kick Sciascillo played by Mario Adorf on a trip to Naples airport.

Thanks for joining me on this “Operazione San Gennaro” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Comet. Don’t forget to come back now.