In the 1970s, North America simply couldn’t get enough of imported sports cars, and demand especially from the “sunshine states” was a lifeline for many European marques, such as the UK’s MG and Triumph, and Italy’s Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Roadsters like the MGB and...
Hatchbacks were the big trend of the 1970s. Within a few years almost all small cars had adopted the front-engine, front-wheel drive layout and the semi-estate body style with three or five doors to add practicality. Fold-flat rear seats provided even more versatility. The seats...
Small cars became big news. With more and more people living in cities, and traffic overwhelming the road networks of London, Paris, and Rome, tiny cars were one solution for beating the traffic jams—and their size made parking much easier. There was no real consensus...
Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione II, 1993 Delta Integrale Evoluzione II Lancia was sold to Fiat in 1969, and it was hoped a high-performance hot hatch would recapture Lancia’s earlier glory. The specialized S4 took second place in the 1986 World Championship and, keen to capitalize on this...
Seeking to boost mobility and car ownership, the Italian government struck an innovative deal with the country’s most important car manufacturer. Politicians pledged to invest in fast highways connecting up the important cities of the long, thin country, if Fiat committed to building a new...
The 1950s was a decade when a lot of people who had only dreamt of owning a car actually managed to do so for the first time. For some, economy was important, so they either bought something second-hand, or even ultra-frugal microcars, such as the...
Fiat (Fabbrica Italiana di Automobili Torino, or the Italian Car Factory of Turin) was founded on 11 July 1899, by Giovanni Agnelli and quickly established itself in almost every automotive sector....