Compact car FIAT 500 Nuova. The reconstruction of post-war Italy was slow and difficult, Even the car manufacturers the leader of the Italian industry FIAT for a long time have not offered to buyers of new machines, releasing a small series only of the pre-war models and they did not find any significant demand among indigent populations with the Exceptions of the baby FIAT-500 Topolino, created in the prewar years, the designer of Dante Diakonoi, but this once is the most popular in Italy, car with each post-war year sold worse — affected by the obsolescence of the design of the sample 1936.
The great Italian designer and designer Dante Giacosa was born in 1905. Technical education in Turin, graduated from the Higher Polytechnic school, then served in the army, and after demobilization, in 1928, began working in the FIAT, in the division, which was developing air-cooled engines for military vehicles.
In 1933, his fate had taken an unexpected turn, giving it the chance to design compact and cheap people’s car, which later received worldwide fame and the name FIAT 500 Topolino On the design of small cars Giacosa specialized in the future After the Second world war he was appointed chief engineer at FIAT, and in this position Giacosa worked for more than 25 years perhaps the Most famous of his car, the scale of production of which amounted to some 15 million copies, became FIAT-500 Nuova 1957.
In our country few people know what Dante Giacosa was one of the leading designers of the FIAT-124, won the title “Car of 1967” and produced in our country with slight modifications until the present day — we are talking about the legendary “penny” VAZ-2101 “Zhiguli”.
Dante Giacosa formally retired from the leadership of the design of the cars in the 1970-ies, however, almost until his last days — until 1997 took an active part in the Affairs of the company.
Dante Giacosa, the Italian avtodizayner and designer, Creator of the popular Italian compact car FIAT-500 — Topolino (1936) and Bambino (1957)
Double minicar FIAT-500 Topolino became the first independent work of Dante Giacosa
Let us, however, in postwar Italy in 1951, FIAT group management has decided to replace the production of the veteran Topolino a more modern model that would be the main family car in Italy the Task of creating such a machine, called FIAT-600, re-laid on the Dante Giacosa, reasonably assuming that the designer, who in his time managed to create the most popular in Italy, the car will be able to do it again.
The new four-seater with a monocoque body was significantly different from the pre-war predecessor, it was equipped with a rear located inline four-cylinder overhead valve engine liquid cooled with a capacity of 21.5 liters, respectively, had a completely different layout.
The first “six” was presented to the public on 10 March 1955 at the Geneva motor show and a Year later came the version with a folding soft-top, and after it — cargo volume with Multiple model four-door wagon body type; the passenger version of this van can accommodate six people.
In 1957, the car had engine with a capacity of 24.5 liters., and in July 1960 — 29-HP engine, the Production of “six” was discontinued in 1970 there were produced more than 2.5 million of these machines And, by the way, FIAT 600 became in his time the prototype of the “humpbacked” “Zaporozhets” ZAZ-965.
In Italy, the same “six” firmly took its intended consumer niche of a genuine family car and enjoyed well-deserved popularity in the country, but a full replacement Topolino he never became As later recalled Dante Giacosa, the FIAT 600 was still in the development stage, when he already had her designers of its team to the creation of a model intended for less wealthy buyers — even more compact, simple and cheap than “six”.
The geometric scheme of the FIAT-Nuova 500 (Bambino)
The company management supported the initiative Giacosa, however, when choosing the layout of the vehicle, the method tion to become comparable in popularity with “five hundredth”, the authorities invited the designer to stay on the front position of the engine However Giacosa managed to convince the leadership that the compact car will only rear-engine layout.
Performance of a prototype of a new compact car the company’s management has almost ended with the failure of the Vehicle looked so small, almost a toy that the members of the Board of Directors at first just did not perceive it as a prototype for mass production Only a thorough and evidence-based reviews Giacosa allowed to reverse the situation and, ultimately, to obtain the approval of the project. One of the arguments of the constructor in favor of a new “five hundredth” was “Even the little car more comfortable scooter.”
Time has shown the undeniable truth of the talented avtodizayner. Historians of the car industry claimed that the launch of the new “five hundredth” in the series became one of the most successful acts in the history of FIAT.
The new car, called FIAT-500 Nuova (Italian. — new), was put into production in the summer of 1957 and was marketed as a further development of the beloved by all Italians Topolino and, of course, the beginner also got the people and its own name — Bambino (ital — baby).
The second reincarnation of the “five hundredth” — subcompact FIAT-500 Nuova 1957, received Italians middle name is Bambino
The technical level of the ultra-compact machine was high enough for a class of micro cars at that time In particular was quite successfully implemented the layout of the machine with a rear-mounted two cylinder motor is air cooled.
Nuova engine had a displacement 479 cm3 and 4000 rpm developed capacity of as much as 13.5 (!) l the machine could accelerate to 85 km/h and consumed only 4.5 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers.
The car was carrying two adults in the front seats and two children in the back seat.
The new “five hundredth” had been in production for 18 years from 1957 to 1975, with its total production amounted to 3 893 294 of the car. Bambino was produced in several European countries, including in the socialist countries — Czechoslovakia and Poland.
After the start of serial production of the machine has been continuously improved in autumn 1957 at the motor show in Turin was exhibited an improved modification of the car — engine power, the designers have brought to 15 HP , the machine speed has increased to 90 km/h.
Constantly improved and the interior Nuova — the doors instead of sliding glass appeared descending, the driver received a sun visor, on the steering column was installed the headlight switch. In the sale were simplified modification of the car.
On the basis of Nuova was produced and sporty variants of this machine. In 1958, the audience was presented two-tone FIAT-500 Sport engine displacement 499,5 cm3 and a capacity of 21.5 liters , develops a speed of up to 195 km/h.
In 1960 the series was launched FIAT 500D Nuova with “sport” a 21.5 horsepower engine And in March 1965, rolled off the FIAT-500F Nuova — doors body of this machine was located as the Topolino is on the rear pillar of the door opening.
Regular modernization of the “five hundredth” was held in 1968 — on the machine under the designation FIAT-500L Nuova, established a more solid bumper, a new instrument panel and wheels with radial tires.
The layout of the FIAT-Nuova 500 (Bambino):
1 — twin cylinder engine air-cooled, 2 — damper, 3 — centrifugal fan system the engine cooling, 5 — rear drive axle, 6 — wheel hub rear-wheel; 7 — coil spring rear suspension, 8 — telescopic rear shock absorber, 9 — lever rear suspension, 10 — accelerator 11 — transverse semi elliptic leaf spring front suspension, 12 — arm front suspension 13 — front wheel hub, 14 — telescopic shock absorber front suspension, 15 — filler neck fuel tank 16 — wheel 17 — block brake and clutch, 18 — instrument panel, 19 — steering wheel; 20 — lever Parking brake, 21 — louver cooling system 22 — the handle of the hood of the engine compartment, 23 — tail light, 24 — front turn signal
The machine has been successfully sold in Italy for the domestic market were mainly models with soft folding roof, but for the Northern countries was designed all-metal modification One of the latest models Nuova became FIAT-500R — version with simplified trim and 18-strong engine working volume of 594 cm –3.
Total production volume of Bambino all modifications amounted to about 4 million cars.
In Italy FIAT-500 Nuova has become a truly iconic car. By the way, it was one of those who is grateful the producers have erected a monument in Turin, in front of the Directorate of FIAT on a pedestal in marble copy of the famous car.
Still on the roads of many countries of the world run thousands of Bambino And on the past recently in Italy the XXIII meeting of the owners of the FIAT 500 attracted more than 5,000 people to marvel at how form 500 Bambino at the stadium, the number “500”.
FIAT-Nuova 500 (Bambino) with the wagon
Bambino with an open body
The roof of the Bambino could get partially or, as in this photo — completely
This FIAT 500 was released in 2007 — exactly half a century after the appearance of the Bambino
Inexpensive ultra-compact FIAT-Nuova 500, launched in serial production in the summer of 1957, soon became the Italians one of the most popular cars
How to write novelists — “years passed”. In 2007, exactly a century after the start of release of the Bambino, firm FIAT has presented a supernova “five hundredth” — the subcompact car class urban-style FIAT-500 Nuova the great designer Dante Giacosa. I must say that the reincarnation of the last cars in the last decade although a very common design technique, but not always rational.
So, a fairly expensive car on the motives of the super-massive “Beetle” Ferdinand Porsche on the Volkswagen firm made no rejoinder as popular The same can be said about the excellent reproduction of the Mini design Alec issigonis ‘ BMW, However, with a supernova “five hundredth” is different — this car has a strong appearance, no way inferior for the expression of the exterior of the Bambino 1957, was initially positioned as a mass.
Accordingly, the price of a compact car in a base complete set (with engine capacity of 1.2 liter capacity of 69 liters) was set at 10 500 euros — quite reasonable — of course, for the European market.
The result was not long in coming — all the machines are scheduled for release before the end of 2007 — and it is 60 thousand cars were sold and the firm had to release the “excess plan” 9 thousand cars to meet the increased demand for this model plans 2008 has featured the figure of 140 000 — quite a substantial annual production, giving hope for long life compact FIAT 500 the third generation.
Technical specifications of the compact FIAT-Nuova 500 (Bambino)
Body type……………………………………..coupe, wagon or convertible
The number of doors…………………………2
Number of seats…………………………….2 + 2
Length, mm……………………………………..2970
Width, mm………………………………….1320
Height, mm…………………………………..1325
Base, mm………………………………………1840
The front track, mm……………………….1112
Rear track, mm……………………………1135
Curb weight, kg………………….500
Full weight, kg……………………………820
Trunk volume………………………….250
Fuel tank capacity……………….30
Drive………………………………………….rear
Transmission……..mechanical
The number of steps of CPR……………………..4
Brake………………………………………..drum
Front and rear suspension………….independent
Tires……………………………………………125 SR 12
Engine……………………………………..2-cylinder, carbureted
Working volume, l………………………….0,5
Motor power, l……………….from 13.5 to 21.5 HP
depending on the modification
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