1969 Fiat 850 Spider from Brazil - Comments

Sometimes I experienced an over-heating of the motor. The rest was only pleasure.

I had the pleasure of owning an 850 Spider that I purchased on the second hand in very good condition. I used it until completing my high-school graduation.

There's a lot that I miss about this car that stays on my mind even nowadays with very advanced cars. The difference is only one: the modern cars have no soul like the 850 Spider FIAT. In those days it was faster than many six or even eight cylinder heavier cars manufacturing in the USA (most like a Second-War Tank). Let's remember that the Spider had only 1/5 or even no more than 1/6 of the minor American cars motor's of those days. Think about it.

I think the speed of your 850 has been greatly exaggerated by time.

Sure it does... it only weighs 725KG!!!

And it is powered by an engine that would be considered on the small side for a motorcycle today.

...but if tuned by abarth and bored to 1000cc...its no joke any more... becasue it will surprize many people. Believe me, I did experience it!! Goes out on 2 wheels!!!

The 850 Spider was made for those quaint, picturesque little streets you see in Italian travel guides. Not exactly a high performance 60's American tire smoker! One the plus side, it was ahead of its time for running a fuel efficient, small displacement motor that required a high rpm range to operate. Sort of a Honda S2000 crossed with 1948 Crosley bubble car.

Your intro sentence is very good, but I believe it was Bertone that designed (and built) the Fiat 850 Spider.

I had a '67 Spider (well-used!) with the headlights that were flush to the body for a short period of time. Stock car, and it was super-simple to keep running and quick and nimble about town, but definitely *not* something you'd take on the interstate -- I think it topped out at around 55 or so. Still, wouldn't mind having it back.

I owned a 69 for several years. It was fun to drive, though it took a while, I had no problem reaching 85 on a flat. Passed 100 down a hill -not recommended :) Friends loved the fact that they could lift front of the car clear off the ground! Yes, it was easily the last up any hill, and that was a bit frustrating. 50 h.p. isn't much, even in a car this light. Still, I have to disagree with earlier comments about the handling. I drove that car hard. I once raced an MG along Hwy 1 (California). He out powered me in the straights, but I pulled ahead in the corners. This was all 30 years ago, but I still miss that car.

The body was by Bertone, and I did own one. They need to put a turbo in this 850cc mini car and make them in Brazil or China so I can afford to buy one and not have to spend half my paycheck on gasoline every week.

I had one 30 years ago and luved it, now I'm going to look at a 1970 850 coupe tomorrow for 1200 bucks. Is it a midlife crisis thing or am I crazy?

The 69 850 spider was my first new car. I loved it. Drove it from Austin to LA and back. Head gasket busted in Tucson on the way back but still made it home! Fiat serviced it (under warranty) and didn't charge me a penny. The engine was in the back which caused much amusement whenever I changed the oil. I really loved that little car.