This page covers the open topped Fiat cars from the mid 1950's to the mid 1960's.
The Trasformabiles - 1955 to 59
The 1200, 1500, 1500S and 1600S Cabriolets - 1959 to 63
The revised cabriolets - 1963 to 66
These cars were replaced in 1966 by the completely new Fiat 124 Spider, based on the saloon
of that denomination.
The Geneva show of 1955 saw the presentation
of a new 'Trasformabile' version of the recently introduced 1100
saloon. The mechanical parts remained the same as the TV version of the
saloon, whilst the body was an all new two seater complete with period wrap-around windscreen.
A total of 571 of these first series cars
were built. In 1956 when the new 103E saloon was released changes cascaded
across all the related models. The Trasformabile gained 3bhp and a slightly
modified rear suspension. Production continued for another year, around 450 of these cars being built.
The first significant change came in 1957
with the introduction of a new 1221cc engine. This was the same as used
in the 1200 Granluce saloon (the replacement for
the 1100TV). Small changes were also made to the front and rear bumpers.
This model was built until 1959, with around 2,360 cars being produced.
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Technical Details
| Driveline | longitudinal engine at front with rear wheel drive |
| Engine | 1089cc (68x75mm) ohv 4 cyl with 50bhp @ 5,400rpm
from 1956 with 53bhp 1221cc (72x75mm) ohv 4 cyl with 55bhp @ 5,300rpm |
| Suspension | front : Independent, lower wishbone, coil spring and telescopic damper plus anti-roll bar
rear : solid axle with telescopic dampers and leaf springs wheelbase : 2340mm track (front/rear) : 1229mm/1212mm |
| Brakes | front : drums
rear : drums |
| Gearbox | 4 speed manual |
| Steering | worm and roller |
1200,1500,1500S & 1600S Cabriolets - 1959 to 1963
Following
the above described models, in 1959, again at the Geneva Motorshow, Fiat
showed the new 1200 Cabriolet. The body was all new, designed by Pininfarina
with a more modern style and slightly larger dimensions, whilst the mechanicals
were mainly carried over from the previous Trasformabile, the engine getting
an additional 3bhp. Production of the 1200 continued until 1963, by which
time over 15,000 had been built.
In the summer of 1959 Fiat then introduced
a bigger brother, the 1500 Cabriolet. The body was almost identical to
the 1200, with a larger air inlet on the bonnet and a revised grille being
the most obvious visual differences. The main change was the installation
of a twincam 1491cc engine designed by OSCA
and built by Fiat. From 1960 this model also gained disc brakes at the
front. In July 1961 the designation changed to 1500S Cabriolet and then
in 1962 the engine was increased to 1568cc and the designation changed
again, to 1600S Cabriolet. This latter version was recogniseable due to
the bonnet mounted air intake moving over to the left hand side (rather
than central on the earlier models).
The 1500 Cabriolet was the first to use
a new model designation, 118. All the previous cars had retained the 103
designation of the saloon.
Technical Details
| Driveline | longitudinal engine at front with rear wheel drive |
| Engine | 1221cc (72x75mm) ohv 4 cyl with 58bhp @ 5,300rpm
1491cc (78x78mm) dohc 4 cyl with 80bhp @ 6,000rpm 1568cc (80x78mm) dohc 4 cyl with 90bhp @ 6,000rpm |
| Suspension | front : Independent, lower wishbone, coil spring and telescopic damper plus anti-roll bar
rear : solid axle with telescopic dampers and leaf springs wheelbase : 2340mm track (front/rear) : 1232mm/1215mm |
| Brakes | front : drums (discs from 1960)
rear : drums |
| Gearbox | 1200 : 4 speed manual
1500/1600 : 5 speed manual |
| Steering | worm and roller |
| Kerb weight | 1200 : 905kg
1500 : 990kg |
1200,1500 & 1600S Cabriolets - 1963 to 1966
Again
at Geneva, this time in 1963, Fiat presented the revised range of cabriolets.
All the models received a new front end, with a completely redesigned grille
and no air intake on the bonnet whilst the 1600S also received an additional two headlights.
The 1200 was finally replaced by a 1500
using the engine from the saloon, a 1481cc ohv unit, whilst small changes
were also made to the 1568cc unit. The 'new' 1500 version also adopted
the 115 designation of the 1500 saloon.
Early 1965 saw the final changes to these
models. Visually, the use of the 'new' round Fiat badge on the grille was
the biggest change. The 1500 engine also recieved a few extra horsepower
and a five-speed gearbox. Numerous other small changes were made, such
as the addition of servo assistance for the brakes, different carburettors
etc.
Total production of the 1600S (from the
beginning in 1962) was 3,089 whilst all the 1500 engined versions (both
ohv and dohc) came to around 22,500.
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Technical Details
| Driveline | longitudinal engine at front with rear wheel drive |
| Engine | 1481cc (77x79.5mm) ohv 4 cyl with 72bhp @ 5,200rpm
1568cc (80x78mm) dohc 4 cyl with 90bhp @ 6,000rpm |
| Suspension | front : Independent, lower wishbone, coil spring and telescopic damper plus anti-roll bar
rear : solid axle with telescopic dampers and leaf springs wheelbase : 2340mm track (front/rear) : 1232mm/1242mm (1600S : 1230mm/1215mm) |
| Brakes | front : discs
rear : drums (discs on 1600) |
| Gearbox | 1500 : 4 speed manual (from 1965 : 5 speed)
1600 : 5 speed manual Hydraulic clutch on 1600, cable on 1500 |
| Steering | worm and roller |
| Kerb weight | 1500 : 960kg (from 1965 : 965kg)
1600 : 1035kg (from 1965 : 1050kg) |
Other open-topped models based on the 1100/1200/1500 Fiats were built in small numbers by Moretti and other Italian carrozzeria. See our Other marques pages.
For books on Fiats see our Online Bookstore
There is also a list of all our picture galleries (including museums, motorshows and various events).
Wallpapers/Desktop Backgrounds of numerous Fiats also available to download.
Links
A Fiat 1500 Cabriolet website
50's and 60's Spiders comment form
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