Manufacturer Fiat Engine 1,221 cc I4 (petrol) | Related Transmission 4-speed manual | |
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Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive | ||
Fiat 1200 was the name of three distinct models produced by Italian car manufacturer Fiat, all based on Fiat 1100 mechanicals. The first two were introduced in 1957, and replaced the TV (Turismo Veloce) variants at the top of the Fiat 1100 range: the 1200 Granluce, an upmarket small four-door saloon derived from the 1100, and the 1200 Spyder, an update of the previous 1100 TV Trasformabile 2-door roadster. The 1200 Granluce was discontinued in 1961 when larger Fiat saloons were introduced, while the 1200 Spyder was replaced in 1959 by the 1200 Cabriolet. This was a new Pininfarina design, later developed into the 1200 and 1500 Cabriolets.
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Fiat 1200 Granluce
The Fiat 1200 Granluce was introduced at the Turin Motor Show in November 1957. It was intended to replace the Fiat 1100/103 TV (Turismo Veloce), the sportiest and more luxuriously trimmed model of the 1100 range. The 1200 was equipped with a new engine of 1,221 cc, developing 55 PS (40 kW; 54 bhp).
While derived from the 1100, the 1200 Granluce had an all-new, more modern greenhouse, featuring a wider widshield, ampler side windows and a rear panoramic window—hence the Granluce name, meaning "grand light". At the rear the car adopted the fins and longer boot of the contemporary 1100 model 1958. Intended as a luxury model, the Granluce's bodywork was heavily decorated: there was a contrasting colour roof, a ribbed chrome panel on the C pillar, and bright trim on the bonnet, sides and boot lid.
Approximately 400,000 copies of the 1200 Granluce were built before it was discontinued in September 1961, when the new and larger Fiat 1300 was launched. Despite this the Granluce bodyshell was inherited by upmarket 1100 versions as the 1100 Special, and in 1963 the mainstream 1100 D adopted not only the body bot also the engine from the 1200.
Fiat 1200 Spyder
At the 1957 Turin Motor Show, alongside the Granluce saloon, Fiat also introduced the 1200 Spyder two-seater roadster. It was an updated Fiat 1100 TV Trasformabile using the 1200 engine. Exterior changes from the earlier model were minimal, and included new front and rear bumpers with taller over-riders moved further inboards. Inside there was a strip speedometer, and the salooon's steering wheel replaced the wood-rimmed, aluminium-spoked one of the Trasformabile. A novelty feature were swiveling seats, which rotated outwards to facilitate ingress and egress.
In 1959 the Spyder was replaced by the Pininfarina-designed 1200 Cabriolet.
Fiat 1200 Cabriolet
The 1200 Spyder was replaced in 1959 by the Pininfarina designed Fiat 1200 Cabriolet. In November 1959, this also became available with an O.S.C.A. built twin cam engine of 1,491 cc, developing 80 PS (59 kW). This model is called the Fiat 1500 S Cabriolet. In 1962 this engine was replaced with an O.S.C.A. 1,568 cc twin cam four with 90 PS (66 kW) (100 hp gross). In 1963 the 1200 was replaced by the 1500 Cabriolet, with a restyled front end and a larger Fiat pushrod engine from the 1500 saloon.