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Compact symbiosis of driving dynamics and rich equipment - Fiat 1500 (historical test)

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Created on August 15, 1963

Text:

Clauspeter Becker

Photos:

Fiat Press

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Archiv

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Fiat Press

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Archiv

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Fiat 1500 (1963) - beautifully staged

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1962) - simple but elegant design

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1961) - Transparency drawing

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1961) - Interior, with front seats folded down

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Fiat 1500 (1961) - "Prova" specimen

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Fiat 1500 L, Fiat 1500 and 1100D in 1963

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1962) - from the outside, the 1300 and 1500 looked identical

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1961) - Takeover of a test car

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1961) - presented on an airfield

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Fiat 1500 (1964) - elegantly presented in an autumnal atmosphere

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1961) - making an impression is of course better with whitewall tires

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1961) - Test drive in the cold of the north

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Fiat 1300 / 1500 (1961) - an elegant appearance

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1961) - Test drive on the cold 'Polcircel'

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1961) - Fiat 1300 and 1500 lined up at the factory

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1961) - Test drive in Somaliland

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Fiat 1500 (1961) - Trunk and spare wheel of a test car

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1961) - a carefully designed mid-size sedan

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Fiat 1500 (1961) - a test car, clearly marked 'Prova'

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Fiat 1500 (1965) - the hood opened forwards, like all other openings

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1961) - A comparison of the 1300 and 1500 engines

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Fiat 1300 and 1500 (1961) - Dimensions

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Fiat 1500 (1962) at the Geneva Motor Show - cutaway model - modest dimensions and plenty of space for passengers

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Fiat 1500 (1962) at the Geneva Motor Show - cutaway model - well utilized rear of the car

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Fiat 1500 (1962) at the Geneva Motor Show - cutaway model - the design of the front suspension is clearly visible

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Fiat 1500 (1965) - at home on all roads

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Fiat 1300 (1961) - the definitive version, a few weeks before the official announcement together with the Fiat 1500

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Fiat 1300 (1961) - Test driving in Africa

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Fiat 1300 (1962) - View into the cockpit, identical to Fiat 1500

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Fiat 1300 (1962) - Interior of the 1300, practically identical to the 1500

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Fiat 1500 Familiare (1962) - Fresh fish straight from the beach?

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Fiat 1500 (1961) - at the Frankfurt IAA 1961

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Fiat 1500 (1965) - also for noble occasions

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Fiat 1500 (1961) - early press photo, beautifully arranged

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Fiat 1500 (1962) - also available as 1300-series

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Fiat 1500 (1962) - at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show

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Fiat 1500 (1962) - at the Geneva Motor Show as a cutaway model

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Fiat 1500 (1962) - View of the front disc brake - Geneva Motor Show 1962

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Fiat 1500 (1962) - A look under the hood of the test car

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Fiat 1500 (1962) - A look under the hood of a British version

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Fiat 1500 (1962) - front view

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Fiat 1500 (1962) - Group photo with ladies - Fiat range of the year 1962 with 1100, 1800 and 2300

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Fiat 1500 (1965) - elegant and sporty

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Fiat 1500 (1962) - Test car in winter

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Fiat 1500 (1962) - together with Fiat 1300 as a winter test car

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Fiat 1500 (1962) - together with Fiat 1300 as a test car

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Fiat 1500 (1962) - together with Fiat 1300 as a test car

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Fiat 1500 (1961) - View into the trunk

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Fiat 1500 (1961) - View into the cockpit

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Fiat 1500 (1961) - front view

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Fiat 1500 (1961) - early test drive

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Fiat 1500 (1961) - integrated door handles

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Fiat 1500 (1961) - round tail lights

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Fiat 1500 (1965) - View of the interior

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Fiat 1500 Familiare (1962) - also 150 km/h fast as a station wagon

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Fiat 1500 Familiare (1962) - Station wagon version of the Fiat 1300/1500 with large contiguous loading area

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Summary

The Fiat 1500 was not cheaper than its German and French competitors at the time. However, as Turin supplied expensive extras such as front disc brakes as standard and gave the pretty car a good dose of temperament, the Italian was ahead of its competitors in many respects. This original test report from 1963, illustrated with many historical photos, explains how the Fiat defied common prejudices and what the idiosyncratic chassis was all about.

This article contains the following chapters

For example, it is claimed that you can't sit in a Fiat as a full-grown Teuton!
It is also claimed that Fiats start badly in the cold.
After all, they say: Fiat cars are expensive to repair!
The Fiat 1500 does not have a peasant engine
The sporty engine of the Fiat 1500 is in no way quiet!
The Fiat 1500 has a firm suspension!
The Fiat 1500 handles well as long as the road is good.
The purchase price of a Fiat includes a lot of nice little things.
Technical data and test results

Estimated reading time: 19min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The Fiat 1500 is a dangerous car. Not on the road - no, in the showroom. Because it is very reasonably priced. 6990 from Heilbronn, just 150 marks above the base price of our well-off middle class, represented by Ford and Opel. The Fiat 1500, however, has neither a base price nor a final price. This car has everything included, apart from extras such as a radio and whitewall tires. Automatically included in the purchase price are: four doors, four gears, front disc brakes, individual seats with reclining fittings, bumper horns and reversing lights. All things you have to pay for elsewhere. In addition, this car offers driving performance that is 2000 marks more expensive elsewhere.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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