Segment: Compact
Production years: 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961
The 1200 was unveiled at the 1957 Turin Motor Show along with its siblings, the coupe, and the spider. It was an important step forward for the Italian car-maker, a step toward the modern era.
The 1200 was based on its predecessor, the Fiat 1100, which was based on a pre-war car, the Fiat Balilla TV (Turismo Veloce). The 1200 was a shy step forward, a cautious approach to a market that was still suffering after WWII. By leaving behind the curved lines from the 1100, which were a nightmare for the body shop and pain for the repairs, the 1200 adopted new forms with lower production costs.
The higher beltline and the bigger greenhouse hid the older Balilla chassis underneath the car. A wider windscreen and taller windows enhanced the interior luminosity and that led to the car's nickname, “Granluce” (Big light). The round headlights and the bigger trunk were a plus for those times.
Inside, the Fiat 1200 featured seating for four. Due to its body-on-frame system, the driveshaft was running underneath the car so there was an almost flat rear floor. The gearshift was placed behind the steering wheel, meaning that there was a free passage from left to right in the front. There was no center console or center stack. The instrument panel was simple, with round dials.
Under the hood, there was a newly developed 1.2-liter gasoline engine that produced 55 hp. The four-speed manual transmission was the only option. The car was rear-wheel drive, as most of the cars from that era.
ENGINE SPECS - 1.2L 4MT RWD (55 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1221 cm3 |
Power: | 40.5 KW @ 5300 RPM 55 HP @ 5300 RPM 54 BHP @ 5300 RPM |
Torque: | 60 lb-ft @ 3000 RPM 81 Nm @ 3000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 86 mph (138 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 22 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Drums |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 5.20 x 14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 156 in (3962 mm) |
Width: | 57.5 in (1461 mm) |
Height: | 57.8 in (1468 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 48.5/47.9 in (1,232/1,217 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 92.2 in (2342 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.1 in (130 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.4 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2050 lbs (930 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 2778 lbs (1260 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 27.7 mpg US (8.5 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 1.2L 4MT RWD (58 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1221 cm3 |
Power: | 42.7 KW @ 5300 RPM 58 HP @ 5300 RPM 57 BHP @ 5300 RPM |
Torque: | 60 lb-ft @ 3000 RPM 81 Nm @ 3000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 86 mph (138 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 21.9 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Drums |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 5.20 x 14 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 156 in (3962 mm) |
Width: | 57.5 in (1461 mm) |
Height: | 57.8 in (1468 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 48.5/47.9 in (1,232/1,217 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 92.2 in (2342 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.1 in (130 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.4 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2072 lbs (940 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 2778 lbs (1260 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 27.7 mpg US (8.5 L/100Km) |