FIAT 1800 / 2100 1959-1961 Photos, engines & full specs

In the late '50s, the middle-class started to be more and more demanding, and Fiat gave them what they asked for: a comfortable, large enough vehicle, at a fraction of a price. That was the Fiat 1800.

The Italian customers were not happy with the fuel-efficient Fiat 1100, which was too small, too cramped inside, and slow enough to be matched by a bus when starting from a red-light. As a result, the most prominent Italian carmaker introduced the 1800 model, which was more elegant, quicker, and spacious.

With the era of bland, curved lines coming to an end, the Italian designers imagined a new shape for the front fenders. They featured an arrow-like profile above the headlamps, pointing up to the direction Fiat aimed to. The hood was still lower than the surrounding elements, while the chromed metallic grille was considered a premium-like item. Its roof sported a gutter that channeled the water to the slightly sloped C-pillars.

Fiat fitted the interior with either two individual seats or a profiled bench for the front passengers where three occupants could sit comfortably. There was plenty of room in the back due to the ample wheelbase, but the center occupant had to deal with the transmission tunnel. With its steering-column mounted gear selector, the 1800/2100 designers tried to offer a free pass across the vehicle.

Under the hood, Fiat fitted the car with a choice of two six-pot engines. The base model offered a 1.8-liter displacement, while the bigger one was the 2.1-liter. Later on, a cheaper, four-pot unit was installed with a 1.5-liter displacement.