History Car 1960s

Fiat 850 Sport Coupé

Overview

The Fiat 850 Sport Coupé, introduced in 1965 (updated in 1968 as the 850 Sport), was a compact rear-engined car developed from the Fiat 850 saloon. Styled by Fiat’s in-house Centro Stile (not Pininfarina), it featured a sleeker fastback profile and upgraded engine tuning. While modest in outright power, its nimble chassis and low weight made it a regular contender in sub-1,000 cc rally and touring classes across Europe during the late 1960s.

Technical Specs & Innovations

  • Engine: 843 cc OHV inline-4 (rear-mounted)
  • Power Output: 47–52 hp @ 6,500 rpm (depending on variant)
  • Transmission: 4-speed manual
  • Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive
  • Weight: ~720 kg (1,587 lbs)
  • Suspension: Independent front (transverse leaf spring), swing axle rear

Its unibody construction, quick steering rack, and short wheelbase made the 850 Sport Coupé particularly agile in tight rally conditions. Optional Abarth kits further boosted performance for competition use.

🏆 Competitive Highlights

  • 1966 Tulpenrallye – Class Win (under 1,000 cc), Privateers using tuned 850 Coupés secured category victories on Dutch tarmac stages.
  • 1967 Rallye Sanremo – Group 1 Class Finish, Demonstrated reliability and agility in Italian national championship rounds.
  • 1968 Coupe des Alpes – Touring Class Podium, Showed strong endurance potential in mountainous terrain.

While not a works-level WRC challenger, the 850 Sport Coupé was beloved in grassroots and regional rallying, often punching above its weight class in endurance and technical stage rallies.

Driving Characteristics

The Fiat 850 Sport Coupé remains a favorite in vintage touring and rally events thanks to its charm, affordability, and surprising competitiveness. It helped establish Fiat’s dominance in small-displacement European motorsport during the 1960s and set the stage for future performance models like the Fiat 128 Rally and the Autobianchi A112 Abarth.

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