FIAT 500 Giardiniera
FIAT 500 Giardiniera was a derivative of famous FIAT 500 of 1957, manufactured by the Italian manufacturer FIAT, as from 1960.
History
After the disappearance of the FIAT Topolino Giardiniera, version light van of this famous small car, Nuova 500 which replaced it as from 1957, did not have commercial release. Its reduced dimensions seemed to condemn it to remain a single model of body in the range.
It is in May 1960 that appeared the Giardiniera version.
The ingeniousness of its originator, the engineer Dante Giacosa, made it possible to design an engine flat because the truck had an engine cooled by air in driving position postpones, which prevented any lengthening of the floor to create a version station-wagon.
Dante Giacosa invented an engine then flat postpones placed under the floor. It modified the air intakes which were placed on the amounts back and the centrifugal fan replaced by a radial ventilator. The cubic capacity remains the same one as that of news 500 Sport, the developed power is reduced to 17,5 CV for the taking into account of the transported loads.
Actually, this engine had already been born two years to before equip the news Autobianchi Bianchina but which was not retained.
The body is entirely reconsidered with the resumption of the part front, to the amounts of the doors but with a radical transformation of the back, very square, with the addition of a door with side opening. The footing is lengthened of 10 cm. The side panes are rectangular and sliding. The roof is out of sheet but can receive a hood in fabric like the truck. The suspensions and the brakes are adapted and reinforced and take again those of FIAT 600. The file of the back seats are folding to obtain a more important loading plan.
Dimensions are more important: Giardiniera is 3,185 m long (21,5 cm more than the truck) and 1.354 m in height (+ 2 cm).
The interior completion is almost identical to that of the truck and will profit from the same final improvements with the passing of years.
In addition to the Giardiniera version, FIAT also presented a commercial release, with two seats before and a space of very roomy loading to the back. The rear windows and the hood in fabric are then replaced by parts covered with sheet metal. The roof comprises four veins of reinforcement and can receive a gallery.
The manufacture of the FIAT 500 Giardiniera will be ensured in the factory Autobianchi of Desio, in the suburbs of Milan, with dimensions of the Bianchina Panoramica, will be based on same the platform and engine but with body and completions different.
In the month of March 1968 the FIAT 500 Giardiniera chnge of name and becomes Autobianchi. It will benefit from this change to receive some modifications like: side grids of ventilation, flying and instrument panel blacks, Autobianchi escutcheon on the grill. The last specimens manufactured received working rear windows out of compass.
The model will finish its career in 1977 without never to have undergone modifications with the body and while having maintained its doors against the wind.
More than 327.000 specimens were manufactured in Italy.
A few tens of thousands of specimens were also manufactured in Germany stalemate FIAT Neckar.
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