Closing date for April issue -> February 17
FIAT 850 D (1973) – Car love returned for Tienus and Dienie
The FIAT story began for Tienus when his parents bought a FIAT 600. The small FIAT 600 already played a major role in the automotive world and became a successful mass car. The 4-seater 600 came within the reach of many enthusiastic drivers; it was also an economical and practical car. The Italian “bambino” of his parents was the incentive to buy, while his brother also bought one at the same time. This elegant car had stolen the hearts of the entire family and marked the beginning of a long-term relationship with FIAT.
FIAT loving family
A brief overview of car life in Italian atmospheres: after the Fiat 600 came another type of FIAT, just a bit more than the 600, namely the successor, the FIAT 850, which was used as a daily car. The small family car was very popular in the 70s. Later Tienus and Dienie became loyal FIAT 500 fanatics by purchasing this hobby car; they became real “backpack drivers”. They remained connected to the beautiful ball with the round shapes for no less than 25 years. The memories remain and they are still there to be cherished!
The charming memory back
Tienus: “By purchasing the FIAT 850 in 2022, I was immediately taken back to the time of then – a time that seemed long gone, but became reality again. The car is simply a piece of the past that we experienced together and that has now become a passionately practiced hobby. Of course, we do not long for all the things back, but we see the feelings that our FIAT 850 now evokes as an enrichment.”
FIAT 850 is an invention
According to FIAT, the car met all conceivable requirements of the automobile user, in terms of performance, and was intended for ten thousand people. The car is elegant and spacious, with storage space behind the rear seat; a car for enthusiasts with a beautiful design. The FIAT 850 represents an era of simplicity and purity in car design.
The story of the discovery
Tienus: “The search started on the internet, after which we got in touch with the owner of the FIAT 850 – a stroke of luck, because a FIAT 850 is very hard to find. Even within the club of 850 friends there is almost no supply, and that is why the price is high! The owner wanted to transfer the car to an enthusiast. At first glance it was a beautiful example with a dent in the door; given the condition it must have been lovingly restored in the past. As you can imagine, the FIAT 850 was on our property in no time.”
Been new?
A FIAT 850 that was once new, has been cherished by its owners and looks new again. Tienus and Dienie would like to show it at classic car events and tell the story behind the car. In the 70s it was a beautiful, practical car and now it is almost a symbol of prosperity: a grateful possession with countless memories attached to it.
Fun
Got my driver's license in 1969
Older brother had a new one for Fl 5050.–
Fiat dealer in the village that helps
With a tailwind the speedometer finally read 140 km/h I think
Greetings
Enjoy it
Arjoan
In 1969, just when I was 18, I had driving lessons in an 850. I looked for a driving school with such a Fiat because I wanted to know how it drove. As an enthusiast I also looked at Austin/Morris Mini and the Hillman Imp. The problems of the Mini with wet weather, which caused them to stand along the highway with a wet power distributor, and the beautiful but not entirely reliable technology of the OHC of the Imp were in favor of the 850. The reliability and the good tests in Autovisie about actually all Fiats were the deciding factors. I had a lot of fun with it, unfortunately too short. Too rotten after 5 years. But I learned to drive a car with it. Full throttle in the years 1971 and 1972 from Seedorf to the Achterhoek!
This was my first car in 1972, this was built in 1967 and with a sliding roof! As proud as a peacock. Drove great and top speed was usually also cruising speed (where possible….). The photo shows that the rust devil was already at work. With filler art and creative brushwork, it was still able to keep it driving for a long time. Then Fiat 128, also a great car at that time!
My first car was also driven several times from Limburg to the Seedorf military base in Northern Germany. Small seats without back adjustment... and yet it worked. !!!
A very nice classic, beautiful car with a zeitgeist. Like: special that it was a family car at the time. 3 fit in a current family SUV. Obesity or something……?
Especially back then: the Hella fog lights on the bumper. Light that gave extra visibility under difficult and sporty conditions (nature was still rough and the road was still to be "dominated").
Have fun with the FIAT!
My first car, was very proud! It was already badly rusted when I bought it and after a year it completely collapsed. Still, I drove Uno, Tipo and Panda afterwards. Fine cars. The latter (from 1912) now after 13 years still without defects and not a speck of rust.
What does the d stand for? It can't be diesel, right?
850 D with the D of Push, that's why it's on the back of the car 😉
my mother's car! How cute does this look, pretty good cars at that time, I was always allowed to start as a 12 year old, later I had a 600 as a cross car, those cars were not to be worn out, they could rust ... which didn't in that time
While the design of many modern cars is designed to exude aggression,
Fiat's 850, 600 and 500 have something sympathetic and sweet about them, which makes you, as a road user, feel like you are driving another vehicle
always tend to give them priority.
Exactly what I feel too. A wonderfully sympathetic car in which you move along nicely under the maximum speed. Keep it on the road.