A History of Fiat’s Automotive Icon

The History of the Fiat 124 Spider

Few models have the sort of iconic history that the Fiat 124 Spider has. From its early years in the second half of the 20th century to its revival in 2016, the 124 Spider (previously known as the 124 Sport Spider) has been an icon of dynamic and exhilarating driving across the globe. Let’s take a look at where things started and how they developed.

When Was the Fiat 124 Spider First Made?

The convertible 124 Spider sports car began its story in 1966, the first model year for this automotive icon. Though it has the Fiat name, it was actually manufactured at the Pininfarina factory, an Italian vehicle design and manufacturing firm.

This initial model was powered by a four-cylinder engine that offered 89 horsepower. That doesn’t sound like much, but we must keep in mind that the 124 Sport Spider was a very small sports car, as all true sports cars of the time were. Therefore, 89 horsepower was plenty to inject some thrill into the driving experience.

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The Fiat 124 Sport Spider in the United States

Fiat brought the Spider to the U.S. market in 1868. The initial model was equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, though the vehicle was also available with an automatic transmission from General Motors from 1979 until 1985. The Spider became well known in part because of its convertible top, which was particularly easy to lower and raise. For many Americans at the time, the Spider was the first introduction to a true lightweight sports car, after experiencing primarily the muscle cars that were sold in the U.S.

The car experienced a significant upgrade in 1980 in the form of a new engine that was capable of 102 horsepower. This became the standard engine option for the North American market. Unfortunately, soon after, Fiat pulled out of the American market entirely and even ceased marketing of the Spider, though Pininfarina continued manufacturing the model under a different name for a few more years.

Thankfully, Fiat brought back this iconic model for the 2016 model year. The vehicle was introduced to North America with 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque while retaining the lightweight sports car quality of the original car. Any concerns over a lack of power from the initial model were quickly resolved. A performance version known as the Abarth 124 Spider was also made.

Will the Fiat 124 Spider Ever Come Back?

Sadly, the 2020 model was the final version of the modern 124 Spider. The model continued to sell into 2021 until there were no more new vehicles left. Exactly why this decision was made is unclear, though it’s hard not to think that the COVID-19 pandemic had something to do with it, as the pandemic hit the auto industry hard.

[Read more: Could the Fiat 600 and Multipla Make a Comeback?]

Now that we are finally making our way out of the pandemic, however, will Fiat bring back this renowned sports car? Only time will tell, but we’ll be sure to update you if they do here on the Fiat of Kirkland blog.