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This is Zastava 850, the last model of the famous Fiat
600, which Zastava from Kragujevac, Yugoslavia, launched in 1980 on
Belgrade auto expo.
Everything started 25 years before, in 1955, on Geneva
car expo. Few years earlier Fiat's main engineer Dr Dante Giacosa
(1905-1996) accepted a task to construct a small vehicle, that could,
unlike the legendary Topolino, allow for acceptably comfortable
transportation for four passengers. It had 633 ccm engine which
developed 16 kW. In the beginning it was made in two versions: standard
sedan and convertible. During first five years over one million units
were sold.
In 1960 it received a new 767 ccm engine which developed 18
kW, and a letter "D" after "600". Maximum speed was
110 km/h. The last Italian Fiat 600 was produced in 1960. It is worth
noting that this was first monovolumen car, ever produced. Production
continued in Argentina, Austria, Spain and Yugoslavia.
Zastava 750 Special
was introduced in 1979. With a new and more powerful engine (22 kW), this
little car was able to reach top speed of 120 km/h.
In 1980, before
mentioned 850 appeared, with well known Fiat engine 848 ccm and 23,4 kW.
That model has a top speed of 125 km/h. In 1985 the last
"Fica" was produced.
A car what was much more than that,
especially for many Yugoslavs, went into a deserved retirement. A car
which was police, ambulance and military vehicle, and only vehicle used
for drivers education and drivers exams. But the story continues, to
this day there are many Fiat 600's on Yugoslavian roads, more because
bad economic state of our citizens, than because of loyalty to our
national automobile, the pride and symbol of our car industry.
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