FIAT 508

Fiat 508e

PaysItalie
TypeVoiture compacte
Production1932–1937
Construit100000+

Lla Fiat 508 Balilla était une voiture compacte conçue et produite par Fiat de 1932 à 1937. Il s’agissait en fait du remplacement de la Fiat 509, bien que la production du modèle précédent ait cessé en 1929. Il avait une transmission à trois vitesses (portée à quatre en 1934), quatre places assises et une vitesse de pointe d’environ 50 mph (80 km/h). Il s’est vendu 10 800 lires (soit 8 300 euros 2005). Environ 113 000 exemplaires ont été produits.

Source: Wikipedia

FIAT 508 Walk Around
PhotographeGian Luca Cocchi
LocalisationInconnu
Photos17
Attendez, à la recherche d’Autoblinda Lancia Lince pour vous...

SSMODEL 48684 V1.7 1/48 Kit Maquette Résine Imprimée en 3D IA Fiat-Ansaldo M15/42 Réservoir Moyen - Amazon

Voir aussi :

Seconde Guerre mondiale : l’histoire visuelle définitive de la Blitzkrieg à la bombe atomique (DK Definitive Visual Histories) - Amazon Carte par carte de la Seconde Guerre mondiale (carte par carte de l’histoire du Danemark) - Amazon


A Social and Military Revolution

Lla Fiat 508 Balilla, introduced in 1932, was the most popular Italian car of the 1930s. Designed as an affordable « gens’s car, » it was simple, robust, and easy to maintain. However, its true legacy lies in its versatility; the Royal Italian Army (Regio Esercito) quickly realized that the 508 chassis was ideal for military adaptation. This led to the creation of the 508M (Militare) and the famous 508 CM « Coloniale, » which became the ubiquitous light staff car for Italian officers in North Africa and Russia.

Attribute Standard Specification (Fiat 508 / 508 CM)
Rôle Economy Car / Military Staff & Liaison Car
Production Years 1932–1937 (Civilian) / Until 1945 (Military)
Engine Type Fiat 108: 4-cylinder, side-valve petrol
Déplacement 995 cc
Horsepower 20 hp to 24 hp (30 hp in later 508C models)
Transmission 3-speed Manual (Later 4-speed)
Max Speed 80–95 km/h (approx. 50–60 mph)
Curb Weight approx. 685 kg (Civilian) / 890 kg (Military)

Lla « Coloniale » Evolution

  • Military Adaptation: The 508 CM was characterized by its high-clearance suspension, larger tires, and a rugged, open-top body. These modifications allowed it to traverse the soft sand and rocky « hamada » of the Libyan desert.
  • Lla « Long » 508C: In 1937, Fiat introduced the 508C (Nuova Balilla), which featured a more powerful 1,100cc engine and aerodynamic styling. This chassis was also militarized, leading to the 1100 « Coloniale » which served as the Italian equivalent of the German Kübelwagen.
  • Technical Simplicity: The side-valve engine was intentionally under-stressed to run on low-quality fuel, and the mechanical brakes were simple to repair in the field.

Military Variants

  • 508M (Militare): The first militarized version, often featuring a soft-top and standard civilian fenders, used mainly for domestic duties and communications.
  • 508 CM (Coloniale Militare): The definitive war version with a distinctively boxy body, spade mounts, and extra fuel cans for long-range desert patrols.
  • 508 Camioncino: A light pickup truck version capable of carrying 350 kg, used for transporting light supplies and small units of soldiers.
  • AS.37 Platform: The 508 was often used as the base for the Autosahariana long-range desert vehicles, which were heavily armed with Breda machine guns or 20mm cannons.

Héritage

The Fiat 508 didnt just win over Italian families; it proved itself as a resilient combatant in some of the harshest environments of WWII. After the war, the 508C chassis became the foundation for the Fiat 1100, a car that would continue to be produced (most notably in India as the Premier Padmini) for decades to come.


Vues : 378

Ecrire un commentaire

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong> 

requis

Ce site utilise Akismet pour réduire les indésirables. En savoir plus sur comment les données de vos commentaires sont utilisées.