Fiat 508 - Photos & Videos

Fiat 508e
Country	Italy
Type	Compact car
Production	1932–1937
Built	100000+

The Fiat 508 Balilla was a compact car designed and produced by Fiat from 1932 to 1937. It was, effectively, the replacement of the Fiat 509, although production of the earlier model had ceased back in 1929. It had a three-speed transmission (increased to four in 1934), seated four, and had a top speed of about 50 mph (80 km/h). It sold for 10,800 lire (or 8,300 2005 euro). About 113,000 were produced.

Source: Wikipedia

FIAT 508 Walk Around
Photographer	Gian Luca Cocchi
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	17

FIAT 508 01

FIAT 508 02

FIAT 508 03

FIAT 508 04

FIAT 508 05

FIAT 508 06

FIAT 508 07

FIAT 508 08

FIAT 508 09

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A Social and Military Revolution

The Fiat 508 Balilla, introduced in 1932, was the most popular Italian car of the 1930s. Designed as an affordable “people’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)
Role	Economy Car / Military Staff & Liaison Car
Production Years	1932–1937 (Civilian) / Until 1945 (Military)
Engine Type	Fiat 108: 4-cylinder, side-valve petrol
Displacement	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)

The “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.
The “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.

Legacy

The Fiat 508 didn’t 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.