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H O W T H E B A R C H E T T A W A S B O R N

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In 1990, the management of Fiat assigned the Centro Stile (Styling Center) of

Fiat with the task to realise a spider on the chassis of the 'Tipo B' (later to

become known as the 'Punto'). Therefore it was coded 'Tipo B Spider 176'.

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Sketch byAndreas Zapatinas, who is considered to be the designer of the barchetta.

May '91

Proposal for theMarinara

March 22, '91

The Diavola,

basically an openversion of the Coup

Fiat

April 15, '91

Initial sketches for the cabin

April '91

The names 'Marinara' and 'Diavola' refer

topizzas, to distinguish the various

prototypes. Other names were the Atomica

and Bismarck.

The Diavola featured a strong resemblance

with the Coup Fiat, which was already

defined at that time. It had the same bubblyheadlights, round rearlights and wheel-arch

The cabin (seats, steering column, pedals

etc.) was shifted 10 cm (4") rearward

opposed to the original Tipo B (Punto).

Right from the start, the idea was to let

sheetmetal from the hood enter the cabin.

http://www.fiatbarchetta.com/prototype/designers.htmlhttp://www.fiatbarchetta.com/prototype/designers.htmlhttp://www.fiatbarchetta.com/prototype/designers.htmlhttp://www.fiatbarchetta.com/prototype/designers.html

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cuts.

Only a few months after the start of the

project, life-size plaster models had been

made (below).

First model of the

Marinara

May '91

Plaster model of the

Diavola

May '91

Various sketches for the front and rear-end.

Second model of the

Marinara, here with

oval rear lights.

Last model of the

Diavola (now with

round wheel-arches),

before it was finally

rejected. Note theMazda MX-5 (Miata)

July '91 - Proposal of

the dashboard

byPeter

Davis(rejected).

July '91 - Design by

Guiseppe

Bertolusso.

Sheetmetal reaches

over the dashboard.

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July '91

and the Lotus Elan in

the background!

July '91

Sketches by Zapatinas. The oval rearlights

are now more squared.

By this time, the exterior design is final and

the car is renamed 'Spider 183'.

December '91

Uhoh, reorganisation at the Centro Stile...Positions in 1991: Positions in 1992:

Director Fiat

Design:Nevio di

Giusto

Coordinator Fiat

Design:Mario Maioli

Assistent Fiat

Stile/Design:Ermanno

CressoniChief Exterior

Design: Chris Bangle

Chief Interior

Design:Peter Davis

Director Fiat

Design: Chris

Bangle

Coordinator Fiat

Design:Nevio di

Giusto

Assistent Fiat

Design:Ermanno

CressoniChief Design

Cars:Andreas

Zapatinas

(later:Alessandro

Cavazzo)

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rearlights: two colors in each lens.

January '92: In Januari 1992, Fiat was

looking a company to build the car. Of the

Turin coachbuilders

First epowood model of the dashboard.

Sheetmetal enters the cabin, but not as far

as in the first proposals.

January '92

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Itca,StolaandMaggiora, the latter was

choosen.

In this proposal, the hoodcover doubles as aspoiler! 1. Lift spoiler; 2. Put it on the

trunk; 3. Close the roof

March '92

Almost final dashboard. In the final

version, sheetmetal is only 2 to 3 inches

wide.

March '92

Enginebay layout

Prototype of the clocks in day and night

vision. The number of dials in the

righthand clock has been reduced to two in

the final version.

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The crew of Centre Stile Fiat who designed the car without any third party help.

On the far right: Nevio Di Giusto (coordinator Stile/Design Gruppo Fiat),

next to him:Peter Davis(director Centro Stile Fiat).

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