1912 Fiat Model 56

Fiat's history began in 1899 when Giovanni Agnelli and several investors founded the Italian Factory of Turin in 1899. They built their first truck in 1903 and exported their first motorcar to the United States in 1908. Two years later, they opened a U.S.-based plant in Poughkeepsie, New York as the importation tariff of foreign automobiles was 45% which significantly cut into their profit margin.

In 1906, the name was changed to FIAT (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino) and the company remained under Anelli's guidance until his death in 1945. It quickly became the largest automobile company in Italy, with its reputation solidified through numerous accomplishments on the race track. Like several other early automobile manufacturers, they even manufactured an aircraft engine.

The Fiat vehicles were superbly engineered, advanced, and built to high standards. They were seen as a social status and the high costs made them very exclusive. Their price tags began at $4,000 without custom coachwork and easily outpaced the cost of a Ford Model T listed at $525. With custom coachwork installed, the price tag easily exceeded $7,000, putting it within the territory of Napier and Rolls-Royce vehicles.

The U.S-based Fiat factory was staffed by former employees of Lozier, Pope-Toledo, and E.R. Thomas. The large touring automobiles they built were initially powered by a four-cylinder engine. A six-cylinder model was introduced in 1912 and powered a 135-inch wheelbase platform. The Type 56 was powered by an 8.6-liter T-head, Side-Valve inline engine with Bosch ZR6 Magneto Ignition, mono-block construction, and integral water-jacketed intake and exhaust manifolds. This under-square six-cylinder powerplant utilized a cooling fan mounted to its flywheel, and belly pans below the engine and transmission ensured proper airflow. The engine was officially rated at fifty horsepower (actual output was closer to 80 horsepower) and it was paired with a four-speed manual transmission with direct drive in fourth. A torque-tube delivers power to a 'Clamshell' rear axle. The Type 56 had a leaf spring suspension and rear-wheel drum brakes. The body was formed from aluminum over wood framing, with steel fenders and hood. The wood-spoked artillery wheels had de-mountable rims, and wood was used in the firewall, interior trim, and windshield frame.

Initially, the American Fiat was offered with just one body style, with four different coachwork types being offered for 1913 in both open and closed configurations. The selection of body colors expanded to four, including Fiat Blue. The seven-passenger touring car was priced at around $5,000 and the limousine added approximately $1,000 to the price.

During the height of American Fiat production, approximately 350 cars were built annually. As the United States entered the Great War in 1917, the company was reabsorbed into its Italian parent company due to shrinking sales. In 1917, FIAT reduced its production in Poughkeepsie to only four-cylinder cars, and production ceased altogether in early 1918. The factory was later sold to Duesenberg.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2022