Used Fiat Cars for Sale

Fiat is one of the most famous brands in history. It is now part of the huge Stellantis corportation along with Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Maserati, Peugeot, Jeep and Vauxhall among others. The Italian brand made its name with small cars and is now best known for the hugely popular Fiat 500.

Fiat was founded by Giovani Agnelli in 1899 and in that same year produced its first car, the 31/2 CV, powered by a 0.7 litre engine, which produced 4.2 horsepower. Continuing to grow, Fiat expanded outside Italy and into the American market by 1908, where it represented a luxury model, due to the high price compered to domestic brands. By 1910 Fiat had grown to become the largest car manufacturer in Italy, which it has remained ever since.

During the Great War, Fiat was a producer of supplies for allied forces, with car production returning after the war. The company also went on to produce its first tractor. The founder left in 1921 when the communist party seized Fiat’s plants but this occupation quickly ended. The Lingotto factory opened in 1923 and at the time was the largest factory in Europe. It was also the first Fiat factory to use an assembly line, helping the company to increase production and dominate the Italian car market, controlling 87% by 1925.

During the Second World War, Fiat’s production again moved to military machinery, with the production of aircraft, light tanks and armoured vehicles. At the end of the war the Agnelli family was removed from control of Fiat due to their links to Mussolini’s government and did not regain a leadership role until 1963.

In 1969 Fiat purchased the controlling interest in both Ferrari and Lancia, before acquiring Alfa Romeo in 1986 and Maserati in 1993. Fiat went on to form an alliance with Chrysler in 2009.