A POPULAR FIAT MODEL

NZ Truth, Issue 1062, 1 April 1926, Page 17

A POPULAR FIAT MODEL

" Truth's " Interesting Tests IMPRESSIONS ON THE ROAD

F.I.A.T. (MODEL 501);

==■ . ■ H Nominal H.P. 10. Brake H.P. 18. Chassis weight, 12y 2 cwts. If Wheelbase, Bfeet BV4inches. Track, 4feetlV4incb.es. 4 cylini| ders 65mm. bore by 110 mm stroke.^ Pump circulation. f| Force feed lubrication. Magneto, ignition. "F.I.A/T." Carf| bureter. Multiple disc clutch. Four speed gear box. Semifj elliptic springs. Balloon tyres. '} : y p ?rllllllllllMlllllllltllllllltll<lllinittllllltiritlllll|MllllltlllMlllll[ltll [>llltlllllllMlllllllllllllltllllllllllllllltllllillllllllllltlJllltlllllllMl]lllll II II II II>I Illiltlllllll KM llltlilll lllllltll ll ll ll ll llll ll ll ll till

WE have just taken one of the popular "501" model Fiat's over our test run, and our impressions, together with the results of our tests, will no doubt prove interesting to readers who have previously, had experience with Continental cars. This car is built m Italy, and throughout, the whole job that distinctive Italian finish is apparent. Anyone looking at the engine, for instance, would be instantly struck by the entire absence of "frills." The Fiat has always been noted as a very clean piece of designing, and the "501" is no exception to the rule. Such details as the control rod's, which are fitted with ball joints throughout, the setting of the magneto at right angles to the engine so as to facilitate examination of the contact breaker and distributor, and the provision of means for flooding the carburettor from the dashboard, will commend themselves to the keen motorist. NEW ZEALAND MODEL. As far as the appearance of the body goes, this is low without being too "sporting" looking and the designers of the New Zealand-built five-seater have been singularly fortunate m obtaining a. comfortable body withput making ?t too "tubby" — a fault which spoils many bodies built on fairly small chassis. We had been told that we should find the car slow on hills, and we were therefore agreeably surprised at tho climbing abilities of this little engine. Whilst running the car around some of the Wellington hills to become accustomed to her, it became very evident to iv that the trouble was to be traced to lack of knowledge of the proper use of the four -speed gearbox. Whatever may be said of the threespeed gearbox, there can be no doubt that the four speeds aro put » in with the intention that they shall be used. If 'this is borne m mind, no complaint will be found regarding the speed of the Fiat on hills. To prove this, we may mention that we covered the two and a half miles

from Paekakarikt to v the "top of the hill at an average speed of 19 miles an hour, including a part of the run which was done behind a big truck which delayed us for a short time at one point. . One specially noteworthy point about the Fiat is' its road holding . quality, • . "When cornering at any speed, no side slip occurs, and the car clings 10 the road m a remarkable manner. ' This no doubt accounts; for the excellence of the steering, which has evidently been: designed for use with the balloon tyres,' which are fitted as standard. Care for the brakes of the car prevent us from testing them to the full emergency capacity, but the action is particularly powerful, and on the few occasions upon which we found it necessary to pull up quickly the brakes responded m a. very satisfactory manner, the good road holding qualities of the car no doubt assisting them, io operate without that chattering action which is so much m evidence on certain cars. A SUGGESTION. To sum up, we should put the "501" Flat down as an ideal 'bus for the man who requires a medium-priced car, suitable for use over "give and take" roads, capable of a good average touring speed, and from its general high quality of design and workmanship we should say that it could be relied upon to stand up to a great deal of hard work without being continually m the repair shop. . .< And criticisms? Well, we think thsit the hood could be made higher with advantage. . This would spoil the lines of the car to a certain extent, but our passengers at the back complained that they experienced a somewhat closed-down feeling, especially when covering pot-holed roads at speed. Alternatively, the fitting of sriubbers at the rear would probably effect an improvement, although there seemed no fault to find with the spring from the driver's seat.