13/8!

"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse) 08/13/2015 at 15:40 • Filed to: Fiat, Ritmo

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8

Say ciao to the Fiat 138. No, it wasn’t actually called that. Instead the internal code number was swapped for Ritmo or Strada, according to where you bought it.

The 138/Ritmo/Strada replaced yesterday’s 128 and adopted a self consciously “industrial design” look, with lots of interesting plastic mouldings.

Like some early Audis the various models were called after their modest power outputs, so we had a 60, a 65, a 75, an 85 and later some firebreathing 105s and 130s. All manual except for a few which had a VW three speed automatic. Later Fiat added diesel models

The Ritmo gathered a reputation for rust and poor reliability and after two facelifts was replaced by the Tipo in 1988.

Have a Swedish Mk1 75CL. Note the different looking wheel trims, large plastic bumpers and asymmetric grille just ahead of the windscreen.

Too odd looking?

Have a Mk2 Bertone convertible. Note the roll bar, which was probably needed for body stiffness:

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Cé hé sin 08/13/2015 at 15:45

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I actually know someone with a fiat Bertone convertible.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Cé hé sin 08/13/2015 at 16:04

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The facelift took the cars’ soul imo

kanadanmajava1 > Cé hé sin 08/13/2015 at 16:25

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I want to have an early Ritmo someday. Sadly they are extinct in Finland. I don’t even remember when I saw the last one moving with own power.

AMC/Renauledge > Cé hé sin 08/13/2015 at 16:27

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I loved the little robot face of the Mk1 Strada/Ritmo. But in the USA, we got a full width grille and a tacked-on flat bumper to mar the looks.

RustedSprinter > Cé hé sin 08/13/2015 at 16:33

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Looks like a twingo.

Cé hé sin > Cé hé sin 08/13/2015 at 17:16

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When it was first introduced the Ritmo was advertised in the UK with the slogan:

Designed by computer

Built by robots

to which was inevitably added by way of graffiti:

Driven by morons

Cé hé sin > kanadanmajava1 08/13/2015 at 17:17

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Gone for many, many years I’m afraid. They were disposable, like so many cars. There’s no reason for anyone to keep them.

The blue one in my first picture looks to be a preserved model though. I think it’s in Sweden.

kanadanmajava1 > Cé hé sin 08/13/2015 at 19:33

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Yeah, it looks like a Swedish plate.