Unveiled in March 1965 at the Geneva Motor Show together with the Fiat 850 Coupé, the Fiat 850 Spider was, together with the closed body model, the sports version of the popular Turin-based utility car, launched the previous year to replace the Fiat 600.

The technical layout followed in its entirety that of the two-door saloon from which it was derived, with the classic 'all rear' layout (engine and drive at the rear).

The sports versions with and without a roof (the latter designed and built by the Bertone coachworks in Turin, and not by the parent company) differed, however, in a number of important mechanical changes compared to the original car: the liquid-cooled, four-cylinder, 843 cc engine received a significant increase in power, going from 37 hp to 49 hp on the Spider version; the front brakes were disc brakes instead of drum brakes for more powerful braking; the rims had an enlarged base and measured 13 inches instead of 12 inches; the axle ratio also changed, with a final ...