The charter establishing Fiat was signed in 1899 and a year later the factory opened and produced 24 cars in the first year.

By 1908, Fiat had expanded throughout Europe and the United States and when World War I began production focused on supplying the army.

After the war, during Mussolini’s rule, the company’s international presence was scaled back.

By the early 1920s, production methods could not keep pace with the demand for automobiles.

A new five story factory, the largest in Europe, opened in 1923 with a test track installed on the roof.

The Fiat 508c was introduced as a small family car in 1937 as a replacement for the 508 Balilla.

Under the new body, the 508c had a more modern and refined mechanics to include independent front suspension and an enlarged overhead valve engine.

In 1939, it was updated and simply renamed the Fiat 1100, according to official figures the top speed was 110km/h or 68mph.

The main body style for the 508c was a four-door pillarless saloon whic...