FIAT 806 – year 1927

Fiat SpA, Turin, Italy.

In accordance with the applicable formula of Grand Prix cars, limiting the engine capacity to 1500 The cc racing gun by FIAT has prepared a new model marked with the symbol "806 Corsa”. An interesting fact here was primarily the engine. It was a twelve-cylinder engine consisting of two in-line six-cylinders placed next to each other. At cylinder diameter 50 mm and piston stroke 63 mm total capacity reached 1484 cm3. The OHC valve timing was solved by three camshafts in the cylinder head, driven by the crankshaft via gears. Two Roots compressors circulated the aspirated air to the carburettors. The engine itself had a mass 173 kg and reached power 137,6 kW (187 KM) by 8500 RPM. The water-cooled engine had pressurized recirculation lubrication. The drive was transferred to the rear axle through a multi-plate clutch and a four-speed gearbox. The gear lever was already placed inside, next to the driver. Both rigid axles were suspended on longitudinal leaf springs and amortized with mechanical lever friction shock absorbers. The mechanical foot servo brake acted on all wheels. The handbrake only acted on the wheels of the rear axle. The steel chassis frame had a spacing between the axles 2400 mm. The lateral clearance was 140 mm.

Fiat model 806 The Corsa was actually the first single-seater racing car, so monoposto in the full sense of the word, competing in the European Grand Prix race. With a light weight - 700 kg - reached a maximum speed of approx 240 km/h. Unfortunately, it was also the last Fiat produced for Grand Prix races. It was said, that this model was created without the official permission of the company's management, and Agnelli's CEO only found out about the fact after the car had won the Milan Grand Prix at Monza, where Pietro Bordino led him. The car was not fully refined by the designer Vaglienti, engine cooling and lubrication in particular needed improvement.

Rising research costs and the emergence of more and more new racing cars from other companies have discouraged FIAT from continuing to participate in races. This company has disappeared from the Grand Prix tracks forever.