Fiat 850 Parts & Accessories

Fiat 850 Parts & Accessories

The Fiat 850 produced from 1964 to 1973 is a rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive compact car that offered Italian buyers an economical and nimble small vehicle powered by an 843cc inline-four engine mounted behind the rear axle in a layout similar to the Renault 8 and the original Volkswagen Beetle. The 850 range included a standard sedan, a coupe designed by Bertone with flowing lines that belied the economy car origins, and a roadster spider version that provided open-air motoring at minimal cost. The Abarth 850 variants were extensively developed for competition, making the 850 platform a favorite among vintage racing enthusiasts who appreciate its light weight and mid-engine-like handling from the rear weight bias. This collection supports 850 owners in all categories with parts verified to the specific 843cc engine and rear-engined chassis architecture.

Popular Upgrades

Weber 28 IMB and 30 DIC carburetor rebuild kits are the primary fuel system service items for the 850's small-displacement inline-four, as the single-barrel unit requires precise needle valve and idle circuit calibration for correct mixture at the engine's modest operating temperatures. Timing chain kits, piston ring sets in multiple oversizes, and main bearing kits address the most common internal engine wear on surviving 850 examples, particularly on cars that have sat unused for extended periods where oil film deterioration accelerates wear on initial restart. Koni period-specification shock absorbers for both front independent and rear semi-trailing arm suspension, and brake shoe kits in correct swept-area dimensions for the 850's drum brakes at all four corners, complete the most important maintenance categories.

Performance and Handling

The 850's rear engine placement creates a marked rear weight bias that produces characterful oversteer under power if the rear suspension geometry is not maintained correctly, making shock absorber condition and rear trailing arm bushing integrity critical for safe predictable handling on aging examples. Front suspension uses upper and lower A-arms with coil springs, and replacement upper ball joints and lower control arm bushings are priority maintenance items given the age of most surviving 850 examples and the difficulty of finding correct inspection-ready components. The 850 Spider's slightly modified rear suspension geometry compared to the sedan requires attention to Spider-specific alignment specifications rather than sedan targets when performing suspension work on the open car.

What engine does the Fiat 850 use?

The Fiat 850 uses an 843cc longitudinal inline-four mounted in the rear of the car and driving the rear wheels through a four-speed gearbox integral to the rear-mounted transaxle, a layout that concentrates approximately 60 percent of the car's weight over the rear axle. The engine uses a pushrod overhead-valve design with a single camshaft in the block, producing 34 horsepower in base form and 47 horsepower in the Sport Coupe and Spider variants with higher compression and revised carburetion. Abarth developed the 850cc engine into displacements up to 1000cc for competition use, with revised cylinder heads, twin-cam conversions, and forced induction variants that competed successfully in classes throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

How does the Fiat 850 rear-engine layout affect service access?

The rear-mounted engine is accessed by lifting the rear lid, which exposes the engine bay mounted directly above the rear transaxle, making oil changes, spark plug replacement, and valve adjustment relatively straightforward but requiring care to avoid disturbing the delicate bodywork around the engine bay opening. Cooling system access requires removing the rear engine lid liner and the heater radiator shroud to reach the hoses and thermostat, and coolant flush procedures are more involved than on front-engine cars due to the remote expansion tank placement under the front hood above the spare tire. Clutch replacement on the 850 requires separating the engine from the rear subframe assembly, a procedure that benefits from rear subframe support stands and careful attention to the driveshaft boot condition discovered during disassembly.

Why These Parts Fit Right

Parts in this collection are cataloged to the Fiat 850's production years from 1964 to 1973, covering sedan, coupe, and spider body styles with the correct 843cc rear-mounted engine specifications and variant-specific suspension geometry. Compatibility notes distinguish between standard and Sport versions with correct carburetor and compression ratio fitment details. Orders ship quickly from stocked inventory to support your 850 restoration or maintenance project.

Browse exhaust options for classic Fiat engines in the performance exhaust collection, find suspension restoration parts in the suspension catalog, or explore air intake systems for Weber-carbureted small-displacement Italian engines.