Fiat 147 L 1050
Fiat's first Brazilian-built car packed a transverse 1,049 cc engine, front-wheel drive and a foldable rear seat into a very small hatchback.
1976 Fiat 147 L 1050, chassis 0000001 · Leonardo Bussinger · CC BY-SA 4.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Fiat inaugurated its Betim operation with the 147 in 1976 and launched the model at Ouro Preto. The first chassis, 0000001, was a silver 147 L with the Brazilian 1,050-class gasoline engine. Fiat adapted the European 127 idea for Brazilian roads and packaging needs, adding the locally developed Fiasa engine. Later ethanol, GL/GLS, Rallye, Panorama, Oggi and pickup derivatives are outside this launch profile. The exact cover shows preserved/restored chassis 0000001 in a later museum setting, so it documents identity rather than untouched factory condition.
Look a little closer.
Its cover car is chassis 0000001—the first Brazilian-production Fiat 147—but the preserved/restored display condition is newer than the 1976 build.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Why the engine sat sideways
Turning the engine ninety degrees put its crankshaft close to the front-wheel transaxle. The short mechanical path left more of the tiny body for people and luggage, one reason the 147 could feel roomy for its outside size. This launch profile stays with the gasoline 1,049 cc engine and does not borrow the later ethanol model's story.
Source: Fiat Brazil · energy-efficiency history ↗Calendar year, power tests and the restored first car
The public launch and chassis 0000001 are documented in 1976 even though some sources call the first production run the 1977 line. Power figures also need their test language: about 50 DIN hp is not contradicted by Brazilian gross values around 55–56 cv. The cover shows the exact first chassis after preservation/restoration, so its museum condition is identification evidence rather than proof of untouched 1976 finish and assembly.
Source: Quatro Rodas · first Brazilian Fiat 147 ↗Where these facts come from
- Stellantis/Fiat · Fiat 147 50-year history
- Fiat Brazil · energy-efficiency history
- Quatro Rodas · first Brazilian Fiat 147
- Automobile-Catalog · 1976 Fiat 147
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-03.