Hotting up the FIRE

To be a classic, an engine doesn’t have to be huge, complex or even powerful.

It appears the “FIRE engines” found in many small Fiats and Lancias have attained “classic status”. Fiat’s Fully Integrated Robotic Engines were leading edge for their time as they introduced automated machining and assembly to the mass market.

My experience is they are "unbustable" even when regularly thrashed; 999 cc and 45bhp means you do! The one in the mighty Uno just ticked up it’s 220,000th kilometre with nothing but routine servicing and looks good for a few more…. hopefully!

Sporting Fiats Club (U.K.) have posted a great tuning article with the history, specs and how make the little FIRE a bit more fiery.

Sporting Fiats Club - The Retro Cars FIRE Tuning Article