Fiat 804
| Fiat 804 | |
|---|---|
Pietro Bordino on a Fiat 804 before the 1922 ACF GP. | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Fiat |
| Production | 1922 |
| Assembly | ITA |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports Type 404 |
| Layout | Longitudinal front |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Straight-six engine |
| Transmission | 4-speed |
| Hybrid drivetrain | 4-speed Mechanical |
| Battery | 67 hp (49 kW) - 92 hp (68 kW) |
| Dimensions | |
| Curb weight | 660 kg |
The Fiat 804 or 804 Corsa is an early 1920s racing car developed by Italian carmaker Fiat. Designed exclusively for competition, in 1922 it won both the Grand Prix of the Automobile Club of France and the Italian Grand Prix, establishing Fiat's dominance in Grand Prix racing ahead of such prestigious manufacturers as Ballot and Bugatti.
In 1922, the Grand Prix regulations set the maximum displacement of competing cars at 2 liters, so the new Type 404 straight-six engine with a displacement of 1,991 cm3 was chosen to power the Fiat 804; in reality, it was simply the engine of the 802, the Type 402, with two cylinders removed and a stroke reduced by 20mm. In contrast to the engine, the chassis - whose name "804" gives the car its name - introduces an innovative and "elegant" configuration.
After the departure of engineer Giulio Cesare Cappa from the management of the Special Studies Section, which had produced the Fiat 804, it was replaced in 1923 by the 805, which was given the task of preserving Fiat's competitiveness in Grand Prix racing.