MarqueTime: Nationality: Italian. Born: 1899. The name is an acronym of the last part of the company's full name - Societa aninima Fabbrica Italiana di Automobil, Torino - and just 24 units of its first car were produced: the 4HP with a 679cc engine, beginning a history of Fiat expertise in building small cars.
But in its first decade, Fiat also diversified into trucks, buses, trams, and marine and aero engines. Indeed the brand set the world land speed record in 1912 with a car powered by a 28-litre engine.
After WWI new models included the first mass seller for the brand, the 1.5-litre 501 which was produced until 1926. Larger cars with 2.3- and 3.4-litre engines were also produced during this period, and even the 6.8-litre V12 Superfiat of 1921 which had 90bhp under the hood.
The 500 Topolino introduced in 1936 was at its introduction the smallest mass-produced car in the world. After the second World War, the 500C came on stream and, more than half-a-million 500s were built before it ended in 1955.
The Multipla name was used in 1956 in a version of the 600 that was the company's next small car. This had three rows of seats, the rearmost of which could be folded flat into the floor ... so there's nothing new about 'mini-MPVs'.
Meantime, the 500 name was revived, and with variations including a Sport coupe brought the nameplate right through the 60s and halfway through the following decade, with total sales in excess of 3.6 million. However, Fiat was also building successful larger cars, notably the 1200 and, later, 1800 and 2100/2300s. The 1300/1500 family was introduced in 1961, the first cars from the brand to use disc brakes.
They were replaced in 1966 by the 124, which - along with its bigger brother 125 - were both highly successful for the company and also subsequently spawned less good Eastern European derivatives such as the Lada Riva from Russia and the Polski Fiat (which latter was turned by a Polish Fiat subsidiary set up in the 20s). The 124 also had a Spider derivative designed by Pininfarina, and a Ferrari-fettled Dino Spider had a 2-litre V6 engine.
Front-wheel drive came to Fiats in 1969 with the 128, the same year that Fiat bought Lancia and its debts for $1 (the biggest Lancia shareholder at the time was the Vatican).
A 132 that replaced the 125 in 1972 soldiered on to become the Argenta in 1981. The 124 was replaced by the 131 Mirafiori and became Fiat's main family car until replaced in turn by the Ritmo in 1978. The Panda small car was launched in 1980 and only discontinued production this month to make way for the brand new version.
In 1983 Fiat invented the supermini with the Uno, a year before the company bought Alfa Romeo. The Uno was followed by the Punto, 'Car of the Year' in 1995, and has arguably kept Fiat afloat since.
Up the scale, the Ritmo was replaced by the Tipo in 1989, and three years ago the Stilo was launched with much fanfare.
However, the company's financial fortunes have declined in the last three years, and right up to today the future of Fiat to be an independent carmaker or a subsidiary of General Motors (GM) is still in the balance.
Best Car: 500 (old) and Punto (modern).
Worst Car: The Argenta
Weirdest Car: Modern Multipla - but a brilliant concept and drive.