Pirin-Fiat
Encyclopedia
Pirin-Fiat was the trademark of several passenger automobiles produced in Lovech
, Bulgaria
, and the result of a collaboration between Fiat
(an Italian
automobile firm) and SPC Balkankar (a Bulgarian state production cooperative). Production lasted for five years (1967-1971).
. Subsequently, the Fiat
representatives informed their management in Turin
that SPC Balkankar wished to enter into a contract with Fiat
, with performance to be given in several stages as follows:
The proposed contract specified that SPC Balkankar was to pay Fiat through barter of Bulgarian goods exported by Bulgarian ETO's (export trade organizations). On November 17 and 18, 1966, the sales manager of SPC Balkancar and the Fiat representatives negotiated a finalized version of the contract, which resolved the earlier impasse caused by the steep demands of the Bulgarian side. On December 6, 1966, the Bulgarians received the first blueprints from Fiat in two variants - 1A and 2A.
The actual contract was signed in Turin
, Italy
, between SPC Balkankar and Fiat, providing that Balkankar would be allowed to assemble the passenger cars Fiat 850 sedan, Fiat 850 coupè, Fiat 124
sedan and Fiat 124
station wagon.
on May 10, 1967. After the Bulgarian side was trained in the assembly of the Fiats, it was decided to choose a Bulgarian-sounding trademark for the cars. The unofficial trademark was Pirin, but it was never featured on the cars themselves. The first Fiat 850 passenger car was assembled at the Balkan factory on June 27, 1967.
On March 12, 1968, the first Fiat 850 cars based on variant 2A were received at the factory as complete knockdown kits. This was followed by the arrival of Fiat's permanent technical adviser on April 2. The assembly of Fiat 850 based on variant 2A began on April 4, 1968.
Between April and May 1968, Bulgarian engineer Dimitar Damyanov was sent to Turin to sign a contract with Fiat regarding the delivery of welding and assembly machinery.
On April 28, 1968, the Italian engineer Brasio arrived at the Balkan factory in Lovech as a technical adviser, and on December 13 of the same year the Italian specialists Mueller and Grimaldi arrive to install the painting machinery.
The five-year contract between Balkankar and Fiat lapsed in 1971 and was not renewed. The last Fiat 850 left the Lovech factory in September 1971.
Total production: 758
Lovech
Lovech is a town in north-central Bulgaria with a population of 36,296 as of February 2011. It is the administrative centre of the Lovech Province and of the subordinate Lovech Municipality. The town is located about 150 km northeast from the capital city of Sofia...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, and the result of a collaboration between Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
(an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
automobile firm) and SPC Balkankar (a Bulgarian state production cooperative). Production lasted for five years (1967-1971).
Beginnings
On September 26, 1966, a meeting was held between the management of SPC (state production cooperative) Balkankar and representatives of the Italian automobile company FiatFiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
. Subsequently, the Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
representatives informed their management in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
that SPC Balkankar wished to enter into a contract with Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
, with performance to be given in several stages as follows:
- Until the end of 1966, Fiat was to deliver 300-350 Fiat 850Fiat 850The Fiat 850 is a small longitudinal-rear-engined rear wheel drive car which was produced between 1964 and 1973.-Overview:Its technical design was an evolution of the very successful Fiat 600. The internal name for the Fiat 600 development project was "Project 100" and consequently, the internal...
passenger cars in complete knockdown (CKD) kits to be assembled by SPC Balkankar. - Until the end of 1967, Fiat was to deliver 3000-5000 Fiat 850 passenger cars in complete knockdown kits to be assembled by SPC Balkankar.
- Fiat was to design a factory for the assembly and partial manufacture of automobiles, which was to begin operations in Bulgaria at a later date.
- Fiat was to set up a network of service stations.
- Fiat was to design and construct a warehouse for spare parts.
The proposed contract specified that SPC Balkankar was to pay Fiat through barter of Bulgarian goods exported by Bulgarian ETO's (export trade organizations). On November 17 and 18, 1966, the sales manager of SPC Balkancar and the Fiat representatives negotiated a finalized version of the contract, which resolved the earlier impasse caused by the steep demands of the Bulgarian side. On December 6, 1966, the Bulgarians received the first blueprints from Fiat in two variants - 1A and 2A.
The actual contract was signed in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, between SPC Balkankar and Fiat, providing that Balkankar would be allowed to assemble the passenger cars Fiat 850 sedan, Fiat 850 coupè, Fiat 124
Fiat 124
The Fiat 124 is a mid-sized family car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1966 and 1974. It was the replacement of the Fiat 1300 and Fiat 1500...
sedan and Fiat 124
Fiat 124
The Fiat 124 is a mid-sized family car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1966 and 1974. It was the replacement of the Fiat 1300 and Fiat 1500...
station wagon.
Production
The first 18 Fiat 850 cars arrived at the Factory for Passenger Cars Balkan in LovechLovech
Lovech is a town in north-central Bulgaria with a population of 36,296 as of February 2011. It is the administrative centre of the Lovech Province and of the subordinate Lovech Municipality. The town is located about 150 km northeast from the capital city of Sofia...
on May 10, 1967. After the Bulgarian side was trained in the assembly of the Fiats, it was decided to choose a Bulgarian-sounding trademark for the cars. The unofficial trademark was Pirin, but it was never featured on the cars themselves. The first Fiat 850 passenger car was assembled at the Balkan factory on June 27, 1967.
On March 12, 1968, the first Fiat 850 cars based on variant 2A were received at the factory as complete knockdown kits. This was followed by the arrival of Fiat's permanent technical adviser on April 2. The assembly of Fiat 850 based on variant 2A began on April 4, 1968.
Between April and May 1968, Bulgarian engineer Dimitar Damyanov was sent to Turin to sign a contract with Fiat regarding the delivery of welding and assembly machinery.
On April 28, 1968, the Italian engineer Brasio arrived at the Balkan factory in Lovech as a technical adviser, and on December 13 of the same year the Italian specialists Mueller and Grimaldi arrive to install the painting machinery.
The five-year contract between Balkankar and Fiat lapsed in 1971 and was not renewed. The last Fiat 850 left the Lovech factory in September 1971.
Production numbers
- Fiat 850 sedan (1967–1971): 360
- Fiat 850 coupe (1967–1970): 89
- Fiat 124 sedan (1967–1971): 274
- Fiat 124 station wagon (1967–1970): 35
Total production: 758