1929 Fiat 509 A
This is one of the last examples of the 509 A. Why are we introducing this car again? Because of its enormous importance for the manufacturer. It was given particular importance on the path to light and economical
automobiles.
For example, it just made Fiat really known in Germany. It was the first four-cylinder with just one liter displacement. Last but not least, the NSU Automobil-AG was founded in 1929, half taken over by Fiat and half by Deutsche
Bank.
Previously, from 1922 onwards, Deutsche Fiat Automobili-Verkaufs-AG only had an office in Munich, to which a headquarters in Berlin was added in 1926. Now the Heilbronn plant was taken over by NSU. However, the
attempt to sell the 2.5 liter Fiat 522 here failed.
To this day, Fiat has seared itself into the minds of potential car buyers as a successful provider of primarily small cars, not only in Germany. This reputation has even been carried over into the electric age. Because the Fiat
500e is always at the top of the registration figures for electric cars in Germany.
In Germany, Fiats were partly equipped by the Weinsberg coachbuilders from around 1930/31. In 1938 the plant was even taken over by Fiat, but remained nominally independent. From 1937 onwards, Topolinos were
manufactured in both Heilbronn and Weinsberg.
Back to the 509. First of all, the overhead camshaft should be mentioned again, it is extremely courageous to offer it together with an economy vehicle. It was possible to achieve almost the same performance as the 501 with
a 1.5 liter four-cylinder through high engine speeds.
The 509 SM showed what was possible with the design as a Torpedo with a lightweight chassis and more than 22 kW (30 hp). It was also used, among other things, in the Mille Miglia in 1927. It proved its versatility as the
509F by being used as a 'Commerciale' with a loadable rear behind the first row of seats.
It is estimated that the production numbers of the 509 were around 23,000 and that of the 509A around 70,000, a number that had previously only been achieved by the 501 including its successors. Not even the Fiat Balilla
508, which was very popular in Italy, came close to these figures, only its second series as 508A.
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