1983 FIAT Uno 3 Doors 1.3L Turbo 5MT FWD (105 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The Uno was built as a replacement for the 127 model, and thanks to its huge success, it was considered Fiat’s savior.

By 1983, Fiat was already in a bad financial situation. Its models were not as appealing as before, and the German brands gained more and more market shares. The French companies were also stronger and made Fiat struggle for a piece of the market. Its Ritmo, Argenta, and 127 couldn’t keep up with the competition. Then, the carmaker asked Giugiaro to make a new car for them, and the result was the Uno.

With its simple design, but not dull, the Uno won the customers. The flat surfaces meant that it was cheap to build, and the smart design cues made it a favorite on the market. Its squared headlights, flat grille, and straight panels were easy to understand. The car offered a better ingress and egress for the front passengers in three-door versions, while the slim pillars made it easy to drive, offering excellent all-around visibility.

Inside, Fiat tried to keep things simple. The squared-looking dashboard with its vents in the middle and a wide storage area on top of the panel was user-friendly, not to mention the very easy-to-reach ashtray. Back in the ’80s, smoking was common behavior, and hiding that feature at the bottom of the center stack was not a good idea.

The three-door version was the most affordable if equipped with the base engine version. Fiat installed a turbocharged engine for the most potent version, Uno Turbo, that provided 105 hp on the other end of the scale.