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THE ITALIAN COACHBUILDER SITE

Fiat 132 Aster

1972Coachwork by Zagato

THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE

Model dossier

Production period
1972
Body style
Coupé
Engine
Inline-4
Type
Limited
Production
2

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR

Coachbuilding, design & conversions

PRICE & SALES RECORD

Vehicle value

Original price
Not documented
Latest recorded sale
Not documented

01 / THE STORY

History & context

The Fiat 132 Aster, crafted by Carrozzeria Zagato in Milan, represents a unique chapter in automotive design, marked by its distinctive styling and limited production. Designed by Giuseppe Mittino for Zagato, the Fiat 132 Aster was introduced as a striking departure from conventional design, though it faced mixed reactions for its resemblance to contemporary Japanese car lines. Two distinct specimens of the Aster were built. The first, a vibrant green model, made its debut at the 1972 Turin Auto Salon, showcasing Zagato’s innovative approach to design. The second specimen, an eye-catching orange vehicle, was presented at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show. Despite their shared base, the two cars featured several differing details, highlighting the bespoke nature of the project. Both Aster prototypes were constructed using the mechanical components of the standard Fiat 132, equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that ensured reliable performance. However, the most notable feature of these models was their aluminum bodywork, a material chosen to enhance both the vehicle’s aesthetics and performance. Unfortunately, this choice contributed to high production costs, making the project economically unfeasible for Fiat. The Fiat 132 Aster was criticized at the time for its design, which some critics felt was too similar to the styling trends prevalent in Japanese cars. Despite these criticisms, the Aster remains an intriguing example of 1970s automotive design, reflecting the bold experimentation characteristic of Zagato’s work. Ultimately, the Aster remained a one-off project due to the prohibitive cost of producing the aluminum bodies. While it did not transition into mass production, it stands as a testament to the innovative spirit of Zagato and the daring design ethos of the era.

02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY

Specifications & construction

Production & construction

Production
2
Production type
Limited

Engine & performance

Engine configuration
Inline-4

Design & manufacture

Manufacturer · Documented
Fiat
Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
Zagato
Designer · Documented
Giuseppe Mittino

06 / EVENTS & AWARDS

Events & awards

Geneva General · legacy_preserved
Date
1973
Chassis
General

Preserved CI 1.0 relation. Evidence field: _yoast_wpseo_primary_events. No award inferred.

08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Archive

References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.

ReferenceSource type
Carstyling design archive – 1972 Fiat 132 Aster Zagato www.carstyling.ru Design archive / specialist historical source

10 / CONNECTED HISTORY

Timeline

Chronological history1 dated records
  1. Unassigned chassis · Event

    Geneva

THE CONVERSATION

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