Fiat 128 Smart

The Fiat 128 Smart was a limited-production variant of the standard Fiat 128 Berlina, modified during the early 1970s. Constructed by Francis Lombardi in Vercelli, the Smart represented one of the firm’s final efforts in the tradition of Italian fuoriserie design applied to mass-market production vehicles. The model was conceived as a stylistic enhancement of the Fiat 128, rather than a mechanical transformation, and was aimed at clients seeking a more distinctive and refined version of the standard sedan. The underlying mechanical configuration remained that of the Fiat 128. The vehicle was powered by a front-mounted, transversely positioned inline four-cylinder engine with overhead valves, displacing either 1,116 or 1,290 cubic centimetres depending on year and specification. Power output ranged from 55 to 67 horsepower. A four-speed manual gearbox transmitted power to the front wheels. Suspension consisted of independent MacPherson struts at the front and a transverse leaf spring with trailing arms at the rear. Drum brakes were fitted on all four wheels in early production; front discs were introduced on later models. Francis Lombardi’s intervention focused primarily on exterior styling and interior refinement. The Smart variant featured a reworked front fascia with a rectangular quad-headlamp arrangement, a modified grille bearing the Lombardi badge, and additional trim elements along the body sides and around the windows. The rear end was only minimally altered. The interior received upgraded materials, including improved upholstery and optional wood veneer detailing. The modifications did not affect structural components or alter the vehicle’s dimensions. Production numbers for the Fiat 128 Smart remain unverified. Contemporary sources and coachbuilder records suggest that output did not exceed several dozen units. Each example was hand-finished and built to order, often tailored to individual customer specifications. No comprehensive register of chassis numbers or ownership history has been published. The Fiat 128 Smart by Francis Lombardi represents a final expression of the Italian coachbuilding tradition as it adapted to industrially produced vehicles. It illustrates the declining phase of independent carrozzerie offering bespoke alternatives to standardized models during the early 1970s. Its rarity and restrained alterations render it a marginal but documented entry in the history of postwar Italian automotive craftsmanship.