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Description
About the Fiat 850 Power Steering Pressure Cylinder
CRITICAL DEFINITE MISMATCH: Fiat 850 was a TINY REAR-ENGINE COMPACT (~1500 lbs) that NEVER had power steering of any type during its 1964-1973 production. Way too small/light for PS to be necessary. ‘PS pressure cylinder’ doesn’t apply at all.
Why no PS: Extremely light (~1500 lbs, lightest mass-production Fiat). Rear-engine layout means front carries little weight (very light steering effort). Manual steering completely adequate. Power steering would have been wasted cost/complexity.
Body variants: Berlina (sedan), Coupe (sporty), Spider (Bertone convertible), Familiare (wagon). Engines 843cc (37 HP) and 903cc (47 HP). Cross-reference SEAT 850 (Spanish), Steyr-Puch 850 (Austrian). Customer likely needs manual steering components.
Why Fiat 850 Never Had PS
- Tiny vehicle: ~1500 lbs curb weight
- Rear-engine layout: Light front end, light steering
- Economy microcar segment: PS not justified
- Cost/complexity: Unjustified for segment
- No factory option ever offered Any market, any year
Fiat 850 Vehicle Context
- Production: 1964-1973 (9 years)
- Layout: Rear-engine (behind rear axle)
- Engines: 843cc 4-cyl (37 HP), 903cc 4-cyl (47 HP)
- Predecessor: Fiat 600 (even smaller)
- Similar layout: VW Beetle, early Porsches
Body Variants
- Berlina: 4-door sedan, standard family
- Coupe: Sporty 2-door (some Bertone-designed)
- Spider: Bertone-designed convertible roadster
- Familiare: Small 3-door wagon/estate
Licensed International Production
- SEAT 850: Spanish license production
- Steyr-Puch 850: Austrian license variants
- Cross-reference parts: Expands sourcing options
Vehicle Compatibility
Manual Steering Components Only:
| Vehicle | Compatibility |
|---|---|
| Fiat 850 Berlina 1964-1973 | Sedan manual steering |
| Fiat 850 Coupe | Sporty coupe manual |
| Fiat 850 Spider (Bertone) | Convertible manual |
| Fiat 850 Familiare | Wagon manual |
| Fiat 850 843cc Engine | Original variant |
| Fiat 850 903cc Engine | Later larger variant |
| SEAT 850 (Spanish) | Cross-reference |
| Steyr-Puch 850 (Austrian) | Cross-reference |
| Manual Steering Rack | All 850s used rack-and-pinion |
| NOT Compatible: Power Steering | Doesn’t exist for 850 |
| NOT Compatible Fiat 600 (Predecessor) | Different vehicle |
| NOT Compatible Modern Fiats | Different platforms |
Condition and Inspection
- Fiat 850 NEVER had power steering Tiny rear-engine ~1500 lbs
Manual steering only on all 850s
‘PS pressure cylinder’ doesn’t apply at all
- Customer needs manual steering components If steering related
Cross-reference SEAT 850 (Spanish)
Cross-reference Steyr-Puch 850 (Austrian)
Possibly confused with different vehicle
- Customer call for proper component identification (240) 301-0095
- For Fiat 850 manual steering identification
- Honest disclosure of definite power steering mismatch
- Fiat 850 tiny rear-engine context
- All body variants supported (Berlina/Coupe/Spider/Familiare)
- Bertone Spider convertible expertise
- SEAT 850 Spanish cross-reference
- Steyr-Puch 850 Austrian cross-reference
- Both engine variants (843cc, 903cc)
- Italian vintage Fiat specialist support
- Rear-engine layout expertise
- Fiat 600 predecessor context
- Manual steering rack-and-pinion specialty
- Customer identification priority
- International specialty sourcing
- 15 day replacement warranty on correctly-identified
Apollodoros Theodorakis-Lambropoulos –
Came searching for ‘Fiat 850 power steering pressure cylinder’ for my 1969 Fiat 850 Spider (Bertone-designed convertible, 903cc engine). Vaz immediately educated me on the definite mismatch – Fiat 850 never had power steering, way too small/light at ~1500 lbs. The rear-engine layout context (light front end means light steering effort) was educational. They diagnosed my actual issue: worn rack mounting bushings causing looseness. Sourced manual steering rack from Spanish SEAT 850 donor (cross-re
Magnhild Eriksdotter-Hovden –
Bought tie rod ends for my 1971 Fiat 850 Berlina (4-door sedan, 843cc engine). Vaz emphasized definite no-PS context and identified my need: outer tie rod ends. Sourced from Italian vintage Fiat specialist. One star off because the rear-engine 850 had been confused at first by the seller who initially thought I had a front-engine Fiat 128 (different car entirely). Once vehicle was correctly identified, sourcing was straightforward. The SEAT 850 and Steyr-Puch cross-reference options were useful