1932 Fiat 508 Balilla / 1937 Fiat 1100

A popular 1930s Fiat line was called the "Balilla," or model number 508.  Somewhat retroactively there were the 508 A (1932-1934), 508 B (1934-1937) and 508 C (1937-1953), though the latter quickly became the first version of the Fiat 1100 and lost the Balilla name.  This post deals with he styling of Balillas from 1932 to 1939.  The Wikipedia entry for 508 A and B is here, and that for the C/1100 is here.

Balilla styling was never innovative, unlike a number of 1930s creations by Italian carrozzeria.  For that reason, I choose to compare some Balillas with contemporary cars that had similar details.  Most of the images below seem to be factory-generated publicity photos.

Gallery

This is a 1932 Ford V8 Deluxe Tudor, the only major American redesign for that model year.

And here is a 1932 Fiat 508 Balilla, also new for that year.  The Balilla carried a number of details that were old-fashioned compared to the Ford.  Its grille is flat, rather than slightly V'd.  There is a fixed exterior sunshade atop the windshield, a feature common in the 1920s.  And its general feeling is also that of a rather angular 1920s car.

A 1935 508 B in a "for sale" photo.  Its facelifted styling is behind the times compared to the 1935 USA norm.  Here the windshield is raked back slightly and the sunshade is gone.  The grille also tilts back and is more sculpted than the '32 version.   Front fenders are reshaped, carrying side skirts and extending farther downwards at the front.  Rear fenders have a touch of skirting.

1937 508 C Balilla, a complete redesign.  Note the detailing on the aft part of the passenger compartment greenhouse.

And compare it to this 1935 Ford Tudor.  It's possible the Ford inspired whoever styled the Balilla.

On the other hand, the Citroën 7 A appeared in the Spring of 1934, also having the same sort of sculpting in the area of the C-pillar.  Actually, that could be found on 1933 Ford two-door sedans, though on a more vertical greenhouse aft end, so it's difficult to determined who originated and who copied..

Another 1937 508 C.  Here we focus on the front end, its sloped hood-grille ensemble specifically.

The Balilla design might well have been inspired by the hood/grille of the 1936 Peugeot 302, shorn here.

The Peugeot 302 had a comparatively long hood, but the 1938 Peugeot 202 was a smaller car, more in line with the Fiat 1100's proportions.

Fiat 508 C / 1100 cars got a facelift for 1939, as can be seen in tis image from Fiat's Centro Storico (Historical Center).  As usual, the styling lags a few years, the grille being similar to what American cars were wearing around 1937.  It did change the character of the design, which was what must have been intended.