- Pirin-Fiat
"Pirin-Fiat" was the trademark of several passenger automobiles produced in
Lovech ,Bulgaria , and the result of a collaboration betweenFiat (an Italian automobile firm) and SPC "Balkankar" (a Bulgarian state production cooperative). Production lasted for five years (1967-1971).The Beginnings
On September 26, 1966, a meeting was held between the management of SPC (state production cooperative) "Balkankar" and representatives of the Italian automobile company
Fiat . Subsequently, theFiat representatives informed their management inTurin that SPC "Balkankar" wished to enter into a contract withFiat , with performance to be given in several stages as follows:# Until the end of 1966,
Fiat was to deliver 300-350Fiat 850 passenger cars in complete knockdown (CKD) kits to be assembled by SPC "Balkankar".
# Until the end of 1967, "Fiat" was to deliver 3000-5000Fiat 850 passenger cars in complete knockdown (CKD) kits to be assembled by SPC "Balkankar".
#Fiat was to design a factory for the assembly and partial manufacture of automobiles, which was to begin operations inBulgaria at a later date.
#Fiat was to set up a network of service stations.
#Fiat was to design and construct a warehouse for spare parts.The proposed contract specified that SPC "Balkankar" was to pay
Fiat through barter of Bulgarian goods exported by Bulgarian ETO's (export trade organizations). On November 17 and 18, 1966, the sales manager of SPC "Balkancar" and theFiat representatives negotiated a finalized version of the contract, which resolved the earlier impasse caused by the steep demands of the Bulgarian side. On December 6, 1966, the Bulgarians received the first blueprints from Fiat in two variants - 1A and 2A.The actual contract was signed in
Turin ,Italy , between SPC "Balkankar" andFiat , providing that "Balkankar" would be allowed to assemble the passenger carsFiat 850 sedan,Fiat 850 coupe,Fiat 124 sedan andFiat 124 station wagon.The Production Setup
The first 18
Fiat 850 cars arrived at the "Factory for Passenger Cars Balkan" inLovech ,Bulgaria , on May 10, 1967. After the Bulgarian side was trained in the assembly of the "Fiats", it was decided to choose a Bulgarian-sounding trademark for the cars. The unofficial trademark was "Pirin", but it was never featured on the cars themselves. The firstFiat 850 passenger car was assembled at the "Balkan" factory on June 27, 1967.On March 12, 1968, the first
Fiat 850 cars based on variant 2A were received at the factory as complete knockdown kits. This was followed by the arrival ofFiat 's permanent technical adviser on April 2. The assembly ofFiat 850 based on variant 2A began on April 4, 1968.Between April and May 1968, the Bulgarian engineer Dimitar Damyanov was sent to
Turin to sign a contract withFiat regarding the delivery of welding and assembly machinery.On April 28, 1968, the Italian engineer Brasio arrived at the "Balkan" factory in
Lovech as a technical adviser, and on December 13 of the same year the Italian specialists Mueller and Grimaldi arrive to install the painting machinery.The Production End and Production Numbers
The five-year contract between "Balkankar" and
Fiat lapsed in 1971 and was not renewed. The lastFiat 850 left theLovech factory in September 1971.Production Numbers
*
Fiat 850 sedan (1967–1971): 360
*Fiat 850 coupe (1967–1970): 89
*Fiat 124 sedan (1967–1971): 274
*Fiat 124 station wagon (1967–1970): 35Total production: 758
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