Fiat 130 HP Grand Prix

Manufacturer	FIAT
Category	Grand Prix Formula
Designed by	Giovanni Enrico
Engine	4 cylinders in line biblocco

The 130 HP is a competition car made by FIAT in 1907 .

Until 1906 , FIAT had achieved important sporting results, but they were not considered satisfactory due to the excessive power of the French cars. For this reason, when a new formula based on fuel consumption (30 liters per 100 km) was introduced in 1907 without weight and displacement limits , the FIAT management decided to develop a new car.The project was entrusted to John Henry , who, working with Guido Fornaca and Carlo Cavalli, HP developed the 130, a car with an engine 4 cylinders of more than 16000 cm³. This engine was very innovative at the time, as it had a higher bore than the stroke, overhead valves and hemispherical combustion chambers with the spark plugs located in the center.

Ignition was provided by a Simms-Bosch magnet , while the power was regulated by a single carburetor . Despite the weight of over 1000 kg (each piston had a weight of 4 kg and a half) the wheels were still made of wood .

The car performed very well during the Targa Florio (First race of the season), which was won by Felice Nazzaro followed by Vincenzo Lancia  . The same Nazzaro also won the Kaiserpreis which took place on the Taunus circuit . The other two FIAT cars entrusted to Lancia and Louis Wagner finished respectively sixth and fifth. The same team composed by Nazzaro, Wagner and Lancia was lined up at the French Grand Prix which took place in Dieppe . During the first 3 rounds, Wagner kept the lead, but due to a fault he had to retire. The command passed to Lancia, who however also had to retire due to engine trouble, leaving the victory to Nazzaro.