Fiat Uno Mille turns 35. And I was one of the first to drive the popular…

It seems like yesterday, but it's been exactly 35 years since the Fiat Uno Mille debuted in Brazil. Pacífico Paoli, then CEO of Fiat in Brazil, extended an invitation to Quatro Rodas magazine: he would present two extreme models within the Fiat Group in Betim, Minas Gerais.

+ Robbery and theft: CG, HB20, Ka and Uno are the most targeted vehicles in SP; see list

+ Gol GTi, Kadett GSi and Escort XR3: a showdown at Interlagos to define the best

On one side, the Alfa Romeo 164 sedan, which would be one of the first luxury cars imported to the Brazilian market, and on the other the popular Uno Mille, the first Fiat of the people, which was born thanks to the government incentive of lowering taxes for models with engines of up to 1,000 cm³.

The Alfa Romeo 164 was the pinnacle of luxury and performance. Equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 engine, it produced 184 hp and peak torque of around 270 Nm (274 lb-ft). A real powerhouse for its time! But it had its price: it was offered to the lucky and wealthy Brazilian consumer for a mere $130,000. A car for the wealthy few.

On the other hand, for a small portion of that price, there was the unprecedented Uno Mille. This small and modest Fiat, exempt from IPI and ICMS taxes, would be offered to Brazilian consumers for the attractive price of $7,000. A simple car, without any luxury or refinement, but thanks to its small 48-hp 1.0-liter engine, it was economical and well-suited to the needs of a Brazilian family.

My boss at the time, Luiz Bartolomais Jr., and I set out on this journalistic endeavor. Guess who tested the Alfa Romeo 164 and who tested the Uno Mille ? Of course, my boss chose the $130,000 sedan, and I introduced my readers to the new Uno Mille, which, indeed, was affordable for Brazilians. The government's goal in removing taxes on cars with engines up to 1,000 cc was to boost our automotive industry, which at the time was struggling and sales were declining.

The Mille was the first Brazilian car to meet the government's requirements at the time: in record time, Fiat had a 1.0-liter engine ready for installation in the Uno. Therefore, after the law was enacted, the car was in Fiat dealerships a week later, ready for sale to consumers.

It was a mad dash for the new, affordable, mass-market car. Other brands, caught off guard, took longer to roll out 1.0-liter cars on their assembly lines, and so Fiat struggled for a long time. Just to give you an idea, its competitors only started to make a move about two years later!

Since the Uno was sold in the domestic market with an engine of at least 1,300 cc, when the Mille debuted, it lacked the power and torque to move the car. However, while it wasn't the fastest, it made up for it with decent fuel consumption averages, easy maintenance (the 999 cc engine was based on the old 147 engine), and the ruggedness typical of the hatchback's design, which even included a rear leaf-spring suspension, like a truck.

At the time, Pacífico Paoli, Fiat's Italian "boss," challenged me: "I doubt you can break this car's engine or transmission. I'll let you try that feat all day." He even joked: "Just don't crash the Mille into a curb or a pole, okay?" I accepted the offer and went for a drive in the new popular car, which hadn't yet been officially launched. This was a pre-presentation to Quatro Rodas.

Indeed, the Mille's performance was modest, with little power and torque, putting minimal strain on the engine and transmission. I drove the car all day between Betim and Belo Horizonte, pushing the little engine to its limit and shifting gears at the speed of a Formula 1 driver. There was plenty of room for the small engine, and the transmission proved robust in that mechanical setup.

Mission accomplished! The Uno Mille truly proved to be unbreakable. And that was a plus for someone who wanted to buy a brand-new car but didn't have many resources. Approved!

You might be asking me, "What about the Alfa Romeo 164? Did it also pass?" Who would reject such a supercar? It was the stuff of dreams, with eye-popping performance, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in around 8 seconds and reaching a top speed of 220 km/h. All this with plenty of space, comfort, leather-upholstered seats with electric controls, and other niceties lacking in Brazilian cars. Is there anything to criticize? Except for the price, no.