1970 Fiat 850 Spyder

Beneath the iconic Pagoda, the tiny Fiat 850 Spider surprised the crowd as it nimbly darted up the narrow, nine-turn, 1.35-mile Duryea Drive course. Powered by a rear-mounted 903 cc (0.9 L) inline-four pushing roughly 52 horsepower, this Bertone-styled two-seater may have lacked straight-line speed, but its agility made it excel on winding tarmac.

Thanks to a lightweight design—barely over 1,600 lb—and its responsive mechanics, the Fiat handled hairpins and cambers with astonishing finesse. The driver coaxed every bit of momentum from the diminutive roadster, its spirited exhaust note echoing through the wooded hillside.

Though not a contender for outright victory, the Spider stole hearts with its pure, analog charm. It shone as a testament to timeless design and driving joy—proof that on a hillclimb, finesse can outshine horsepower.