OCTOBER 1991

In October 1991, the Fiat Purchasing Department, headed by Dr. Riccardo Bussolati, asked the Engineer Alberto Sasso and Roberto Stola if they would like to develop the dash board of the future Fiat Punto.
The content of the work would be to take the style model, provided by Fiat, and develop it to master model, the first set of molds and the first 300 assembled dash boards.
An unconventional proposal in the plastic molds sector, probably due to a delay in programming inside Fiat and therefore a possible idea to reach an emergency target.

011991 The engineer Alberto Sasso at his desk.

02December 1991 Bruno Arienti, having just arrived
in STOLA.

After an important internal meeting at STOLA spa in which Roberto Stola, Gottardo Bustreo (design director) and Albarto Sasso participated, an agreement with the companies Canta and Tea of the Comau group, Fiat’s director Bussolati’s proposal was accepted.
For the occasion, Bruno Arienti, a highly qualified technician from Stars, among the leaders in the production of plastic finishes for the automotive sector, was specifically appointed for this very difficult project.

031992 Master Model Fiat Punto dash board.

041992 The first prototype plastic inserts assembled
on the Master.

The main difficulties of this project were the timing and price targets that were imposed, 19 months and £ 13,000,000,000 (Lira) respectively.
The aim was to have the pre-production dashboards fitted in the cars for the beginning of August 1993.
It was a difficult task considering that for previous projects the target was usually 24 months, but with the idea of managing the complete with only one protagonist from the beginning it would prove possible.

05December 1992 Alberto Sasso At the side of the mold of the Fiat Punto dashboard.

06

07March 1993 the first prototype, still to be embossed, the first assembly on the Mountability Master.

08Turin March 1993 at the restaurant Adriano in via Pollenzo dinner to celebrate the first dashboard.

The responsibility for STOLA spa was enormous, with the risk of delaying the production of the Fiat Punto a few months compared to the planned date.
The guideline was "Simultaneous Engineering" organized by STOLA spa with its main partners, dedicating a great internal team as never before.

09March 1993 the workshop in Via Bard specially equipped for the Punto project.10March 1993 at the workshop in Via Bard all the caliber molded parts are checked.

It was unique experience that in addition to reaching the desired target, would lead the company to have a much more structured internal organization, something that was be noticed with satisfaction by the Fiat Group for future even more complex turnkey projects.
Halfway through, Fiat unexpectedly decided to start sales in parallel with the right-hand drive dashes for the UK  market and asks the STOLA to produce the high-quality prototype molds required.

11May 1993 air ducts being welded using with ultrasonic wave welding equipment in via Bard.12May 1993 air ducts being welded using with ultrasonic wave welding equipment in via Bard.

13June 1993 in the STOLA workshop,Via Bard day and night the dash boards of the Fiat Punto are being assembled,
they would then be assembled in the body on the Fiat assembly in July in order to be ready
for the presentation on September 11th.

141993 Phase of the dashboard assembly.
In the center with the white shirt Bruno Arienti with two employees of Comec.In particular Bruno Arienti, supported by Luigi Gallina, established a collaboration with the Dutch company Kupron in order to achieve the objectives.
For the record, the Fiat Punto in both the left and right drive versions was officially presented to journalists in Turin on 11 September 1993 at the Lingotto building with a memorable event, Fiat suppliers were also invited.

15September 11, 1993, Fiat Punto display cars for the use of journalists, showing their dashboards. The steering wheel, air vents and the gear lever were not among the parts supplied by STOLA spa.

These are months of intense and enthusiastic work with Fiat stylists practically living in the modeling shop with frequent visits by the architect Cressoni, Chris Bangle and CAV Giuseppe Civardi.
Unforgettable visits in Via La Thuile 69 by Paolo Cantatella always arrived with his blue Fiat Croma promptly parked in the internal entrance hall of the modeling shop.