The mid-to-late 70's were a busy and exciting time for the Italian company.

Fiat Trattori S.P.A had just been formed in 1974, counting four factories domestically, including the SPA factory in Turin, and the OM factory in Brescia, not forgetting four factories abroad, and six construction and assembly licenses. All having to be organized under the new company structure. 
The millionth Fiat tractor rolled of the line in 1974 as well. 
In 1975, Fiat went on a buying spree, acquiring a 20% holding in Laverda, and buying four factories from other Italian manufacturers, including the Lamborghini Trattori factory of Cento, and the Agrifull-Toselli company of Ferrara. And again in 1977, buying the Spanish tractor constructor Motransa, and Fiat's first holding in Hesston. All while developing and introducing a full line of new 80-series tractors.
In 1977, one out of ten tractor sold around the world was a Fiat tractor.

And in 1979, Fiat entered what would become a short but foretelling partnership with Versatile.

The Canadian firm, a sales leader in the articulated four wheel drive tractor segment at the time, wanted to enter the European market, as the North American markets were getting ever
more competitive. But Versatile lacked the sales channels in Europe.
At the same time, Fiat had set its sight on wanting to dominate the large four wheel drive tractor segment in Europe.

Fiat had the European network. Versatile had the tractor. It was a match.

The big articulated tractors would be sold through Fiat dealers, and as a result, Fiat agreed with Versatile to have the tractors branded "Fiat", and painted in the 80-series new color scheme.

With a few modifications specified by Fiat, like a PTO and a stronger lift on all models, the Versatile 800/900-series based tractors, became known in Europe as the Fiat 44-series "By Versatile".

When the "Grandi" tractors also joined Fiat's lineup towards the end of 1979, Fiat finally became a full-range tractor manufacturer, with tractors ranging from 21 to 350 hp, including the Agrifull and Versatile
based tractors.

The 44-series gearbox had 12 forward and 4 reverse gear, with locking differentials as standard on both axles.

The turbocharged Cummins straight 6 and V-8 direct injected diesel engines, with a displacement of 14.016cc and 14.800cc respectively, dwarfed everything else in Fiat's lineup, and most of Europe.

The tractors were quite the attention gainer for Fiat, and became known for their power, comfort and size-defying maneuverability.

Unfortunately, the European market wasn't yet mature for a tractor of the 44-series size. 
Though Italian dealers did manage to sell 30, It is unclear how many 44-series were sold in total.

With the market already saturated in 1982, the companies jointly decided to end the contract in 1983.