• Categories
    • Car Racing
    • Featured Articles
    • Motor Shows & Car Events
    • History of Cars
    • Automotive Photography
    • Behind the Scenes
    • #MiniSeries
    • Travel
    • Review Books
    • Review Cars
    • Review Products
  • Porsche Only
    • Engine downsizing at Porsche racing
    • PORSCHE 911 RSR – MARCH OF PROGRESS
    • Porsche 919 Hybrid – Technological Advantage
    • Déjà Vu of Porsche 911 2.4 S – Part 2
  • Book Shop
    • AC-Shelby Cobra
    • Ferrari 250 GTO: Owners’ Workshop Manual
    • Ferrari Design: The Definitive Study
    • Jaguar E-type: Portrait of a Design Icon
    • Porsche 956 962: A Photographic History
    • Porsche 911 Carrera RS interactive eBook
    • Porsche 911 Scrapbook: The Air-Cooled Cars
    • Porsche 917: The Complete Photographic History
    • Porsche 924/928/944/968
    • Porsche at Le Mans
    • Porsche: The Carrera Dynasty
  • About
  • Contributors
    • Alisdair Cusick
    • Annie Proffit
    • Elke Smale
    • Glen Smale
    • John Mountney
    • Pim van der Veer
    • Roland Harrison
    • Zoltan Papp
  • Contact

Virtual Motorpix

Blog site for Virtual Motorpix with interesting articles on racing, motor sports and cars

Fiat 500

January 23, 2017 by: Glen Smale | Leave a Comment

Fiat 500 (1957)
Fiat 500 (1957) at the Geneva Motor Show 2009

Remembered with fondness by those who were there when it was launched in 1957, the original Fiat 500 is today adored by most who see her. The little rear-engined two-door car could accommodate four people and is widely regarded as the first proper city car and was initially powered by a 479cc two-cylinder air-cooled engine.

Fiat 500 (1957)
Fiat 500 (1957), more than 3.5m were built between 1957 and 1975

Launched as the Nuova 500, no less than 3.8-million of these little town cars were produced between the years 1957 to 1975. Such was its popularity that various body styles were introduced which included the station wagon (500 Giardiniera), a van variant (Furgoncino), the 500 F or Berlina and the 500 L or Lusso models. The final model produced between 1972-1975 was the 500 R or Rinnovata, which was powered by a 594cc engine. Many 500s came with a folding sunroof, no doubt to increase the sense of space and to enjoy the Mediterranean climate.

Fiat Nuova 500 (1957)
Fiat Nuova 500 (1957)

The design house, Ghia, produced a derivative called the 500 Jolly which featured an open top covered only by a canvas canopy, and was fitted with wicker seats. Suitable only really for poodling along the boulevard at low speeds, this was a favourite ‘toy’ for those who wished to be seen out and about. Another popular option was the diesel engined version which took fuel economy to new levels, even for the frugal little 500.

Fiat 500 L (1968)
Fiat 500 L (1968)

In 1968 Fiat issued a press release in which it stated that over two million units had been sold in the previous decade, with few changes to the basic design. The press release did point out that the little 500 now boasted self-parking windscreen wipers. In September 1968, a new 500 could have been yours for £348, and together with Purchase Tax, it could be driven away for the princely sum of £446 15s 0d.

Fiat 500 (1970s)
Fiat 500 (1970s)

Of course, the 1970s was an age of speed and power, not fuel efficiency. And so, it is perhaps not surprising that Carlo Abarth grabbed the little 500 and infused it with extra performance, making it a ‘giant killer’ in its racing class. The little Abarth 500 was soon a familiar site around the race tracks of Europe, speeding around with its rear engine cover fixed in a near horizontal open position.

Fiat Abarth 500, Abarth 500 Launch Brighton 2009
Fiat Abarth 500 at the launch of this model near Brighton in 2009

In 2007, and in celebration of the launch of the original Nuova 500, Fiat launched their new ‘stylistically inspired’ 500. The modern version of this iconic city car, is today a front-engined car driven through the front wheels. With the original car measuring just 2.97m (9 feet 9 inches) long, the new 500 is a much larger vehicle at 3.55m (11 feet 7 inches) in length.

Fiat 500C
Fiat 500 C, Geneva Motor Show 2009
Fiat 500 (1957)
Fiat 500 (1957), photographed at the Hamburg harbour in Germany, 2006

Either way, the Fiat 500 turns heads everywhere and is still a great runabout, as sales of the new version for the eight-year period from its launch in 2007 to September 2015 of 1.5 million units, will testify.

Written by: Glen Smale
Images by: Glen Smale/Virtual Motorpix and Fiat

Save article as PDF
Share this:

Categories: Automotive Photography, Featured Articles, History of Cars Tags: 500, Abarth, Fiat, Nuova

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Top quality commentary and photography on cars, motoring and motorsport across the ages.

Advertisement

Connect with us

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

E-mail Subscription

Please complete the form below if you would like to receive e-mail updates of new posts from Virtual Motorpix Blog.

Recent Articles

  • Toyota Gazoo Racing – 2017 WEC Plans
  • FCA (Fiat Chrysler Alfa) Driving Event Cardiff
  • Fiat 124 Sport Spider
  • Fiat 500
  • Jaguar E-type Restoration – Part 2
  • Cobra-Ferrari Wars 1963-1965
All Tags ››

Archives

Our other websites

Join us on Facebook

Please share our website

Follow us on Twitter

Tweets by Virtual Motorpix Blog

Contact us

We welcome your questions, comments and feedback. Please click here to contact us.

Connect with us

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 Virtual Motorpix. All Rights Reserved.

 

Loading Comments...