Fiat 500 Nuova 500 (110F)
The Fiat Nuova 500 is Italy's Volkswagen Beetle — the car that put a nation on wheels. Launched in 1957 by Dante Giacosa, Fiat's legendary chief engineer, the 500 was designed to be the cheapest possible car that was still a real car. It achieved this brilliantly.
The numbers tell the story: 2,970mm long (shorter than a modern Smart car), 470 kg, a 499cc air-cooled twin-cylinder engine producing just 13 hp initially (later 18 hp). It was tiny, slow, noisy, and crude. It was also cheap, reliable, fun, and utterly charming.
The 500 motorized post-war Italy in the same way the Beetle motorized Germany and the 2CV motorized France. Italian families who had never owned a car could afford a Cinquecento. It squeezed through Rome's narrow medieval streets, climbed Alpine passes (slowly), and carried families to the beach. It became as much a part of Italian culture as espresso, pasta, and Sophia Loren.
The 500 was produced in millions of variants: the standard Berlina, the Giardiniera (estate), the Sport (595cc), and the legendary Abarth 595/695 — Carlo Abarth's tuned versions that produced up to 38 hp and could embarrass much larger cars. The Abarth versions are now the most valuable, with prices reaching $50,000+ for the best examples.
The 500's full-length sunroof (actually a full-length fabric roof that rolled back) was standard — making it one of the most open-air city cars ever. Combined with its jewel-like proportions and irresistible personality, the 500 has become a beloved collector's item and cultural icon.
Nearly 3.9 million were produced between 1957 and 1975. The modern Fiat 500 (2007-present) is a retro homage that has been equally successful.
The 500 is an accessible and charming classic. Rust is the biggest concern — check floors, sills, and especially the area around the fuel tank (under the front 'bonnet'). The air-cooled twin-cylinder engine is simple and reliable. Parts are widely available through Italian specialists. The 500 F and 500 L are the most common and affordable. The 500 N (Normale) and 500 D are rarer and more valuable. Abarth 595/695 models command huge premiums (verify authenticity carefully — many fakes exist). Steyr-Puch variants have different engines and are collectible in their own right.
Total Nuova 500 production: 3,893,294 (1957-1975). Key variants: 500 N (Normale, 1957-60, 479cc 13 hp), 500 D (1960-65, 499cc 18 hp), 500 F (1965-72, 499cc 18 hp, front-hinged doors), 500 L (Lusso, 1968-72, upgraded interior), 500 R (Rinnovata, 1972-75, 594cc 18 hp). Giardiniera (estate): 1960-77. Abarth 595/695: tuned variants. The 500 was also built under license by Steyr-Puch in Austria with their own engine.