Vehicle Description
Neat little microcar ready to enjoy. Nice paint and interior,
roll-back sunroof, radial tires. Engine rebuilt several years ago
and runs and drives very well. Fun all out of proportion to its
size and a celebrity everywhere it goes! Introduced in 1957 and
built for nearly two decades, the 500 name comes from the car's
original 479 cc two-cylinder air-cooled engine, which, by the time
this 1965 500F was built, had increased to a whopping 499 cc. So it
comes by the name honestly. This bright red Fiat really is the one
you want to own: bigger engine and sunroof combined with the
traditional early interior that makes it so charming to own. This
car has been restored as needed throughout its life, wearing a coat
of bright red paint that's perhaps 15 years old, a freshened
interior that includes a modern wood-rimmed steering wheel and seat
belts, and a rebuilt engine that's as gutsy as ever. The car's
friendly good looks are a huge part of its appeal, and you'll
quickly find that everyone wants to be your friend when you're
motoring along in one of these charming little machines. Simplicity
is the word, but there's plenty of chrome to make it look dressed
up, and all the brightwork is in fine condition with no notable
issues. It does have a '500L' badge from a later model, but that's
the lone deviation from stock. Inside, it's basic but the Italians
have a way of making even basic seem stylish. Pleated door panels
simple bucket seats are obviously part of the bargain price, but
you get a very attractive single speedometer with built-in warning
lights and switches arrayed around its perimeter. The speedometer
is not operational, so actual mileage is unknown, but it's probably
an easy fix. The four-speed shifter is on the floor just ahead of
the levers for the starter (yep) and the choke, as well as the hand
brake. No radio, no heater (Italy is typically a warm-weather
country), just a convenient little storage bin under the dash. The
folding fabric sunroof is a 500 trademark and works rather well,
and includes a neatly fitted headliner inside that makes the
interior feel finished. The forward 'trunk' offers modest storage
space, with most of the room commandeered by the gas tank and front
suspension, but if you have a few packages, they'll fit up there
just fine. By 1965, the 500's engine was actually pretty close to
the advertised 500: 499 cc of air-cooled thunder. With 17
advertised horsepower, it's a gutsy little engine that asks for
very little-much like it's German competitor, the Beetle. There's a
distinctive soundtrack that's as much motorcycle as automobile, but
it would be a mistake to think this is a toy instead of a real
automobile. It zips around town without much drama and you might
remember some of the ABARTH variants that were fairly formidable
machines on the track. This one runs well and is nicely sorted, so
it's ready to enjoy, and once you figure out the typical Italian
quirks, it's a fun, reliable runner. All the factory hardware is
still in place, from the air filter to the muffler, and you'd be
surprised how easy parts are to find for these cars so maintenance
in the future will be a snap. This little guy is too small to fit
on our lift, but there are no surprises underneath: stamped
sheetmetal floors in good condition, a transverse leaf spring front
suspension, and a somewhat sophisticated rear trailing arm
suspension that largely eliminates the usual swing axle antics that
[wrongly] got the Corvair in so much trouble. It's solid and tidy,
but not detailed for show, which only means you can look forward to
driving it as intended. Steering is light and highly communicative,
brakes are effective, and from behind the wheel you'll forget that
this is basic transportation-that's the Italian sensibility for
you. Simple stamped steel wheels are the right look and they carry
right-sized 135/80/12 radials that really improve ride and
handling. Sometimes less is more and the charming simplicity of
this car will quickly win you over. Add in the very real appeal of
microcars in the hobby and the eminently practical 500 becomes an
easy choice. If you're looking for a show-stopper, well, there
aren't many vehicles better suited to the task than this-everyone
loves its cheerful little face. Call today! Harwood Motors always
recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any
vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.