This 1971 Fiat 500L is an Italian two-door that went through a recent $1,300 mechanical service and is powered by an air-cooled OHV 499cc two-cylinder engine paired with a 4-speed manual gearbox. Offering a rust-free exterior and newer Pirelli tires, this 500L benefits from a recently replaced valve cover gasket and a rebuilt Weber carburetor. Finished in white over a red vinyl interior, this 500L is now offered with service records and a clear California title in the seller's name.
The 500 went into production in 1957 as a city car. In 1968, the car grew by 6 centimeters and incorporated revised bumpers, moldings, and trim to become the 500 L. This Italian-market 500L two-door from 1971 was repainted white before being imported from Italy to the United States in 2015. The body features bright accents for the tubular bumpers, window surrounds, handles, and other exterior trim, along with a manually operated black fabric pull-back sunroof.
Steel 12-inch wheels with polished hubcaps are wrapped in newer Pirelli Cinturato tires. The body rides on a four-wheel independent suspension with stopping power provided by drum brakes. The interior is fitted with red carpeting and reupholstered red vinyl front bucket and rear bench seating along with matching materials on the door panels and lower dash. Amenities include a heater, vent windows, and door panel storage pockets.
Instrumentation includes a sweeping 130-kph speedometer with an inset fuel gauge. The five-digit mechanical odometer reads 40K kilometers (approximately 24,800 miles), but true mileage on the chassis is unknown. The rear-mounted OHV air-cooled 499cc two-cylinder engine is reportedly original to the car and was rated at 18 horsepower when new. Recent maintenance includes a $1,300 service performed in September of 2021 that included the replacement of the oil pan gasket, spark plugs, exhaust flange gasket, valve cover gasket, and cylinder head gasket. In addition, the Weber carburetor was rebuilt. Power is fed to the rear wheels via a floor-shifted 4-speed manual transmission.
