Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 064385
In the period between the World Wars, practicality, affordability,
and reliability became necessary features in the design of
automobiles as nations faced resource constraints and the urgent
need for efficient transportation. The Volkswagen Type 1 "Beetle,"
Citroen 2CV, and Fiat 500 emerged as quintessential examples of
this ethos, each embodying a vision of economical and dependable
transportation for the masses. These so-called "people's cars" were
not only technical achievements, but also cultural icons that later
played significant roles in the post-WWII rebuilding and
modernization of their respective nations. Among them, the Fiat 500
held particular significance in post-war Italy, becoming a symbol
of the nation's optimism.
Nicknamed the Topolino (little mouse in Italian) for its diminutive
size, the Fiat 500 was a radical design that pioneered new
standards for small car engineering. It featured an independent
front suspension with a transverse leaf spring and double-acting
telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers, hydraulic brakes, a 12-volt
electrical system, a four-speed gearbox with an 8/41 ratio, and a
fuel-efficient 569 cc, four-cylinder side-valve engine mounted
ahead of the front axle. This left ample cabin and luggage space
despite its small exterior dimensions, enabling it to transport
small families through Italy's mountain roads at over 50 mph.
Naturally, Italy's people's car was also raced, with modified
Topolinos being entered in the famous Mille Miglia as early as
1937. Its good brakes and capable road holding demonstrated over
the grueling 1,000 mile race further solidified the Topolino's
place in automotive history as one of the iconic small cars of its
era.
This Trasformabile model, distinguished by its retractable canvas
soft top, hails from the first series of Topolino production and is
offered with a replacement Italian registration booklet issued in
September 1956. The booklet shows that the Fiat was registered in
Parma, Italy at the time; it is believed to have been re-registered
following the conclusion of WWII. Finished in a stylish beige and
black two-tone specification, it benefits from a comprehensive
restoration by Georgio Castello in Turin, Italy. Notable details
include its correct body-color 15 inch steel wheels with polished
Fiat logo hubcaps, fender-mounted headlights, rear-hinged doors,
and rear-mounted spare tire. Preserved in storage for a number of
years following its restoration, this wonderful Italian microcar is
also offered with its extremely rare original Fiat 500 maintenance
manual, providing its next fortunate owner with a healthy dose of
La Dolce Vita.
