Vehicle Description
If you're going racing, taking weight out is as effective as
putting horsepower in. And if you do both...
This 1937 Fiat 500 coupe is an awesome throwback to the '60s when
tiny European microcars were stuffed full of American V8s and the
results were, as you can see, spectacular.
The body on this one is fiberglass from Fiberglass Unlimited, but
it quite accurately re-creates the look of the cute little Fiat,
right down to the spare tire well out back. The Europeans learned
long ago that smaller cars worked better in cities and you could
still have lively performance, so they built cars that were
handsome to appeal to a large market. That's why this one looks so
right. The hood was lengthened a bit to handle a bit more
horsepower, but the coupe bodywork still looks like the 1930s.
Finishing it in gold over black adds a racy image, and keeping the
sides open to show off the small block Chevy stroker motor within
is great for intimidation on the street. Oh, and dig the velocity
stacks hanging out of the hood and the vented custom grille up
front, both pure 1960s performance styling cues. It's nicely built,
not perfect (it's a race car, after all) but handsome enough to get
more than a few glances just about anywhere you take it.
The interior is still pretty bare-bones, but since it was built for
the street, there are a few concessions to comfort. First and
foremost, there's a fairly comfortable bench seat which allows for
two people to sit in the cool little Fiat without feeling confined.
The rest is race-grade stuff, with a machine-turned floor, full
cage, and three-spoke steering wheel that looks straight out of the
'60s. You also get an industrial-strength dashboard made of a
simple sheet of aluminum with Auto Meter dials and a big monster
tach over on the right and a shift light on the steering column.
The sifter is over there on your left, and since it's running an
automatic, it's easy to use and doesn't get in the way. No radio,
no heater, no A/C, so what you see is what you get, but you can
imagine that this sucker is quite a thrill ride. Yellow Plexiglas
for the windshield is another throwback look and there's a
parachute out back that we suspect is there for more than show.
The engine is a 383 cubic inch Chevy V8, and with a featherweight
curb weight, you know performance is explosive, which is entirely
the point. It's got a Scat crank and eagle rods, GM heads with a
Comp Cams camshaft and roller rockers, and up top there's a trick
Hilborn electronic fuel injection system that looks retro but runs
like the 21st century. The frame is custom-built from 2x3 .120 wall
tubing and the suspension is traditional with a dropped '37 Ford
I-beam in front and a custom Ford 9-inch with 3.50 gears hanging on
a 4-link. In between, there's a built PowerGlide 2-speed automatic
transmission, a tiny driveshaft, and disc brakes at all four
corners. Traditional skinnies up front and giant Mickey Thompson
meats out back deliver the right look as well as adequate traction
to launch this cruise missile of a Fiat.
Unusual, fast, and very retro, cars like this aren't for everyone.
But if you're the guy who understands that speed and lightness go
hand-in-hand, then this is a car you shouldn't miss. Call
today!