Written by:
SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com
The Fiat 500 is the ideal car for narrow European streets and small parking spots. (Photo: uk.gizmodo.com)
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There's something wonderful about a simple, cheap car. Fiat has been providing them to the Italian working class for decades. And like most things in Italy, they somehow end up being fashion statements in ways that Pintos and Vegas never could. The egg-like 500 filled both niches admirably, if slowly, the air-cooled two-cylinder engine in the first 500 cranked out but 16+.5 horsepower. There were several different body variations over the years, but the most popular was the seminal 500F and L, which together sold more than 2.2 million. They're a tiny-less than 10 feet from bumper to bumper. They're light - several hundred pounds less than an M. And basic - the seats were little more than upholstered metal frames, and the instrumentation consisted of a speedometer and a few warning lights. But they were tough, cheap, and terminally cute. Driving one today reminds you how far we've come. The ride is jiggly, the engine always works hard, and they're not real happy on the freeway. But when driven around Europe-with its narrow streets and dearth of parking - the Fiat 500 makes sense, even now, as it did for an entire generation of Italians.
Specifications
Engine: 500cc Twin
Horsepower: 21.5
0–60 mph: Hey, what's your hurry?
Top Speed: 63 miles per hour
Price New: $950
Value Now: $5,000-$10,000
Fiat 500 Photos
Italy's foundation of transportation for two decades.
“Arrivederci, Roma” by Dean Martin.
Gina Lollobrigida in about 1960
They are still quite popular as everyday transport in Italy, although becoming collectible. Plenty for sale, and easy for import.
Various version of the Spider remained in production for 25 years.
If there was ever a car able to survive traffic in Rome, this is it.
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If gas prices continue to climb would a car like the Fiat 500 ever become popular in the United States? Leave comments below!
