Description
This stunning Fiat 500N, with its ‘suicide doors’ and Trasformabile roof, is an exceedingly rare first series example. Presented in its original shade of Avorio Chiaro (Light Ivory), the car has covered just 1, 000 km since its meticulous restoration, completed in 2016. Now available for sale, this is an excellent opportunity to own an exceptional example of a rare and appreciating Fiat 500 classic.
The ‘Classic’ Fiat 500N followed on from the Fiat 500C Topolino. The Topolino was designed in 1936 as an economy car to get the people of Italy moving, but by 1955, the design was outdated. The Fiat 500 ‘N’, the N standing for ‘New’ or ‘Nuova’, shared many of the technological improvements of the Fiat 600, most notably unibody construction and a rear-engine layout, albeit in a more compact package. Dante Giacosa designed the new car and was tasked to use as little sheet metal as possible; as a result, all Classic 500s included a canvas sunroof. This was not an option but fitted as standard to save weight and cost. First-generation cars feature some of the most desirable details, such as suicide doors, the long ‘Trasformabile’ roof, alloy front light surrounds, vented front panel, flat fuel tank, teardrop rear lights, as well as a number of interior trim items unique to the ‘N’, which this example retains, making it highly collectable.
This car was built in Turin in early 1960. We sourced this example in person from Italy from a client in 2014. Once the car arrived to us, it was subject to a fastidious and faithful restoration to an original late 500 ‘N’ specification. The car was sourced with its engine in the correct specification, and with its 500N engine code is believed to be its original. The paint was taken back to its original colour of Avorio Chiaro (code 214) and everything down to its door fittings was restored to original specification. The car remains in excellent condition to this day and has since been fitted with a new battery charger, new seat belts, and fixing brackets. In 2021, the car received a vehicle health check, engine service, and brake service, along with a new leaf spring, a steering idler arm, and a new key barrel. In 2025, the car came in for its pre-sale health check, with only one fault recorded. A full engine service was carried out, and only replacement rear driveshaft couplings, locking plates, and dust covers were required to prepare the car for sale.
No car quite captures the ‘Dolce Vita’ and Italian driving temperament like a classic Fiat 500, particularly on a sunny day with the canvas roof down. The driving experience is best described as engaging and immersive. With a peppy 479cc twin-cylinder engine, they are by no means fast, but their small size and direct connection to the road make them great fun to drive. The suspension setup, derived from the Fiat 600, features front transverse leaf springs and wishbones, providing both durability and impressive holding, while the rear uses independent semi-trailing arms similar to a Porsche 911 of the era. The stressed uni-body construction was revolutionary for its time, when most cars still used a separate chassis. The 4-speed gearbox is great fun to use, with no synchromesh. With their small size, any road becomes a race track and every journey an experience!
The car comes with a full history from its time in the UK and a spare wheel.
For more information, please email using the button below for the full information pack.
Make: Fiat
Model: 500N
Reg: 921 UYR
Mileage: 25, 021 kms
Date reg: 1960
Engine: 479cc air cooled inline two
Colour: Avorio Chiaro (Light Ivory)
Interior: Red/ White vinyl
Price: £27, 500
