Highlights
- A smart and eminently usable example
- Has lived in Italy for most of its life
- The vendor reports that it is running and driving well
The Appeal
Given the enormous success of the 500, it’s no wonder that Fiat began to explore other potential applications for their best-selling people’s car. By marginally increasing the wheelbase and elongating the roof, an estate or ‘Giardiniera’ version of the 500 quickly took shape. So popular and versatile was this variant, that Fiat subsidiary Autobianchi took over its production from 1966.
Here we have one such example, dating from 1971. Supplied new to Italy, but now to be found registered in the UK, this little Fiat is a good, presentable and seemingly very original example. While it’s not perfect by any means, it looks to be a very sound car and should make for a really usable classic.
The History and Paperwork
- V5C present
- UK registered since 1977
- LHD Italian supplied car, with a dealer sticker from Brindisi in the rear window
- Italian Revisioni paperwork dating from 2016
- UK registered
- Exempt from MOT testing and road tax
- Italian registration plate remains with the car
The Interior
- Tan vinyl upholstery
- Looks and feels very original
- No excessive wear or damage
- The basic seats present very well, with little wear and no holes or tears we could make out
- The door cards look to be in good order, upholstered in black and with not much wear
- Carpeted in black, which seems in good shape
- Ribbed rubber matting lines the boot area, which looks to be original
- Simple painted steel dashboard with no extra holes having been cut for a radio
- Pleasingly patinated controls
The Exterior
- Folding canvas sunroof running along much of the vehicle’s length which looks in good order
- The bodywork looks to be quite straight overall, with a few small imperfections and the odd dent
- We noticed a dent in the offside door
- Finished in white, which looks good overall
- The paint bubbles and cracks a little in places, but there’s nothing that noticeable from most angles
- The steel wheels exhibit a little damage and don’t look to have been painted that well
- The sills appear relatively sound, although there’s evidence of some previous repairs and some body filler
- The floor pans looks quite good underneath, with the vendor advising us that some welding work will be necessary in places
The Mechanics
- 499 cc OHV inline twin producing 17.5 horsepower
- Four-speed manual gearbox
- The servicing history is unknown
- All the running gear looks to be in reasonably good order
- Evidence of some oil leaks underneath the engine and gearbox
- The vendor reports that the car runs nicely and drives well
- No mechanical faults apparent
Summary
This charming little Fiat would be a great candidate for rolling restoration, or else to enjoy exactly as it is.
It's a very presentable example and the fact that it's said to be running and driving well, makes this Giardiniera sound like a great proposition.
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller of this vehicle is registered as a business seller. And you are covered by Car & Classic’s Terms and Conditions.
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted. Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it's always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer.
✓Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it's worth checking beforehand. If requested we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email auctions@carandclassic.com
