Even today, if you venture into any Italian city you’re bound to come across a Fiat 500. 

The multi-million selling microcar was not only a means of transport, but also a national institution. Today’s collectors the world over clamour to get their hands on the best examples of what is one of the most collectable, cherished and recognisable cars ever made.

This one has been in the care of its current owner since 1998, when he lived in Italy himself. He bought the car in Tuscany and kept at his Italian home until 2020, when he brought it back to Cambridge.

It’s a great example that has never been used on salted roads and has always been kept garaged.

The vendor bought the 500 in 1998 in Tuscany and has spent the time between now and then living between Italy and the UK, but with children at an age where they’re studying for important qualifications he is now living permanently in the UK and he decided to import the 500 back with him before the end of 2020 and associated Brexit complications. 

The car arrived here in November 2020 and was sent to a classic car specialist in Cambridge to be fitted with RHD headlamps, MOT’d and serviced, with new suspension hubs and wheel bearings. 

The car was UK registered at the same time and all import papers and duties dealt with, so it is a fully road legal UK car. 

The owner states that there is a small amount of paperwork for the car in Italy as well, which he will be unable to get before the auction concludes but is happy to forward to the buyer next time he visits his Italian property. 

It is believed that the mileage is correct – the vendor bought the car from its elderly original owner who had only used it for village shopping, and in 1998 it had recorded 19,000km.

Today, it has 57,481 km under its tiny wheels, or around 33,000 miles.

The cabin is very smart overall, with its distinctive two-spoke steering wheel and strip speedometer. 

The door cards are in excellent condition and the carpets have been protected by rubber mats, though they have faded with age and the strength of the Italian sun. 

The slide-back fabric roof is a charming feature and it gives the cabin a wholly different, more spacious perspective, perfect for those long summer days.

The 500 is pretty smart overall with no immediate or obvious body concerns.

It has lived in Italy for most of its life and has never seen a salted road. It was garaged for most of its time there and has always been kept locked away during its time in Cambridge and only used during the summer months. 

It’s a great looking little car and in a fabulous colour, seemingly very solid overall and with a good paint finish.

Being picky, there are a couple of stone chips on the  passenger side which the owner puts down to his gravel driveway in Italy, and some light pitting and rust to one of the front bumper overriders… but that’s it.

The 500 was given a service upon its arrival in the UK and according to the vendor it runs and drives very well indeed, with no known issues. It certainly sounded good when we took the photos. 

In almost 25 years of ownership, the vendor says that the Fiat has never let him down.

This is a lovely example of an authentic Italian 500, loved and cherished by its British owner since he was in his Twenties. 

It’s a reluctant sale of a car that has been part of the family for a long time, and it’s clearly a well-loved and very well looked-after example.