At a time when cars tended to sell most strongly in their home markets, most countries had one or two models in particular which were leading the way in mass motoring.

In Italy, the universal car for the middle-class motorist arrived in 1919 in the form of the Fiat Tipo 501. With Italy ravaged by the war, Fiat abandoned the large, expensive cars which had previously been its speciality and, as its first post-war offering, the 501 marked the dawn of a new era of affordable, mass-produced cars. In all respects, the 501 was well-made and constructed along conventional but modern lines, and good for up to 50 m.p.h.

The 501 became the car of choice for Italian taxi drivers, proving capable of taking city traffic and rough country roads in its stride. More exciting, though, were its competition forays and in 1922, Fiat entered a team of three 501s in the Targa Florio road race.

This Fiat 501 has been fitted with a dashing Targa Florio-style biposto speedster body with racing in mind. In recent years, it has competed at the Vernasca Silver Flag Hill Climb in Italy.

The Fiat remained in Italy as recently as 2013, but had been imported into Britain by 2018. Since the present owner purchased it at auction in 2018, it has been placed in storage, and he is now selling it as he is downsizing his collection. It has not yet received a British registration.

Having been bodied as a racing speedster, there is not an awful lot to the interior of this 501, but what is there is very pleasing. The staggered racing seats are upholstered in black leather and appear to be in excellent condition, although with a light patina over the surface.

A similar patina is in evidence across the wooden facia. Visually, we think the highlight is the instrument cluster, where the instruments themselves and the brass fittings have mellowed over the years and acquired a really wonderful aged finish.

Appropriately finished in rosso corsa, this 501 speedster looks every inch the Vintage road-racer. Although it has been hill-climbed in the past, it does not appear to have explored any hedgerows as the vivid red paint is still in excellent condition. There are a few small blemishes here and there, but that is only to be expected.

The appearance is livened up a bit by the various stickers which give some insight into its recent history, but what really endears it to us is the wonderful patina which is evident all over the car, in such details as the headlight lenses, badges and the delightful brass horn.

The wheels and tyres all look to be in good condition, and the rear deck has been usefully constructed to carry a cargo of road-racing necessities such as two spare tyres, a toolbox and oil cans.

A British road test of the 501 in The Motor of 1920 was full of praise: “Small as is the engine, mighty is its output; that so much refinement should have been incorporated into so small a chassis caused astonishment.”

With its uncomplicated side-valve engine, the under-bonnet area is spacious, clear and uncluttered – ideal for the home mechanic. The engine itself is very nicely presented, with that patina which looks so nice on all Vintage engines. Probably the nicest feature of the whole set-up is the proud exhaust pipe, with Brooklands-style silencer, which extends prominently along the side of the car. This is quite a new piece which has been constructed within recent years.

As per its original design, the engine benefits from a detachable cylinder head and three-bearing crank. Originally, all the brakes worked on the rear wheels, instead of the transmission as was then common, but later 501s gained four-wheel brakes. A spiral-bevel rear axle delivers the final drive.

To the best of our knowledge, systems such as the gearbox and brakes are all working just as they should do. If you are not already used to a crash gearbox, the Fiat’s was always intended to be user-friendly and within the grasp of the inexperienced driver, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to master. While the brakes will obviously not be up to modern standards, the fact that sizable four wheel drums are fitted to each wheel means that they should be perfectly adequate. The exposed nature of the chassis makes it quite apparent that the axles and suspension are in very good condition.

The vendor assures us that it drives just as a car of its age and class should, and praises its ‘very throaty’ exhaust note.

The early years of motor-racing are known as the ‘Heroic Age’ for a reason. Drivers grappling with enormous steering wheels to keep skinny tyres on the road, and encouraging overpowered engines to work as hard as possible while simultaneously fighting for control of the car, is a world far removed from modern day motorsport. 

This Fiat 501 beautifully captures the spirit of the era. The racing body nicely evokes the daring Targa Florio racers of 1922, and we think a car like this would be a great addition to Vintage Sports-Car Club events, hill-climbs and historic road rallies and re-enactments (subject to eligibility requirements). 

This is a vintage car you can really throw around and have some fun with, and that’s precisely what we’d encourage you to do. 

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.