• Only 32000 km from new
• Mechanically completely overhauled with rebuilt engine and new clutch 
• Original bodywork with rear-hinged doors
• Ready to be enjoyed

Introduced in 1957, Fiat’s diminutive ‘new 500’ was conceived to provide inexpensive transport for navigating Italy’s narrow city streets and proved immensely popular, racking up nearly 4 million sales over its 18 year production run. 

Measuring just over 2.5 metres long and with a rip-roaring 479cc two-cylinder, air-cooled engine in the rear, it met its brief perfectly and its cheeky looks have captured hearts worldwide. Restyled and upgraded in 1960 with the 500D, now packing 17 bhp from an enlarged 499cc engine, it set the template for the rest of production with the exception of the rear-hinged “suicide” doors which were dropped in 1965. 

Of course, since 2007 we now have a ‘newer’ 500 that has also proved very popular and, with its retro styling, reminds us of the enduring appeal of the original. But with mechanical simplicity and strong parts availability on its side, the classic 500 is a joy to own and a magnet for positive reactions.

As a design icon, validated by the fact that it has its own Lego model, a 500 is sure to attract attention wherever it goes which is a fact that this example has capitalised on…

Starting life in Rome, this car, known as ‘Bella’, was imported in 2012 to be part of a fleet of classic 500’s which are used for marketing campaigns. 

Frequently wrapped, and particularly relevant for food-related brands with its distinctive ‘YUM’ number plate, it’s played a starring role in promoting brands such as Bella Italia, Jo Malone, Bicester Village, Martini and Next and has also moonlighted as a wedding and events car and a backdrop for the Instagram accounts of the rich and famous who, for contractual reasons, cannot be named here.

As a working car that had to earn its keep, reliability was paramount and so the owner went looking for the best-preserved examples he could find. This one had covered just 28,000 km and had been stored indoors for many years. In order to ensure that it could be as productive as possible, it was given a thorough going over by Latifa Estates, a highly respected classic Fiat 500 specialist. 

This saw a full engine rebuild, with many parts freshly powder coated, a thorough overhaul of the gearbox, a fresh clutch and new fuel tank. The carburettor was stripped and sonically cleaned, the starter and dynamo refurbished, the wheels were powder coated and clad with white wall tyres and driveshafts, boots, bearings, brakes and oil seals all inspected and renewed as necessary, with genuine Fiat parts used throughout.

On the cosmetic front, the bodyshell has not been restored as it was unnecessary save for one spot just above the driver’s side rear window where a tiny drip had caused some corrosion during the years of storage. The lights were renewed all round and new bumpers applied, Vaseline-greased on the inside as an anti-corrosion measure. 

A new mohair roof sourced from Germany and a luggage rack completed the exterior and the rear seats were retrimmed inside. A photographic record of the whole process was kept and is included with the car. Since then it’s just been routine maintenance which has included a recent new battery.

Sadly, with the events business still yet to fully recover from the impact of the pandemic, the fleet of 500’s is being downsized.

Bella is accompanied by copies of her Italian registration documents, the export/ import documents, records relating to work carried out in the UK, a collection of old MOT’s and the V5.

Upholstered in a very jolly shade of red, the interior is a model of simplicity and in great condition. The original rubber flooring is protected by an additional set of red overmats and the seat coverings show few signs of use with the front seats themselves proving surprisingly comfortable to sit in. 

Everything works as it should – not that there’s much to work, mind you - and the roof folds back with ease to create an open-topped experience that’s hard to beat on a sunny day. With great visibility all round, it’s a fun place to be whether in the city under the gaze of curious onlookers or out in the countryside taking in the views.

In the front boot (we can’t bring ourselves to use the modern parlance and to call it a ‘frunk’) the spare wheel is wrapped in a smart branded cover and the original jack, now a valuable item in its own right, is present. The exposed wiring also helps to highlight the very good condition of the wiring loom.

We could wax lyrical about the styling all day long but suffice to say that, given the amount of positive attention that the car received during our photoshoot, it was clearly an inspired choice as a marketing device. Seemingly beloved by all, it’s even forgiven for the lack of pace up steep hills.

In terms of condition, as mentioned previously, the bodywork is the only area that hasn’t been subjected to a full restoration as it hasn’t been necessary with little evidence of corrosion in the panels or the floor. The only area that has seen some attention is from the aforementioned drip onto the frame above the rear window on the driver’s side which has been patched up and is evident on closer inspection. 

This hasn’t been a priority to fix because of the tendency to wrap the car for specific brands, and it may benefit from revisiting to bring this into line with the rest of the body which remains in very original condition. 

The only other points of note are a small area of cracked paint on the driver’s door and some cracking to the paint on the driver’s door by one of the drain holes though, providing the drain is kept clear, it doesn’t look will develop further.

The original chromework is in good condition and the new bumpers, luggage rack, lights and roof help to keep the car looking very smart. A picnic basket is also included which attaches to the rack with leather straps. Underneath, meanwhile, there is evidence of underseal and it all looks very tidy for a car of its age.

One glance in the engine bay at the rear is enough to see the level of effort that’s clearly gone into making sure that this car doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to earning its keep. The powder coating of the engine cowling and exhaust shield still looks very fresh and new belts and hoses are in evidence throughout. It’s not just skin deep, either, as with its fresh battery, it starts first time and runs very sweetly.

Now, we’re not going to lie and say that it’s a strong performer; with 17bhp it’s never going to be a contender in the traffic light grand prix, but it as long as you’re not heading steeply uphill, it’s enough to propel you along quite nicely (and it does make it up the hills).

The brakes are as effective as they need to be and although it’s not a quiet ride, there are no untoward noises from the drivetrain or suspension. Overall, mechanically, it wants for nothing and is very usable.

Do you own a business that could use the 500 as a marketing tool? Suitably sign-written, there’s little doubt that it would attract a great deal more attention than a static billboard. Or, like many, are you attracted by the idea of owning Italy’s answer to the Mini which is no less revered as a design legend?

Either way, this should be a low-stress route into Fiat 500 custodianship with all the hard work taken care of. Sure, cheap examples are available in Italy but they will need a serious commitment of time and money to get them up to this condition. So why not benefit from the hard work of the owner, and get yourself a car that never fails to raise a smile?