1963 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet

Finished in Nero Black with a red vinyl interior, ‘LDS 518A’ is a delightful 1963 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet. Equipped as a left-hand-drive and built at the Mirafiori factory in Turin, it was fully restored in its home country back in 2014, but given how good it looks, you’d be forgiven for thinking it might have been done more recently.

With just 45,040kms on the odometer, a figure the seller has no reason to doubt is genuine, it’s still in the hands of only its second UK keeper. 

He’s owned it since 2015, a year after it arrived in the UK, and has made good use of it, completing the London to Brighton run on his first weekend with it, followed by an outing in Angouleme, where it received applause from the crowd as it left the podium, something the preceding Ferrari didn’t…

Experience has taught us not to have too many hard-and-fast rules when it comes to classic cars but one we’ve retained is that black is a tough act for an older car to pull off.

Because nothing, and we do mean nothing, is more ruthless in highlights flaws and imperfection than black – and that includes your ex.

However, the corollary of this is when we see a black car that presents this well, we know it’s almost certainly a good ‘un.

Because this Nero Black example is excellent. With flawless flanks, splendid shutlines, and impressive alignment, it speaks of a life only gently led. 

The Nero Black paint itself is nothing short of stunning. Mirror-like in the depth of its shine, we can’t see even the most fastidious of owners feeling the need to do anything other than to continue to treasure and polish it. 

There’s even better news with the fact the Fiat comes with the very rare and highly desirable Pininfarina hard-top (not photographed) and the seller has had that finished in Nero Black to match the rest of the coachwork AND fitted new seals.

The folding black fabric roof is in a useable condition. It fits well and rises and lowers as it should. The plastic rear screen is still clean too, and the worst thing we can find to say about the ensemble is the poppers are a bit rusty and there are slight rubbing marks on both edges where the fabric sits against the central rib of the frame.

The chromework was not restored and is believed to be the original. If so, we should revel in its patina as it is only gently faded and retains much of its original elegance.

The steel wheels are a little rusty around their outer edges but one of the joys about steel rims – apart from how very cool they look – is that refurbishing them is a DIY job. 

NB: One thing you MUST tell your mechanic is that the wheels on the nearside of the Fiat have a left-hand thread and so undo ’the wrong way’.

The red and black interior is wonderfully stylish and only lightly patinated; it is, therefore, utterly fit for purpose.

The bright red seats aren’t only clean, pleasingly plump, and free of damage they can also be easily removed, and the seller has included a useful guide on how to do this. 

The three-spoke steering wheel is as wonderful to hold as it is to look at thanks to a winning combination of a ribbed outer section and thumb holds on the two upper spokes.

The red and black doors cards are in a very good condition and their aesthetics and practicality are both improved by the alloy trim on their lower leading edges, you know, the bit everyone nudges open with their foot.

The black mats are excellent, and the design of their heel protectors matches the ribbed rubber mat that lies underneath. Lifting the mats up shows metal floors that are solid and strong. 

There’s a lockable armrest between the seats, a grab handle for the passenger, and an untested period-correct radio (maybe the original?).

The boot is large and adds to the 1500’s usability but then this is a sportscar that was designed from the ground up to be as practical as it is rewarding to drive and gorgeous to look at. 

The boot has a ribbed rubber that matches that in the cockpit, ensuring all your interior appointments present a cohesive appearance.

It also contains a box of spares; please take a look at the photos to see what’s included.

That’s the good news. The bad is that there are a few little jobs to keep you busy. But, only a few.

The hood frame is a little rusty, so we can see the new owner will want to put refurbishing it on their To Do list. The painted handbrake lever is rusty too, so you could sort that out at the same time.

Other items include the instrument lighting. The instruments themselves aren’t only wonderfully of-the-period and in good shape, they’ve also been fitted with LED bulbs for better legibility at night. 

However, these have stopped working, so this will need some investigation. The seller had pencilled in re-wiring the car but, as is so often the case, time slipped through his hands and it remains the original.

The seller is also honest enough to point out the missing metal trim that should surround the heater controls. It’s been on his To Do list since buying the car but is something he’s never got around to sourcing.

The receipts in the history file show a high level of care has been taken in maintaining the Fiat in the past few years with invoices for, amongst others, distributor and carburettor repair kits, an ignition coil, a new fuel pump, a brake master cylinder, brake hoses and caliper repair kits, new rear wheel cylinders, and brake pads.

As you can see in the video, it starts well and quickly settles into an idle, extinguishing the oil pressure light almost immediately.

The engine is a sweet-running little thing that revs well, doesn’t make any untoward noises, and, despite its modest displacement, endows the car with an appealing exhaust note.

That might be, in part at least, because it does need a partial new exhaust. 

And yet, that aside, the underneath is an absolute joy being strong and nicely presented; one of the fears the Fiat’s owner had about buying a classic Italian car was the risk of structural rot but seeing this one made him release that this wouldn’t be an issue as long as he bought the right car, which meant sourcing one from southern Europe where the use of road salt in the winter isn’t a thing.

The engine bay is lovely but a bit grubby, so if you enjoy cleaning and degreasing and buffing then you’ll find a happy place here. The metalwork is all good though, so it’s only cosmetic.

And, for the engineering enthusiasts among you, just take a look at the steering linkage which is both beautifully engineered as well as a joy to access. Fiat was long renowned for the quality of its engineering and that reputation is obvious here.

The 1500 comes with user’s manuals, a typewritten specification sheet, a service bulletin, some period photos, a letter from the Fiat Archivio Centro Storico confirming the build date and specification, and quite a few invoices for the bits and bobs that have been fitted since arriving here.

It also comes with some of its Italian paperwork, including the stamped service history booklet.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the Fiat comes with two sets of keys.

The Fiat doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 

With a guide price of between £18,000 and £22,000, we don’t think you can buy a prettier car for the same money.

And it’s not just a good looker because it’s also strong, clean, well-restored, drives nicely, has much recent expenditure, and comes with that rare Pininfarina hard-top for the rare occasions you don’t want to enjoy the open-air sportscar experience the soft-top offers.

The seller is also a thoroughly lovely chap who’s used it (lightly) in all the right ways, including that run down to Angouleme.

Here’s to a new year with a Fiat 1500 Cabriolet in it, eh?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.