1969 Fiat 500

Finished in a fantastic shade of Mint Green over a black vinyl interior, this adorable little icon has been previously restored and resprayed, prior to coming into the care of our vendor a number of years ago, as a present for the vendor’s wife.

Purchased by the seller from a marque specialist after convincing the then-owner to part with it after some encouragement, we’re told that the car is presented exactly as it was when purchased, save for an oil change.

Sadly, we have no paperwork for the aforementioned restoration works, but we can see that the bodywork has been resprayed, and the underside is in exemplary condition as far as we can see, which is always good news. That said, there are still places for the next owner to fettle and improve, making this a tempting prospect for anyone looking for a classic that won’t take up much space, and can be used and enjoyed whilst being tinkered with on the weekend or during the evenings.

Dry-stored and used sparingly during its current ownership including a few local Sunday runs, visiting a few car shows, and no doubt a run to the pub or two, this charming 500 is now offered for sale due to being surplus to requirements, and with space required for the sellers’ growing collection of motorcycles. 
 

With its classic design and diminutive proportions, this 500 presents well overall, yet still offers potential for the winning bidder to take it to the next level.

Scrupulous enthusiasts would no doubt wish to address the imperfections in the paintwork, most notably the bubbling visible on the nearside front wing, bonnet edge, lower nearside door, and the flat paintwork ahead of the offside rear arch, though the lattermost of these are largely hidden from view unless you’re deliberately trying to find them.

The chrome bumpers have evidently been replaced at some stage, and are in great shape with a deep shine, though there are some areas of light patination visible. The other chrome trims around the windows, the front badge and the beauty dishes on the wheels wear a more visible patina, with some areas of corrosion visible to the quarter-light trims in particular.

Elsewhere, there are some sizeable chips to the leading edge of the bonnet where the release catches when opened/closed if you aren’t careful, and the wheels are lightly patinated in keeping with the rest of the cars trims.

Up above, the sliding vinyl roof is in excellent condition, and open/closes with ease.

All of the light lenses are clear and free of any damage or clouding, and we could see no evidence of any impact damage, dents or dings along the bodywork.

Overall, this is a charming and usable example of the classic Italian city car, that will turn plenty of heads wherever it goes, no doubt striking up plenty of conversations with admirers and enthusiasts alike along the way.
 

On the inside, the functional, yet chic interior of this 500 presents in very good overall condition, having been used and enjoyed, yet evidently looked after over the years.

All of the vinyl seats are free from any rips, tears or damage as far as we can see, whilst the metal dashboard, along with the chrome trims and centrepiece ash tray (how very Italian!) wear a delightful age-related patina, as do the steering wheel and shifter.

Down below, the central cubby (though perhaps it’s generous to call it such) is present and in good condition, whilst the carpets are in good order throughout, seemingly in need of nothing other than a good vacuuming.

We noted a small section of damage to the nearside door lower on the inside (seen in images 87 / 88) and the nearside door card is detached from the door itself at the rear.

The wonderfully simple speedometer/odometer ahead of the driver indicates 49,910 miles covered, though it is not known whether this is accurate.

As far as we could tell, all systems are in full working order, though there isn’t really anything to go wrong in here!
 

Under the rear deck lid, the 449cc air-cooled engine appears to be in excellent health, starting happily and idling well when cold or hot, with no noted smoking or untoward behaviours to be concerned about during our photo shoot, which took place in 30-degree heat!

Visually, there is plenty of scope for titivating in the engine bay, but with everything seemingly working as it should be, we’d be minded to simply service the engine for peace-of-mind, and then enjoy it throughout the summer months before starting any works.

Underneath, this 500 looks to be in exemplary condition, and this is where the majority of the previous restoration efforts appear to have been focused. Save for a few deteriorating bushes or dust covers, we can’t see anything that should give cause for concern, though an in-person viewing or specialist inspection is always advised for peace-of-mind.

The seller tells us that he’s not aware of any issues or concerns with the car from a mechanical standpoint, which is music to our ears.
 

Included with the car is the V5 in the seller’s wife’s name, showing that the car was first registered in March 1969; That’s all, folks!

There can be few better ways to spend a summer afternoon or evening than driving along the seafront - we’d suggest the Cornish riviera, on account of the car’s location - with the wind in your hair, at the helm of a classic. This 500 ticks all of those boxes and more, on account of its all-weather roof and iconic design, making it the ideal classic for the summer months, not to mention its diminutive size meaning that storage space is rarely, if ever, a concern! 

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £8,000 - £12,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Callington, Cornwall. To arrange an appointment to inspect this vehicle, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.