1950 FIAT 500 C Giardiniera Belvedere

The car we offer is a Fiat 500 C "Topolino" Giardiniera Belvedere Legno (which means wood, in Italian), built in 1950 and finely restored. The last evolution of the 500, the 500 C features the headlights embedded in the wheel arches and various design changes. The engine was uprated as well as it was the same that was found on the 500 B, a transition model built for a very short time. Now equipped with an aluminium head with pushrod valves, a fuel pump and an improved Weber DRS 22 carburettor.

On the outside this car sports a Beige Metallizzato 515 paintjob and is in almost impeccable conditions. The paint is shiny and almost defect free and really stands out given the wood and faesite (a kind of hardboard) sides which were equally well restored, with an attention to detail that kept not only their colour but also the wood cuts and door hinges as they were supposed to be. The doors are of "suicide" style since they open against the wind. The same can be said about the rear boot, still made of wood and faesite, which opens to the side. The front headlights, just like the chrome finish, the bumpers' chrome protectors and the Fiat emblem are finished to a high standard as well. The rear is equally beautiful and the small, split, taillights together with the rear chrome bumper all seem to shine. The sliding windows and their trims show no real signs of wear and so do the unusual side turn signals. The wheels were equally cared for. Resprayed in their original ivory colour they really showcase the quality of the workmanship, just like the chrome wheel hubcaps with a black FIAT logo. The soft top needs no description, it's as beautiful as the rest of the car.

Moving on to the cabin, this forerunner of many station wagons to be, shows a spartan interior, with the lack of door cards leaving the faesite in plain sight. The same can be said about the lack of sound deadening and cover panels. The dashboard is restored to a good standard and lacks any visible signs of cracks. Sitting on the driver's seat the eyes fall on the big, round gauge with a chrome bezel that contains both the fuel level and oil pressure. The speedometer, which is equally well preserved and readable sits on the right, with a few switches and toggles, plus the key fob to separate it from the probably more important fuel gauge. The odometer reads 56745km. The instrument cluster is framed in a slightly darker colour compared to the dashboard but what surprises the most is how well kept it is, with just minor signs of yellowing that betray this car's 72 years of age. Unfortunately the steering wheel needs to be restored since its finish is cracked and missing in many places. However its frame is intact so we're pretty confident that a good artisan could fix it for the right price. However the quality of the upholstery makes you forget about that issue rather quickly. The front seats and rear bench are in great shape and the padding is still very comfortable. The rubber floor mats that protect the floor show almost no signs of wear and so do the floors they are tasked with protecting. The steering column, the gear shift lever, the hand brake and the pedals were clearly refurbished and the wiring, in overall good conditions, seems to be only partially renewed since a couple of wires are of non-original colours and routing. Moving on to the headliner, the soft top is in almost immaculate condition and so is the closing mechanism. The sun visors are well preserved and the upper part of the body, save for some minor signs, is beautiful to look at.

This Topolino's engine bay is clean and tidy. The engine, 500 tipo B, differentiates itself from its previous iteration, the tipo A, thanks to its aluminium head and overhead valves instead of their lateral arrangement. There are minimum signs of oil leaks from the gaskets but the components all look fine. The service belt might need to be replaced soon. Curiously mounted in a front overhanging position, to maximize cabin space and simplify the vehicle's production, this small 4 cylinder, 569cc and 16hp engine sits in front of the radiator. A small panel, bolted as was customary at the beginning of the XX century, separates these components from the fuel tank which is in good conditions although the firewall it's housed on show some signs of repairs. The twin beam chassis is in great condition despite its 72 years of age. A good feat since anti-corrosion treatments of the time were of dubious quality. The floor shows signs of anti-rust treatment and is in good shape. Even where the coating is chipped, we see the reassuring signs of some (probably) minium-based undercoat with its reassuring red colour. Each specialist who touched this car apparently knew what needed to be done to properly preserve it and stop the advance of father time. That's why rust is kept to a minimum, although some bolts might probably need to be replaced and the lower part of the front, independent suspension arms, has some superficial rust. The exhaust system is in working order and only shows superficial rust as well. The rest of the mechanical components looks to be in good working order too, although there are some signs of oil leaks near the differential and the oil pan. Perhaps some gaskets are showing their age? The drum brakes, front and rear, and the long leaf springs (unlike the first Topolinos that featured shorter, split leaf springs prone to breaking), work as intended. The only real downside of the undercarriage is the presence of a domestic junction box to house some components.

Manufactured in 1950, the car was registered in Italy in 1968 by a collector from Trieste. To get the pre-1968 history, a chronological certificate should be requested. After many years in his good hands it was sold to another enthusiast from the same city who obtained the "Certificato di omologazione ASI (now named Certificato d'identità ASI) in 1997. This certificate is only given to well preserved or restored vehicles that are in original, or almost original conditions. The car was then sold, in 2010, to a woman from the province of Ve-nezia who sold it again to its current seller in 2011. The seller decided to part ways with this car so that other fans of the model or marque could fully enjoy the iconic little ma-chine, hopefully with the roof open!

This gorgeous Fiat 500 C Giardiniera "Legno", with a body that's, as the name suggests, partly built out of wood and hardwood, coupled to a very panoramic soft top (hence the name, Belvedere), has an almost pristine bodywork and we think that it could be a great deal for those who are nostalgic of the cars FIAT produced back in the day, or for those looking to acquire a little, but not insignificant, piece of automotive history. Without the "Topolino" we probably wouldn't have the "Beetle", after all!

The mechanical components are generally in good state, although the car may benefit from some preventative maintenance. The coachwork doesn't seem to need any work done to it instead, aside from the tiny signs of corrosion inside the door well (between the side-step and the front of the door, see the gallery) and the aforementioned minor signs of impact (or a less than gentle mechanic's intervention on the fuel tank...) on the front firewall.

Price estimate for this Fiat 500 C Giardiniera "Legno": € 19.000 - € 26.000

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located in the province of Padua, Italy. To arrange an appointment 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 or try our “Frequently Asked Questions”.