1969 FIAT 500L

Proving that our customers are as eclectic as the cars we offer, this little left-hand-drive Fiat 500L was purchased on a whim simply because it fitted in the back of the vendor’s Renault Master MKI service van – and don’t you think it is all the more glorious for having had such an eccentric owner?

He bought it from a Fiat dealership where it has been sitting on display for a good few years, which means that while it still looks terrific it will need some light recommissioning. Nothing too drastic – we can confirm that it starts, runs and drives okay – just the sort of light fettling that summer evenings were designed for. It is fully UK-registered with the number plate RFG 369G, proper plates will be supplied!

Built in March 1969 at the Fiat Mirafiori factory in Turin, the Abarth connection extends only as far as the stripes, but if it’s given you ideas then building a replica shouldn’t prove to be too difficult, surely? 

And, should you need any further encouragement, it is being offered with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid.

The bodywork is pretty good; not perfect but not a bubbling, seething mass of iron oxide either. The sills are a bit messy, being wonky and scratched, but that looks like it’s a result of being jacked in the wrong place rather than because it’s been bodged over the years. The paintwork is also cracked in a few places, which we’ve done our best to show on the photos, and there are the odd small areas of rust that will need sorting out before it becomes a real problem, all seem to be held under the paintwork at teh moment - as we said, nothing rampant, yet. There are also a couple of small dents on the front of the car between the badge and left headlight and also some minor dents the roof which are quite difficult to see in the photographs but they are there. 

We reckon it could be used ‘as is’ for a while to allow you to iron out any mechanical quirks while it’s still sunny and warm. You could then undertake the small amount of bodywork that will be needed in a nice warm garage over the coming winter, which will see this little beauty fighting fit and ready to woo a whole new skein of admirers next spring.

The chrome is fairly extensive in scope - by Fiat 500 standards that is - and what there is is still in good condition. Again, a bit of elbow grease and some Autosol should see it transformed because it only looks to be mildly pitted. The chromed bumpers and over-riders are very period, and lend the little Fiat an elegance that is at variance with its initial purchase price; no wonder the Lusso trim level was so popular when it was new.

The contrasting black fabric roof folds back to give genuine wind-in-the-hair motoring without compromising the 500’s structural integrity. It really is the best of all worlds, especially as it is still in good shape and appears to be water-tight.

The steel wheels are in good condition and sport their original chrome hubcaps. The tyres look okay but will probably need replacing on the grounds of age, if not wear. Still, they’re tiny and won’t cost a fortune, so you could afford to treat the old girl to something with an age-appropriate tread pattern instead of going for the cheapest Chinese ditch finders.

Clear front indicators give the Fiat a clean look, and as we’ve mentioned before, the Abarth stripes are purely decorative and don’t reflect any mechanical upgrades. However, less able and wealthy folk than you have conjured hugely convincing (and entertaining!) replicas for sensible money before – and in the meantime, you could just prop the engine lid open for a lighthearted evocation…

The red carpets look fairly fresh and will clean up very nicely indeed, and just need fastening down properly. No such work is needed for the front black vinyl seats, although the back of the rear seat doesn't seem to lock into place, but they’re in great shape and don’t need any additional work whatsoever.

The gear lever and handbrake could do with removing, cleaning and repainting, but that would be a lovely little job for a rainy winter’s day. The rest looks good and because it is so simple in there, any surprises that do arise can only be limited in scope (eg we note that the wiper motor works - but the link to the arms is not quite connected!

As already mentioned the tiny Fiat starts, runs, changes gear, stops and drives well but it has been standing for quite a few years so will inevitably need a degree of checking over and possible recommissioning. With that in mind, we’d strongly recommend coming to view it so you can form your own opinion of exactly what work will need doing, which will enable you to set your budget for bidding.

The engine bay looks commendably clean and tidy, and it certainly starts quickly and cleanly - possibly a relatively recent rebuild...?

It also comes with a small quantity of spare parts and has been fitted with a new battery. Please see the photo gallery for details.

The car comes with a letter dating the time and place of its build, along with a current V5 registration certificate and an owner’s handbook. It is understood to have come from Italy originally but there is nothing to prove that the low odometer reading is genuine.

This is an incredibly rare opportunity to get your hands on a low-mileage Fiat 500 in the much sought after Lusso trim level. Having formed the centrepiece in a Fiat dealer’s static showroom display, it is wonderfully preserved and only in need of minor recommissioning before it hits the road again.

If it were ours, we’d get it running and MOT’d as a priority and then run it as-is for a while to establish a decent baseline. Few cars carry a light patina better than a Fiat 500 and there’s simply no need to pull it apart to turn it into a trailer queen.

Having said that, if concours d’elegance is your thing, then this example could make a fine place to start, being bog-standard, original, and free of decades of bodgery and ham-fisted repairs.

How much do we think it will sell for? Offered with no reserve, we think it should fetch between £4,000 and £6,000, a sum that should leave you plenty of headroom to get it fettled to your own personal taste.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at The Market HQ in Abingdon; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive. 

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.