Fiat 500 - The small car that became a big phenomenon
Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest impact. Such is the case with the Fiat 500 – the tiny car that not only mobilized a nation, but also grew into a worldwide icon. From the cobblestone streets of Rome to the silver screen and collectors’ garages, this compact classic has earned its place in both everyday life and cultural history. Proof that great personality can fit into a small package.
How it all started
When Fiat launched the 500 in 1957, Italy was still recovering from the hardships of the post-war years. The country needed an affordable people’s car, and the answer came from Dante Giacosa, Fiat’s brilliant chief engineer. The result was a car barely three meters long, yet designed so cleverly and simply that it swept across Europe like a breath of fresh air. The Fiat 500 quickly became synonymous with Italian cityscapes and lifestyle – a rolling piece of optimism on four wheels.
Technical simplicity and brilliance
Under the rear hood sat a two-cylinder, air-cooled engine of just 479 cc, delivering a modest 13 horsepower in the first generation. Modest on paper, but more than enough to push the featherweight body through the tight alleys of Italian towns. With a top speed of around 85 km/h, it wasn’t meant for the autostrada– but that didn’t matter. The 500 was nimble, efficient, and economical to run, which made it not only accessible but also easy to maintain, cementing its popularity across Europe.
Curiosity and cultural heritage
The Fiat 500 became more than just a car – it became a symbol of post-war Italy. It was parked outside cafes in Rome, driven along the Amalfi Coast and was as much a part of everyday Italian life as espresso and the Vespa. A total of over 3.8 million units were built by 1975, making it one of Europe's most successful small cars of all time.
Famous variants include the Nuova 500 (1957), the 500D with its roll-top roof, the 500F – which became a true production success, and the more comfortable 500L launched in 1968. Then, of course, there were the legendary Abarth-tuned models – small but fierce pocket rockets that brought the 500 to racing circuits and hillclimb events.
Double Fiat 500 up for sale
Right now at Bidders Highway, two unique examples of the Fiat 500 are up for auction:
- 1965 Fiat 500F – a model that represents the purest, most classic form of the 500. Simple, charming, and carrying the early design cues that made the car loved from the very beginning. See the auction here.
- 1971 Fiat 500L – the slightly more refined and comfortable version, with upgraded instrumentation and touches of luxury in a small format. A perfect example of how Fiat developed the concept without losing the character of the original. See the auction here.
A personal memory
On a trip to northern Italy, not far from Lake Garda, we got to experience the magic of a Fiat 500 up close. Unfortunately, the rental car wasn’t an old classic from the 60s but a more modern model, but the feeling of driving a Fiat 500 in Italy was still special. With winding roads through vineyards, the sun high in the sky and Eros Ramazzotti on the local radio, every kilometer became a pleasure of Italian everyday life. It was at that moment, when we crowded with other 500s in central Verona or spontaneously stopped at a vineyard in the countryside next to yet another example, that we understood that the Fiat 500 is not just a car – it is a feeling. It carries with it an atmosphere of lightness and joie de vivre that is difficult to capture in words, but easy to feel when you are behind the wheel.
An immortal concept
That the Fiat 500 still stirs emotions today is no coincidence. The original model was one of the very first true city cars and paved the way for an entirely new vehicle segment. When Fiat relaunched the 500 in 2007, the success was immediate – proof that the DNA of the original still works flawlessly.
And perhaps that’s why we remember our own trip through the vineyards near Lake Garda with such fondness. Because the Fiat 500 is not just a classic in automotive history – it’s a companion that turns every drive into a story. A small car that will always hold a big place in the heart.
Sold Fiat 500 at Bidders Highway
Below we take a look at some of the fine specimens that have found a new home on our marketplace.
1967 Fiat 500 "No Reserve Auction" - 175 000 SEK
1972 Fiat 500L - 110 000 SEK
1970 Fiat 500 Lusso - 176 000 SEK
2012 FIAT 500 GUCCI - 92 000 SEK
Tomas Jönsson
Bidders Highway