July 27, 2024
00:30
Until September 1st, the National Automobile Museum in Brussels is celebrating the 125th anniversary of Fiat and the 75th anniversary of Abarth, its sports division. This is a chance to reflect on the beloved Fiat 500, which is approaching its 90th birthday.
For decades, it has epitomized Fiat: What better vehicle than the 500, or Cinquecento, to exemplify the 125 years of the Turin brand? The museum features a stunning setup inspired by the Dolce Vita era. Additionally, Autoworld is also celebrating 75 years of Abarth, known for racing these spirited little cars to victory in motorsports.
The story of the Fiat 500 predates common assumptions. In reality, its origins trace back to 1936 with the introduction of the Topolino, meaning “little mouse” or “Mickey Mouse” in Italian. “The car was remarkable for its time,” explains Leo Van Hoorick, curator of the museum. “It was affordable, sturdy, and had seating for four adults, equipped with a respectable 569 cc engine producing 13 horsepower.”
Precursor of the Beetle
Designed with a broad audience in mind, the Topolino was also ambitious in its design, adhering to the aerodynamic trends of its era, which were influenced by the Italian Futurism art movement. According to the Autoworld curator, “The first Fiat 500 served as a precursor to the Beetle. Hitler drew inspiration from the Topolino’s success when designing his KdF car.” KdF, standing for “Kraft durch Freude” (Strength through Joy), was the original name for the Volkswagen, intended to be the car for the masses.
4,25
MiLLIONS
A total of 4,250,000 Fiat 500s were produced.
“After World War I, Fiat consistently aimed to produce and market affordable cars for families, characterized by small, economical engines,” recalls Leo Van Hoorick, citing the 1932 Fiat 508 Balilla as further evidence, a model with much boxier lines than the Topolino, which enabled the Italian middle class to own a car.
The 500 Topolino, with around 600,000 units built, concluded its successful run in 1955. Contrary to popular belief, the successor to the Topolino was not the iconic Fiat 500, but rather the 600, launched in 1955. “And soon after, Fiat recognized the untapped market beneath the 600”: thus, the Nuova 500 was born, debuting in 1957.
Read also
International Production
“Initially, it wasn’t a major success,” the curator notes, “but it remained in production until 1975,” spanning almost 20 years. Like all Fiats since the late 1920s, the 500 was manufactured under license in numerous countries, including France (Simca), Germany (NSU), and Austria (Steyr), which bolstered its worldwide appeal. Fiat was accustomed to developing various iterations of its models; thus, the Giardiniera station wagon was created. In total, 4,250,000 Fiat 500s were produced.
“After World War I, Fiat always aimed to manufacture and market popular, family cars with small, economical engines.”
Like the Topolino, the Nuova 500 was the result of the brilliance of engineer Dante Giacosa (1905-1996). Much like Alec Issigonis, the designer of the Morris Mini, Giacosa is considered one of the automobile industry’s great innovators. The Fiat 500 and the Mini, along with the VW Beetle, Citroën 2CV, and Renault 4L, have all become legendary vehicles.
Popular and Iconic
What connects all these vehicles: they are all popular cars. “Ultimately, it’s largely a marketing narrative that has transformed the Fiat 500 into a symbol, rather than the car’s driving experience,” asserts Leo Van Hoorick. The little Fiat also benefited from strategic product placement in films and television shows. “The launch of the 595 by the tuner Abarth and the subsequent sporting triumphs significantly enhanced the 500’s image.”
The new 500 was initially intended to be an electric-only model, but due to declining demand for electric vehicles, Fiat has opted to produce a hybrid version for 2025.
“Moreover, production continues; we are still manufacturing 500 Abarths…” Like the Beetle, the Mini, and today the Renault 5, The Fiat 500 underwent a remarkable revival in 2008, with the late Sergio Marchionne even suggesting reducing the lineup to this single neo-retro model, which might not have been well-received.”
In the meantime, the 500 remains in the spotlight: the new 500e was originally slated to be an exclusively electric version; however, with falling demand for electric vehicles, Fiat has chosen to create a hybrid model by 2025. Manufactured in Turin, this new thermal-electric variant will be named 500 Torino, without adopting the Gran…
“Fiat 125 Years: The Sweet Life”
Note from L’Echo:
Classic cars: the Fiat Otto Vu, a sight to behold!
It cannot be said that the Fiat brand shines in the world of classic car auctions: “Fiat does not sell dreams to people,” analyzes Philip Kantor. According to the international President of Bonhams Motoring, only the Fiat 8V, known as “Otto Vu” with its V8 engine, stands out: only 114 units of this model were produced, with all major Italian coachbuilders showcasing their talents on it: Siata, Vignale, Pininfarina, Bertone, and Luigi Rapi (at Fiat). These cars today fetch prices between 1 to 1.2 million euros, with the Supersonic model signed by Ghia reaching up to 1.7 million euros.
Nowadays, bids of 200,000, 300,000, or even 400,000 euros have been recorded for Fiat 1100s that participated in the Mille Miglia of the 1950s. For Philip Kantor, “it’s a skewed market, as they serve as guaranteed entry tickets for the current Mille Miglia; their actual value is at most 100,000 euros.”
According to Leo Van Hoorick, the 1967 Fiat Dino remains “the best-kept secret for a long time in the collector car world”: designed by Bertone for the coupé and Pininfarina for the convertible, it features a Ferrari engine. Regarded as one of the most stunning convertibles of its era, it is currently valued “between 100,000 and 150,000 euros, according to Philip Kantor, while it was priced at 70,000 three or four years ago!” Purists often prefer the 2.0 L variant over the 2.4 L engine.
July 27, 2024
00:30
Until September 1st, the National Automobile Museum in Brussels is commemorating the 125th anniversary of Fiat and the 75th anniversary of Abarth, its sports subsidiary. An opportunity to look back at the popular Fiat 500, which will soon be… 90 years old.
She alone has symbolised Fiat for decades: What better than the 500, or Cinquecento, to illustrate the 125 years of the Turin brand? In a magnificent scenography in the style of Dolce Vita, the National Automobile Museum commemorates 75 years of Abarth, which has been racing these muscular little cars to victory in motor racing.
The Fiat 500 has a story that goes back much further than people generally think. In fact, it didn’t start in 1957 with the launch of the small sedan affectionately nicknamed “yogurt pot”. The first 500 dates back to 1936 and is called Topolino, “little mouse” or “Mickey Mouse” in Italian. “The car was special for its time,” says Leo Van Hoorick, curator of the museum. “It was cheap, solid, had four seats for four adults, with a respectable 569 cc engine for 13 horsepower.”
Precursor of the Beetle
With a popular vocation, this Topolino was no less ambitious in terms of design, following the aerodynamic trend of the time, which was illustrated by the pictorial movement of Italian Futurism. For the curator of Autoworld, “The first Fiat 500 is the precursor of the Beetle. Hitler was inspired by the success of the Topolino to design his KdF car.” KdF, for “Kraft durch Freude” (Strength through joy), was the first name for the Volkswagen, the people’s car, for everyone.
4,25
MiLLIONS
In total, 4,250,000 Fiat 500s were built.
“After the First World War, Fiat has always tried to manufacture and market popular cars family cars, with small, economical engines,” recalls Leo Van Hoorick, with the 508 Balilla from 1932 as further proof, with much more square lines than the Topolino, which allowed the Italian middle class to access the automobile.
Produced in around 600,000 units, the 500 Topolino ended its glorious career in 1955. Contrary to what one might believe, The successor to the Topolino was not the well-known Fiat 500, but the 600, which was launched in 1955. “And, very quickly, Fiat saw that there was still a niche under the 600”: thus was born the Nuova 500, introduced in 1957.
Production internationale
“It wasn’t a great success at first,” the curator is keen to point out, “but it remained in production until 1975,” almost 20 years. Like all Fiats since the end of the 1920s, The 500 was produced under license in many countries France (Simca), Germany (NSU), Austria (Steyr), which reinforced its international success. Fiat was accustomed to developing different versions of its models; thus the Giardiniera station wagon was born. In total, 4,250,000 Fiat 500s were built.
“After the First World War, Fiat always tried to manufacture and market popular, family cars with small, economical engines.”
Like the Topolino, the Nuova 500 is due to the genius of engineer Dante Giacosa (1905-1996). Like Alec Issigonis, designer of the Morris Mini, Giacosa is one of the great creators of the automobile industry. Fiat 500 and Mini, which have in common, with the VW Beetle, the Citroën 2CV, and the Renault 4L, to have become legendary automobiles.
Popular and Famous
What they have in common: all are popular cars. “It’s mainly a marketing story that has made the Fiat 500 a symbol, and not really the qualities of the car’s handling,” says Leo Van Hoorick. The little Fiat also benefited from excellent product placement in films and television series. “What also contributed to the image of the 500 was the release, by the tuner Abarth, of the 595, and all the sporting successes that followed.”
The new 500 was originally planned to be an electric-only version, but as demand for electric vehicles declines, Fiat has decided to produce a hybrid version for 2025.
“Besides, it’s still going on, we’re still making 500 Abarths…” Like the Beetle, the Mini, and today the Renault 5, The Fiat 500 experienced a spectacular rebirth in 2008. The late Sergio Marchionne even wanted to reduce the range to this single neo-retro model, “which was perhaps not well seen.”
In the meantime, the 500 continues to make headlines: the new 500e was planned to be an electric version only, but as demand for electric vehicles declines, Fiat has decided to produce a hybrid version by 2025. Manufactured in Turin, this new thermal-electric will be called 500 Torino, without having anything of the Gran…
“Fiat 125 ans: The Sweet Life”
Note from L’Echo:
Classic cars: the Fiat Otto Vu, it’s all seen!
It cannot be said that the Fiat logo shines in public auctions of collector cars: “Fiat does not sell the dream to people,” analyses Philip Kantor. In the eyes of the international President of Bonhams Motoring, only the Fiat 8V, called “Otto Vu” with a V8 engine, shines: this chassis was produced in 114 examples, and all the major Italian coachbuilders had a field day with it: Siata, Vignale, Pininfarina, Bertone, Luigi Rapi (at Fiat). These cars are worth 1 to 1.2 million euros today, and up to 1.7 million for the Supersonic signed by Ghia.
Nowadays, people are also bidding 200, 300, or even 400,000 euros for Fiat 1100s that took part in the Mille Miglia of the 1950s. For Philip Kantor, “it’s a distorted market, because they represent a guaranteed entry ticket for the current Mille Miglia; they are worth at most 100,000 euros.”
According to Leo Van Hoorick, it remains “the best-kept secret for a long time in the world of collector cars”: the 1967 Fiat Dino, designed by Bertone for the coupé, Pininfarina for the convertible, with a Ferrari engine. One of the most beautiful convertibles of its time, it is currently selling for “between 100,000 and 150,000 euros, according to Philip Kantor, whereas it was 70,000 3 or 4 years ago!” The purist will prefer the 2.0 l to the 2.4 l engine.
