Fiat 500
Encyclopedia : F : FI : FIA : Fiat 500
- "500" can also refer to the later Fiat Cinquecento
The Fiat 500 (the "cinquecento" from the Italian word for "500") is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975.
Launched as the Nuova 500, it was marketed as a cheap and practical town car to combat high levels of congestion in Italian cities. Measuring less than 3.00 m (10 ft) long, and powered by a tiny 479 cc two-cylinder, aircooled engine, the 500 redefined the term "small car" and is considered one of the first city cars.
History
To meet the demands of the post-war market which called for cars of very low cost, the Fiat 500 was rear-engined on the pattern of the Volkswagen Beetle. Several car makers followed this now nearly vanished pattern at the time and were quite successful. But only the Fiat 500 was used as the pattern for other car makers in Europe. The firms Neckar of Germany and Steyr-Puch in Austria each made cars that were legally based on the Fiat 500.
Despite its diminutive size, the 500 proved to be an enormously practical and popular vehicle throughout Europe. It was also available as the "Giardiniera" or station wagon; this variant featured the standard engine laid on its side, the wheelbase lengthened by 10 cm (4 in) which yielded a usable rear seat, a full-length sunroof, and larger brakes from the 600.
Production of the 500 ended in 1975, although its replacement, the Fiat 126, was launched two years earlier. The 126 was never as popular as its predecessor.
Trivia
The Fiat 500 was used by Lupin III, the protagonist of the Lupin the 3rd series and movies.A side character on the Disney/Pixar film Cars is a 1959 Fiat 500 named Luigi.
See also
- Fiat Topolino (the "original" Fiat 500)
- Bianchina (Based on the 500)
- Fiat Cinquecento (a modern Fiat 500)
- Fiat Seicento (the successor of the Cinquecento)
- Fiat Nuova 500 (the future retro-style 500)
External links
| Fiat car timeline, European market, 1960s-1980s - |
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| Type | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| City car | 500 | 126 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 600 | Panda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supermini | 850 | 127 | Uno | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car | 1100 | 128 | Ritmo | Tipo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car (D & E classes) | 1300/1500 | 124 | 131 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1500 | 125 | 132 | Argenta | Croma I | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive car | 2300 | 130 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé / Roadster | Dino | X1/9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Panel van | Fiorino I | Fiorino II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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