1957 Fiat ‘Nuova’ 500 (more pics below 👇)
Introduced in July 1957 as a replacement for the long-running Topolino, the ‘Nuova’ 500 brought a clean-sheet design to Italian personal transportation.
A rear-mounted air-cooled twin, all-independent suspension, unitary construction, and a folding fabric roof were packaged into a car just 9 feet 9 inches long (wheelbase 6 feet 1 inch), sized for narrow city streets and minimal running costs.
The original ‘Economica’ version proved too spartan for buyers, lacking features such as proper trim and rear seating. A revised 500 Normale followed later the same year with wind-down windows, an upholstered rear seat, and improved interior fittings.
The air-cooled OHV twin started at 479cc and produced around 13 hp, with later Sport and D variants growing to 499cc and offering up to 21.5 hp. Few cars of the period became as embedded in daily Italian life, or have remained as enduringly recognizable.
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