Cars such as the new Mini and Beetle may be aspirational purchases today, but their original incarnations were meant as affordable transport for the masses.
The Fiat 500 perhaps encapsulates this change better than anything else. Though the Nuova was created to bridge the gap between microcars and small cars, its modern homage now serves time as the estate agents’ steed of choice – a conventional car with a pretty face and an elevated price tag.
But for classic fans this just makes the original all the more appealing.
Launched in 1957, the 13bhp two-seater Nuova 500 soon made way for a 15bhp four-seater version and the 21bhp sport. It was the latter car’s popularity that encouraged Fiat to replace the Nuova with the 17.5bhp 500D and cemented the 500’s reign into the mid-’70s.
While not the quickest machine to grace our planet, the Fiat is small, nippy and frugal. Perfect for Europe’s cities.
Hardly surprising then that there are a wealth of clubs including the Fiat 500 Club , the Fiat 500 Enthusiasts’ Club, plus sections of the Sporting Fiats Club and the Fiat Motor Club GB, devoted to the cheeky Italian.
Cars such as this can be picked up for just £5995. It has been upgraded to a 650cc engine, has a properly functioning heater (an apparent rarity), has covered only 42,000 miles and comes taxed and MoT’d.