The History of Fiat 500

It might be intriguing to note that the Fiat 500 was a name shared by two different famous cars of all time. The first Fiat 500 named Topolino was considered the smallest car in 1936. In 1955, the medium sized Fiat 600 with its engine mounted on the rear was launched. The Fiat 600 became the basis of design for the new Fiat 500; alternatively termed as the 500 Nuova (or new). The fiat 500 is also called the bambino. It was clearly one of the most popular cars to ever leave the stables of Fiat.

The then chief designer, Dante Giacosa - who was also the designer of Fiat 600, designed the Fiat 500 originally launched in the year 1957. Giacosa was determined to design a car to pack more into a smaller space. He did this by making the engine mount at the rear side. The difference between the designs of 500 and 600 is that in the 500 Dante Giacosa used a two-cylinder air-cooled unit, which made the entire vehicle lighter.

The first variant to the bambino was released in 1958, and it boasted of an increased power output of 15bhp. The company also used more chrome throughout the interiors as well as the exteriors. They furthermore introduced windows that could be wound down for the very first time. To ensure that the car kept up with the traffic, a sport model with 21bhp was released, likewise. Small alterations were done on the Fiat 500 dually in between the years 1959 to 1963; the car received a new name the 500D, and it housed a 17.5bhp engine. Other alterations involved fixing front seat belts, restructured seats and trunk space as well as an advanced instrument panel. The most important change came in 1965 when the 500F got for itself two normal doors (better than then used suicide doors). Furthermore, in the same year the engine was modified to achieve a 19bhp and 95kmph highest possible speed.

By 1968, the 500 L was released with more modifications to the interior comfort levels. An improved steering wheel, instrument panel, reclining seats and carpeting were given to the car. The last series of the 500 was known as 500 R. It was sold between 1972 and 1975. The series shared new engine and wheels and was possibly the best performing 500 ever sold.

In 1975, production was put to a hold with 3.6 million cars sold during its life. By then production had already been outsourced to a Polish company called FSM, who made both the Fiat 126 and the identical FSM Nikki for limited markets until 2000. Later BMW began launching remodeled the Morris Mini and launched MINI. Volkswagen Beetle was also out of the box, Fiat also decided to recall the 500. The Fiat 500 was redesigned and was launched amidst applauds in the year 2007. The new hatch back has been on the sales since then and has been competing with the Mini Cooper and Volkswagen Beetle.