Fiat 500F

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Dante Giacosa’s masterpiece of minimalist motoring, the 'Nuova' 500 was launched in 1957 to replace the famous and much loved 500 'Topolino'.

Making our own Mini look positively bloated, its tiny bulbous body nevertheless had room for two adults and two bambini which gave the 500 huge appeal that got the masses motoring. Powered by a revvy and unburstable twin-cylinder 499cc air-cooled engine with a four-speed crash gearbox, the nippy and frugal 500 was an instant success both at home and abroad.

Fundamentally unaltered throughout its 18-year production life, the 500 was fantastic value for money with all-independent suspension, a heater and full-length sunroof as standard, when many much more expensive cars still listed these as options. A surprisingly spacious estate version was also available called the Giardiniera. Production finally ceased in 1975 to make way for the new and infinitely less characterful Fiat 126.

The gorgeous Fiat 500F you see here formed part of a private collection in Italy, coming to the UK in 2004 with only two owners since. Being the 500F it has ‘otto bulloni’ (eight bolt) door hinge mountings (conventional front-hinged doors as opposed to the earlier ‘suicide’ doors), but retains the desirable circular speedo binnacle that was lost on the post-1968 500L.

First registered in Italy in January 1968, it is showing only 48,200kms on the speedo (30,100 miles) which is believed to be genuine although there is insufficient documentary evidence to warrant this. Said to be highly correct and original throughout with few signs of any previous restoration, it retains its period Britax seatbelts, the original tools and warning triangle and has never had a radio fitted.

Recently serviced and given a full brake overhaul, it comes with an MOT until June 2016, a V5C, four old MOTs, a number of service receipts (some Italian and some English) plus a copy of what looks to be an Italian registration document.

Pleasingly original and unmolested, this charming little Fiat will win friends wherever it goes and looks like a blue chip investment at the modest guide price suggested.