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| Manufacturer | Fiat |
|---|---|
| Production | 1957-1975 |
| Assembly | Turin, Italy |
| Predecessor | Fiat 500 "Topolino" |
| Successor | Fiat 126 |
| Class | City car |
| Body style | 2-door sedan 3-door estate |
| Layout | RR layout |
| Engine | 479 cc I2 499 cc I2 594 cc I2 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 1.84 m (72.4 in) |
| Length | 2.97 m (116.9 in) |
| Width | 1.32 m (52.0 in) |
| Height | 1.32 m (52.0 in) |
| Curb weight | 499 kg (1,100 lb) |
| Related | Autobianchi Bianchina |
| Designer | Dante Giacosa |
The Fiat 500 (Italian: cinquecento, Italian pronunciation: [ˌtʃiŋkweˈtʃɛnto]) is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975, with limited production of the Fiat 500 K estate continuing until 1977. The car was designed by Dante Giacosa.
Launched as the Nuova (new) 500 in July 1957,[1] it was a cheap and practical town car. Measuring only 3 metres (~10 feet) long, and originally powered by an appropriately-sized 479 cc two-cylinder, air-cooled engine, the 500 redefined the term "small car" and is considered one of the first city cars.
In 2007, the 50th anniversary of the 500's launch, Fiat launched the New Fiat 500, stylistically inspired by the 500 but considerably heavier and larger with front-wheel drive.
Contents |
History [link]
To meet the demands of the post-war market which called for economy cars, the Fiat 500 was rear-engined on the pattern of the Volkswagen Beetle, just like its bigger brother, the 1955 Fiat 600. Several car makers followed the now uncommon rear engine configuration at the time and were quite successful. The Neckar version manufactured in Heilbronn under a complicated deal involving NSU, was introduced in October 1961.[1] In Upper Austria the firm of Steyr-Puch also produced cars based, by agreement, on the Fiat 500.
Despite its diminutive size, the 500 proved to be an enormously practical and popular vehicle throughout Europe. Besides the two-door coupé, it was also available as the "Giardiniera" station wagon; this variant featured the standard engine laid on its side, the wheelbase lengthened by 10 cm (4 in) to provide a more convenient rear seat, a full-length sunroof, and larger brakes from the Fiat 600.
Sports models were famously produced by Abarth, as well as by Giannini. An Austrian variant, produced by Steyr-Daimler-Puch, the 1957–1973 Steyr-Puch 500, had a motorcycle-derived Puch boxer twin motor, a sports model of which was the 1965–1969 Steyr-Puch 650 TR2.
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 in Italy, but was enormously popular in the former Eastern Bloc countries, where it is famed for its mechanical durability and high fuel economy. The Fiat 500 has a Cx (aerodynamic resistance coefficient) of 0,38, a very good performance for its time.
Models [link]
[edit] Nuova (New) (1957–1960)
The true new 500, the Nuova, has a smaller two-cylinder engine than all newer models, at 479 cc (500cc nominal), hence the name, and producing just 13 bhp. This model also features a fabric roof folding all the way back to the rear of the vehicle, like that of a Citroën 2CV rather than the later roof design, which only folds half way back along the roof. The Nuova is one of three models featuring "suicide doors." There is also a stylish Sport version of the Nuova, which features a distinctive red stripe and a more powerful engine, bored out to 499.5 cc from the original 479 cc engine, giving a very respectable car bhp with the same block.
D (1960–1965) [link]
Replacing the original Nuova in 1960, the D looks very similar to the Nuova, but there are two key differences. One is the engine size (the D features an uprated 499 cc engine producing 17 bhp as standard—this engine is used right through until the end of the L in 1973) and the other is the roof: the standard D roof does not fold back as far as the roof on the Nuova, though it was also available as the "Transformable" with the same roof as the Nuova. The D also features "suicide doors".
[edit] K or Giardiniera (1960–1977)
The estate version of the Fiat 500 is the longest running model. The engine is laid under the floor of the boot to create a flat loading surface. The roof on this model also stretches all the way to the rear, not stopping above the driver and front passenger as it does in other models of the same period. The K also features "suicide doors" and was the only model to continue to sport this door type into the 1970s.
[edit] F or Berlina (1965–1973)
The F spans two periods of 500 production, the D and the L. As such, it is the most frequently misidentified model. Between 1965 and 1969 the F carried the same badging as the D, but the two models are distinguishable by the positioning of their door hinges. The D has "suicide doors": the F, produced from June 1965, at last featured front-hinged doors.[1] Between 1969 and 1972 the F was sold alongside the Lusso model as a cheaper "base model" alternative. While the F and L are mechanically very similar, the key differences are the bumpers (the L has an extra chrome nudge bar) and the interior (the F interior is nearly identical to the original 1957 design while the L sports a much more modern look).
[edit] L or Lusso (1968–1972)
The penultimate model, the main change for the L is a much modernized interior (including a renewed dashboard) which brought the Fiat 500 up to date. Greater comfort and style were provided in this new model for the new generation.
[edit] R or Rinnovata (1972–1975)
The last incarnation of the Fiat 500 was the R model. It had a larger 594 cc engine, designed by Abarth, giving it a more usable power rating of 23 bhp, and came with a full synchromesh gearbox. The floor-pan which was from either the 'L', or later, the new 126. It was also more comfortable, but more simply trimmed and equipped than before — the fuel gauge was omitted and only the low fuel indicator remained. The 500 R was also a stop-gap for Fiat prior to the launch of the Fiat 126, and when the new 126 was launched, sales of the old Fiat 500 R plummeted. It was sold alongside the Fiat 126 for another two years before Fiat retired the 500. Fiat launched a similar styled, longer and heavier front wheel drive car, the Fiat Nuova 500.
Modifications [link]
Fiat 500 Ghia [link]
Carrozzeria Ghia made a custom "Jolly" version of the 500 inspired by the limited edition Fiat 600 Jolly.[2] As with its bigger sister, this was a chopped-roof doorless version with wicker seats, often seen sporting a canopy roof.
Fiat 500 (2007) [link]
Fiat previewed the all new 500 in March 2007– 50 years after the first Fiat 500 was presented. The design of the new 2007 Fiat 500 is based on the 2004 Fiat Trepiuno concept. This car features a distinctive retro-look similar to the Volkswagen New Beetle and BMW MINI, but the 500 is substantially cheaper than those cars, with a starting price of €10,500 (similar to how the original Fiat 500 was cheaper than the Volkswagen Beetle and Austin Mini). Fiat shares the underpinnings of the new 500 with Ford for the 2009 Ford Ka. Production takes place in Fiat facilities in Tychy, Poland, and was scheduled for mid 2007, with commercial debut in September 2007.
Long distance travel in 500s [link]
- In July 1958 seven Fiat 500s, including at least one 500 Sport and several Abarth-tuned 500s, contested the first and only Liège-Brescia-Liège Rally for cars up to 500cc. Though beaten by the Berkeley SE492s and Messerschmitt TG500 on the opening hillclimb, the Fiat 500s showed exceptional durability, battling through this almost non-stop 3300 km event, over testing dirt-road passes in the Italian Dolomites and Yugoslavia, to win. First place was taken by the 500 Sport of Italian Arturo Brunetto and Argentine Alfredo Frieder, second by the Abarth 500 of Luxembourgers Wagner and Donven, with 500s also taking 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th and 13th places. While only 13 of the 29 competing cars finished the rally, all seven 500s did, establishing the car's credentials as a capable all-round car.
Fiat 500 World Expedition from Australia
- In May 2007 a 1969 Fiat 500 ("Bambino" in Australia) driven by Lang Kidby and his wife Bev started their Fiat 500 World Expedition from Australia. Driving from Vladivostok through Russia they arrived in Garlenda, Italy in time for the car's 50th anniversary celebration. Shipping from Belgium the car set out from New York to travel all the way to Anchorage, Alaska before returning to Australia—32,000 road kilometers in just 99 days. It is believed to be the smallest car to complete a world circumnavigation.
- On April 18, 2005 a 1973 Fiat 500 linked Bari, Italy, to Beijing, China, in a 16,000 km journey across the whole of Russia and passing through Vladivostok. Driven for 100 days by Danilo Elia and Fabrizio Bonserio, the old and tiny car was followed along its journey by newspapers and television from all over the world. After the long journey Elia wrote a book entitled La bizzarra impresa (ISBN 88-7480-088-6) ("The bizarre exploit"), now available only in Italian and German (Echt Abgefahren, National Geographic Deutschland, 2007, ISBN 978-3-89405-834-0). In April–June 2007, the same car driven by Danilo Elia ran around the Mediterranean sea for more than 10.000 km, being the first Fiat 500 to reach the Sahara dunes.
500 in popular culture [link]
In 1995 British shoegazing band Lush recorded a tribute song to Fiat 500. The song, aptly named "500", was released on the group's final album Lovelife in 1996. A remixed version of the song, renamed "500 (Shake Baby Shake)", was released as the group's final single later that year, reaching #21 in the UK singles chart.
Free diving world champion Enzo Molinari and his brother Roberto drive a beaten-up Fiat 500 with a trailer full of diving equipment in the movie The Big Blue. Both actors and the car later featured in Japanese TV commercials for 'Lazer 100' gasoline.
In The Castle of Cagliostro, a Japanese animated film starring the master thief Arsène Lupin III, he and his close friend Daisuke Jigen escape in a heavily modified Fiat 500 after robbing the casino of Monaco. The car is also seen frequently in other animated iterations of the franchise, including the 1971-72 television series and the 2008 special Green Vs. Red.
In the 2006 animated movie Cars, produced by Pixar and populated by anthropomorphic motor vehicles, the automotive character of Luigi is a 1959 Fiat 500.
The music video for Jennifer Lopez's song "Papi" features the car.
The movie The Rum Diary featured one that is driven for almost the entire film.
It is the car featured and driven by chefs Gennaro Contaldo and Antonio Carluccio during their BBC television show, Two Greedy Italians in 2012.
See also [link]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fiat 500 |
- Autobianchi Bianchina (based on the 500)
- Fiat 126 (replacement for the Fiat 500)
- Fiat 500 "Topolino" (the "original" 500)
- Fiat 600 (predecessor of the 500)
- Fiat Cinquecento (a modern Fiat 500)
- Puch 500 (the Austrian version)
References [link]
- ^ a b c "Used Car Test: Fiat 500D". Autocar. 130 (nbr3818): pages 49–50. 17 April 1969.
- ^ "1961 Fiat Jolly 500". sportscarmarket.com. https://www.sportscarmarket.com/profiles/2005/September/Etceterini/index.html. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
External links [link]
Bibliography [link]
- (Italian) Abarth 595 695, by Elvio Deganello and Renato Donati, pub. by Giorgio Nada, 2002 ISBN 88-7911-287-2
- (French) Album Fiat 500, di J.J. by Galkowsky, pub. by EPA Edition ISBN 2-85120-470-X
- (French) Autopassion Hors Serie, pub. by Auto collection n. 22
- (English) Fiat & Abarth 500-600, by Malcolm Bobbit, pub. by Veloce Publishing Plc ISBN 1-903706-69-6
- (Italian) Fiat 500, by Elvio Deganello, pub. by Giorgio Nada, 2002 ISBN 88-7911-069-1
- (German) Fiat 500, by Alessandro Sannia, pub. by Motorbuch, 2007, ISBN 978-3-613-02825-8
- (Hungarian) Fiat 500 – az apró, mégis óriási legenda, by Alessandro Sannia, pub. by Alexandra, 2006, ISBN 963-369-555-4
- (Dutch) Fiat 500 – de kleine grote mythe, by Alessandro Sannia, pub. by Rebo, 2006, ISBN 90-366-1875-4
- (Italian) Fiat 500 fuoriserie, by Alessandro Sannia, pub. by All Media, 2003
- (Italian) Fiat 500 (genio di un'epoca), by Ugo Castagnotto and Anna Maria Quarona, pub. by Lindau, 1992 ISBN 88-7180-039-7
- (Italian) Fiat 500 – guida al restauro, by Marcello Lo Vetere and Italo Grossi, pub. by Giorgio Nada, 2003 ISBN 88-7911-209-0
- (English) Fiat 500 Gold Portfolio 1936–1972, by R.M. Clarke, pub. by Brooklands ISBN 1-85520-246-8
- (Italian), (English) Fiat 500: la Guida – the Guide, by Alessandro Sannia, pub. by All Media, 2003
- (Italian), (English) Fiat 500 – l'evoluzione del mito, by Alessandro Sannia, pub. by Gribaudo, 2007, ISBN 978-88-7906-385-2
- (Italian), (English) Fiat 500 – piccolo grande mito, by Alessandro Sannia, pub. by Gribaudo, 2005, ISBN 88-7906-020-1
- (Italian) I miei 40 anni alla Fiat, by Dante Giacosa
- (Italian) Il grande libro delle giardinette Fiat, by Alessandro Sannia, pub. by Giorgio Nada, 2007, ISBN 978-88-7911-401-1
- (Italian) Io Franco Giannini vi racconto, by Franco Giannini
- (Italian) La 500, by Romano Strizioli, pub. by Bacchetta
- (Italian) La Fiat 500 – Storia di un mito, by Stefano Parenti, pub. by Polo Books ISBN 88-87577-26-9
- (Italian) La Fiat Nuova 500, by Enzo Altorio, pub. by Automitica, 2005 ISBN 88-86304-00-5
- (French) La Fiat 500 de mon père, by Lauvrey - Le Fay, pub. by E.T.A.I. 1998 ISBN 2-7268-8178-5
- (Italian) Le Giannini, by Enzo Altorio, pub. by Automitica
- (Italian) Progetti alla Fiat prima del computer, by Dante Giacosa, pub. by Automobilia ISBN 88-85880-00-2
- (French) Revue Technique Automobile 500, D, F, L, pub. by ì E.T.A.I.
- (German) Schrader Motor Chronik Fiat 500 600 1936, pub. by Schrader Verlag, 1969 ISBN 3-922617-26-3
| « previous — Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. car timeline, European market, 1960s–1980s — next » | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | 133 | Panda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supermini | 850 | 127 | Uno | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car | 1100 | 128 | Ritmo | Tipo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1300 | 124 | 131 | Regata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car | 1500 | 125 | 132 | Argenta | Croma I | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive car | 1800/2100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2300 | 130 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé / Roadster | Dino / 124 Sport Spider | 124 Sport Spider | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 124 Coupé | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports car | 850 Spider | X1/9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Panel van | Fiorino I | Fiorino II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact MPV | 600 Multipla | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Van | 600 T | 850 T | 900 T | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1100 BLR / ELR / I / T | 238 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 241 | 242 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Daily* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ducato I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Off-road | Campagnola (1101) | Campagnola (1107) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Rebadged Iveco model | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
https://wn.com/Fiat_500
Fiat Automobiles
FIAT (Italian: Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, Italian Automobiles Factory, Turin) is an Italian automaker which produces Fiat branded cars, and is part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles through its subsidiary FCA Italy S.p.A.., the largest automobile manufacturer in Italy. The company, Fiat Automobiles S.p.A., was formed in January 2007 when Fiat reorganized its automobile business, and traces its history back to 1899 when the first Fiat, or Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino automobile, was produced.
Production output
Fiat in Europe
Fiat's main market is Europe, mainly focused in Italy. Historically successful in citycars and supermini sector, currently Fiat has a range of models focused on those two segments (in 2011, those accounted for the 84% of its sales). Fiat does not currently offer any large family car, nor an executive car.
Fiat's share of the European market shrank from 9.4 per cent in 2000 to 5.8 per cent in the summer of 2004. At this point Sergio Marchionne was appointed as Fiat Chief Executive. By March 2009 their market share had expanded back to 9.1%.
Fiat (policy debate)
Fiat (Latin for "let it be done") is a theoretical construct in policy debate—derived from the word should in the resolution—whereby the substance of the resolution is debated, rather than the political feasibility of enactment and enforcement of a given plan, allowing an affirmative team to "imagine" a plan into being.
For example: a student at a high school debate argues that increases in United States support of United Nations peacekeeping may help to render the United States more multilateral. Such an increase is very unlikely to occur from the debate judge voting affirmative, but fiat allows the student to side-step this practicality, and argue on the substance of the idea, as if it could be immediately enacted.
There are different theories regarding fiat:
"Normal Means"—Going through the same political process comparable with normal legislative processes. There is no overarching, accepted definition of the legislative pathways which constitute "normal means," but clarification about what an affirmative team regards as "normal means" can be obtained as part of cross-examination by the negative team.
Fiat 510
The Fiat 510 is a passenger car produced by Fiat between 1920-1925. It was made similar way than smaller 501 and 505 Fiats. Starting from 1920 was made sport version 510 S with more powerful engine and shorter chassis. The car was produced around 14,000 examples.
Engines
Fiat 510 Series1 1919
Fiat 510 Series1 1919
