Chassis No. 064385

In the period between the World Wars, practicality, affordability, and reliability became necessary features in the design of automobiles as nations faced resource constraints and the urgent need for efficient transportation. The Volkswagen Type 1 “Beetle,” Citroën 2CV, and Fiat 500 emerged as quintessential examples of this ethos, each embodying a vision of economical and dependable transportation for the masses. These so-called “people's cars” were not only technical achievements, but also cultural icons that later played significant roles in the post-WWII rebuilding and modernization of their respective nations. Among them, the Fiat 500 held particular significance in post-war Italy, becoming a symbol of the nation's optimism.

Nicknamed the Topolino (little mouse in Italian) for its diminutive size, the Fiat 500 was a radical design that pioneered new standards for small car engineering. It featured an independent front suspension with a transverse leaf spring and double-acting telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers, hydraulic brakes, a 12-volt electrical system, a four‑speed gearbox with an 8/41 ratio, and a fuel-efficient 569 cc, four-cylinder side-valve engine mounted ahead of the front axle. This left ample cabin and luggage space despite its small exterior dimensions, enabling it to transport small families through Italy's mountain roads at over 50 mph. Naturally, Italy's people's car was also raced, with modified Topolinos being entered in the famous Mille Miglia as early as 1937. Its good brakes and capable road holding demonstrated over the grueling 1,000 mile race further solidified the Topolino's place in automotive history as one of the iconic small cars of its era.

This Trasformabile model, distinguished by its retractable canvas soft top, hails from the first series of Topolino production and is offered with a replacement Italian registration booklet issued in September 1956. The booklet shows that the Fiat was registered in Parma, Italy at the time; it is believed to have been re-registered following the conclusion of WWII. Finished in a stylish beige and black two-tone specification, it benefits from a comprehensive restoration by Georgio Castello in Turin, Italy. Notable details include its correct body-color 15 inch steel wheels with polished Fiat logo hubcaps, fender-mounted headlights, rear-hinged doors, and rear-mounted spare tire. Preserved in storage for a number of years following its restoration, this wonderful Italian microcar is also offered with its extremely rare original Fiat 500 maintenance manual, providing its next fortunate owner with a healthy dose of La Dolce Vita.