The Fiat 500 Story

My wife loves Tiny Houses. Those custom recreational vehicles that people pour their love into and are a master of small packaging. And we’re both fans of caravans, and their ability to pack so much into such a small space. I’m not talking about actually buying one or towing it slowly around the country - where’s the fun in that?!? No, I just want to wonder at how a table can transform into a bed, then a sofa, and probably a Jacuzzi or something.
The Fiat 500 is also a master of small packaging. Like the Tata Nano it was bourne out of making something that was so cheap it could replace a family’s motorcycle, but unlike the Nano it was a resounding success, selling over 4M cars in just 20 years.
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[@marvwatkins7029]

I rode a bus from Venice to Florence in 1971. I imagined when going to Italy that I would see Ferraris, Masaratis, and Lambos everywhere. Not a one. But I did see a lot of 500's. Just for fun I decided I'd count the number of on coming ones on the road. In about 40 km I counted 303. That was enough.

[@strongcryptohodl6093]

No one has money in Italy to buy a $200,000 car.

[@ananthakrishnanj]

@@strongcryptohodl6093 bruh ferrari , laborgini , alfa romeo , maserati and fiat is from italy and you say they cant afford it

[@giulianoilfilosofo7927]

@@strongcryptohodl6093 In Milan and Rome is plenty of them. Besides Italians are European Kings of private savings, we don't waste money on a supercar Unless you know you can avoid taxes on it.

[@edo7382]

@@ananthakrishnanj what kind of logic is that bruh, not everybody has that much money to spend on a super car lmao

[@ananthakrishnanj]

@@edo7382 there is atleast 1 person who owns 200k worth car so you can't say nobody

[@drstevenrey]

I am now driving a FIAT Cinquecento 170, 1993, still using the Dante Giacosa engine, now with 899 ccm and single point fuel injection. It is just such a happy car. Now frills, no crazy accessories, just drive. So relaxing and decelerated. The smiles are always mine.

[@TijnVos]

I am 23 years old and bought a 1970 Lusso last summer. I simply cannot explain how much fun it is to drive. Also it is a car that will make everyone smile, whenever you like it or not. Simply my best project so far.

[@J0hnny8ravo]

Keep it alive, they don’t make them anymore! Ever!

[@jarodlawrence3313]

23 y/o bidding on one now, wish me luck!

[@TijnVos]

@@jarodlawrence3313 luck

[@tjls]

This is a beauty, epic, tiny, beloved piece of engineering!

[@SirNarax]

I am more of a motorcycle person but if I ever got a car and money was no object I would get an original Fiat 500. Not that they are that expensive even the classic ones but I would imagine they become kind of a mechanical money pit.

[@markdavis2475]

The first car I drove after passing my test @17! Broke and fixed every part of it! Exhaust used to fall off, bonnet always flew off if you forgot to use the rubber hooks they all had! Accelerator pedal broke, fixed with a shelf bracket! Starter lever pulled out of the floor. I never did manage to trash the engine, surprising because it was a two bearing crank. Great dog clutch (not crash gear!) gearbox, clutchless up changes, I'm still good at double-declutching! Span her a few times in the rain! Sold for scrap in 1982! I still have the boot badge 🙂

[@Evan490BC]

I would definitely keep it, even at a decrepit condition. I'm a sucker for antique cars...

[@richardbaron7106]

Great little cars and fantastic video! Five things: 1) in NZ, the new 500 was colloquially known as the Bambina, 2) our first car when we moved from Blighty to NZ in the mid-70's was a 1962 500D, hauling two adults in the front and three kids ranging from 3-10 year old in the back seat, 3) my step-dad fabricated and fitted a tow bar to said car and towed a 12 foot hand-built sailing dinghy with it, 4) my mother liked the car so much she bought a 1964 500D to drive around, so we had two in the family for a while, and 5) my first car at 18 was a 1963 500D which was unusual in NZ in that the rear metal part of the roof could be taken off by removing 4 bolts.

[@jennasaisquoi5174]

I love my Fiat Abarth 500c so much and I have named him Fabio. Everyone is surprised by how well he drives and how much room he has on the inside. The tallest person to sit in my car was 6’4”. I’m always amazed by how well the interior engineers designed the cabin. Although there won’t be any new Abarths hitting the US, I will go out of my way to get a new Abarth every few years. I want a whole family of Abarths ♥️🦂

[@daleguenther5826]

I had a 1959 1100 with suicide front doors. Was a great car! Lots of fun.

[@gavinmathew7491]

"Suicide Front Doors".....that's a good name for them!

[@RoadCone411]

I swear, the production value of these videos is getting better and better. Well done!

[@BigCar2]

Thanks!

[@GForceVRX]

These 500’s are so animated to drive. I absolutely love them!

[@Thanos.m]

My dad was student in Italy In the 70s he went through quite a few of them and also did cross Europe trips the fact they couldn't get to 60 was probably a good thing 😂

[@loufadoros20]

Ζωάρα

[@AdrianosClassicGarage]

They can tho! I proved that on my channel!

[@robertmartin317]

My first car in Rome, 1968, was a 500 nuova with porte al vento that I even drove my mother to Venice in with luggage strapped to the roof like in a Fantozzi film. This resulted in a blown head gasket which was paid for by mom. A few years later I upgraded to a 600. Both were great cars.

[@JoshuaC923]

That Jingle at the end, did not expect that hahaha

[@dragonskunkstudio7582]

That Jingle at the end, did not expect that yikes quick! pause or mute... something!

[@JoshuaC923]

As a guitar player myself, i like it hahaha

[@strat0871]

@@JoshuaC923 So do I !

[@loufadoros20]

Me neither! ❤️

[@somegoodfella]

Big Car the new "Britain's got talent" contender! I'm sure that he'd win!

[@johndue2366]

I have driven a Fiat 500 some 40 years ago, when I was young. It was like driving a go-kart, - any movement of the steering wheel gave immediately response. They were a joy to drive. It's owner, a lovely US lady living in Denmark, is dead many years ago. The metal parts of the car are either integrated in a the steel work in a ship or ended up as rebar in some concrete. /JD

[@akronymus]

This was the big difference to VW or DKW - even the smallest Fiats were fun to drive, not boring.

[@jonjon296]

Great video! I love how the modern day 500 takes so much of it's design cues from the original

[@dylan__dog]

This car was a favourite in Yugoslavia. People still fondly remember it, and you can still occasionally see one being driven, either by an old man who had it for ages or a classic that's been impeccably preserved or restored

[@BanjoLuke1]

I'm not sure I'd describe the 500 as a favourite in the states that made up Yugoslavia, even back in the day before the break-up. You may be thinking of the Zastava 750/850 range, based on an extended version of the earlier Fiat 600. A fabulous little machine, the Zastava 750 (known locally as Fića, Fićo or фића).

[@ognjenmilanovic6154]

@@BanjoLuke1 it is indeed a really nice car!

[@sanderdejong66]

This video shows me why my 2017 500 has certain characteristics. Also, why new 500 Abarths are called 595 and 695. Thanks!

[@XXISecolo]

Topolino in italian means small mouse, this is why they gave her this nickname, she really seems a mouse by her side

[@PRH123]

Your overviews are great, packed with details. No jokes, no music. Perfect...!

[@tomahawk1556]

Always have a Soft Spot for Italian 🇮🇹 & French Cars 🇫🇷 >>> So Advanced for their times yet they have Safety & Comfort in their Designs! And they are so Beautiful & Classy to watch! 🕯🌷🌿🌍💖🇫🇷🇮🇹

[@spacepodi]

A very enjoyable slice of Italian history.

[@Maloy7800]

"0-60 time was now... possible". Brilliant!

[@jayc3110]

That was a great historical outline for the Fiat 500. Thank you.

[@sputumtube]

Absolutely loved this. My father had two of these, saloon and estate in the 1960's. As a child the one thing I remember was how noisy they were.

[@philiptownsend4026]

I remember on my first foreign holiday in the 60s to Italy that I was crossing a road and an Abarth came screeching round a corner and very nearly ran me over. I've been a great fan of Abarths ever since and small Italian cars generally. Presently have a Panda 4x4 and a fantastic little thing it is too

[@alexhayden2303]

The one and only time I ever saw a 500 Van, was in a Scottish scrap yard, some time in the '80's. It was in quite good nick and if I hadn't been financially stressed at the time, I would have rescued it.

[@JamesHarris-]

Thanks for making this interesting video. When my Z3 was totaled just over a year ago I had to quickly find something else to drive. I found a 2017 500 Abarth at CarMax and grabbed it for the time being. I was amazed at the near perfect condition of the car with only 6,000 miles and two more years of factory warranty. Since then almost every time I get in I start smiling because the thing is a little funny car. It is so much fun to drive. And the status has moved from temporary to permanent.

[@samleyton5316]

And many people like me who loves Italian cars we'll think....we told you so.👍👌😊

[@nannyoggsally]

Italian here, very happy you are talking about this car. I know this was my dad's first and second car. And the family traveled with it between Italy and Germany until after I was born in the mid 80's. In the 90's there were still a lot of them around.

[@johniksushibar165]

love Italian cars, fun fun fun and always something to repair for when you get bored.

[@obelic71]

@nh73 Fiat is known for designing and making good small cars. Even first generation Panda's (ok they are declining in numbers) you can still see on the streets. The second generation is like a cockroach they are everywhere and hard to kill. I hope PSA is smart that after the integration of FCA they let Fiat develop the new platform for all their small cars ( Opel/Vauxhall Karl, Panda/500, Citroen C1, Peugeot 1007)

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Thanks for the video. My brother bought a 500 brand new in 1969, it was fab and he took me for driving lessons in it. I still miss it, and him.

[@peterfarmer1592]

Loved my 1965 Fiat 500. I had four air cooled cars. The Fiat 500, Messerschmitt KR200, VW Variant and Karman Ghia. No leaking radiators in those days.

[@irvb9881]

What a great video. I’ve owned a 500 for 18 months and this has loads of new, interesting detail I haven’t picked up from the English videos/articles I’ve seen to date. Subscribed. 👍🏻

[@BigCar2]

Glad you enjoyed it Irv!

[@sandytighe4854]

2013 fiat 500 Abarth & 2018 fiat 500 Lounge! Loved and miss my little Abarth!!!!

[@AgencyScum]

At last...my other half's favourite car! CHEERS MATE!!

[@BigCar2]

No problem!

[@aaltoeiro9153]

The cars of yester years, give me nostalgic feelings of the yester years, yet I was not there :) . This were the best years of the world in terms of cars. The simplicity. Ingenuity, form and function are amazing. If there was a time to be born for 'a car lover' a.k.a me...that was the time. If there was a 'preview' that we were shown before conception. I would have chosen the one that came with those cars just to travel and do car reviews :)

[@ThePrisma5555]

Seat 600, based on Fiat 600, used to be the car that put Spain on wheels. Small Fiats were very popular in Greece as well. Fiat 600 official premiere took place in March 1955 (17/3 the exact date), at the most luxurious hotel in Athens, and load of publication on daily newspapers. Same with Fiat 500 around 2.5 years later.

[@deeacosta2734]

Mama mia!

[@peterelvery]

Thanks. Great comprehensive review. I bought Dante Giacosa's memoir "Forty Years of Design with Fiat" in the eighties. His recollection of meetings/conversations is fascinating.

[@90FF1]

Bought a new one in 1961. USA version with the 7 inch head lights. Was very rare here in rural Illinois at the time. Great narrative on the beloved little car. Thank you.

[@buddy8225]

I think the little 500 is a cool looking car and a blast drive. Love to own one

[@ilgiusto6885]

In this Moment, in my tourist Town, (Diano Marina, Imperia, Liguria) i see four o five old 500 used normally all day.....! Bravo! Fantastic video !

[@jamesnewman4351]

Yep! Loved this one! Well done with the research and the "jingle" at the end is a very happy ending , hahaha.

[@LunringNassar]

Genuinely love your videos dude, I always open one of your vids like its a podcast then just do whatever, love the narration, and the small details.

[@florkgagga]

The intro alone merits a like

[@sak1339]

Love your story telling capability and the amazing amount of information in each clip. Brilliant!

[@BigCar2]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@charlestemple634]

In 1959, while working as a flight instructor for Ethiopian Airlines, my Dad bought a 1936 Fiat 500 ... EVERYBODY called them Topolinos back then. I drove it for several years. Simple, reliable, and fun to handle, but really hard to get parts for. Some burgle-boys once sliced through the canvas roof and stole some spare clothing and shoes I carried behind the seats.

[@TheHorsebox2]

That brought back great memories of my '71 500. Wish I had it now! As usual, another brilliant video. Impeccable research and now with added guitar and singing!

[@BigCar2]

Thanks Sean!

[@robertthedutchguy4365]

Thank you. Again. The effort that went into this video is increddible.

[@BigCar2]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kalpitapokia]

Seen your video first time, full video at normal speed! I see all in 1.75x speed. Whole documentary worth of history, information, clips into small video; Subscribed. Keep up the good work.

[@ColinHarvey78]

Great video! Love the choice of Lego models - Fiat 500, Mini, Volkswagen Beetle - in the background. Quality videos!

[@BigCar2]

They seemed to fit, as I was talking about tiny cars, and all three were mentioned.

[@robertleivonen6116]

Excellent research, so much info packed into such a small package ;) excellent work! Thank you!

[@BigCar2]

Glad it was helpful!

[@albertseabra9226]

Great, intelligent Vídeo as usually. I owned a 500 Jardiniera, used and old. I was the 5th owner! The canvas sun-roof was a blast, easy to open or close while driving. Some of our Friends owned the sporty Austrian-produced Version. The car was extremely practical -- a mini station-wagon. When i moved to another city, a zillion candidates were ready to buy it. Years later, upon going back yo the same city for a long week-end we had lunch with a group of old friends. Among them, the proud owned of my former car -- repainted in a nice pearl-white, seats renewd it looked brand-new. By then, a lawyer already with a good Law-office he owned other cars -- neverthless, the 500 Jardiniera was the Family's Crown Jewel. In sum, make it simple , reliable and intelligently versatile -- someting that Detroit snd car makers all around the World never mastered. Even though the Mini, the Fiat 600, the Fiat 850, and some French, Japonese and German car makers were able to emulate the Fiat 500. The Honda 360 and the 600 were truly amazing vehicles. -- Honda even made a 600 Convertible, sort of a smaller MG Midget clone. How about a Video featuring the Honda 600 and the 600 Convertible?

[@AndyReadGuitar]

love this video, you have a real knack in telling car stories very well; much appreciated!

[@staninjapan07]

another great one! i love it when YT offers your vids, especially when they are utterly unrelated to what i am watching i, too, love small and simple cars

[@BigCar2]

Glad you like it. Try my other channel - Little Car.

[@briannickson6631]

In the 1960s, my wife, myself, two young kids, our 🐱, a suitcase, a pushchair and assorted outdoor clothes travelled the 200 mile round trip from Leeds to South Shields every other weekend in our Fiat 500. This went on for 2years (55 - 60 m.p.h. depending on wind direction ) until I could afford a Vauxhall Viva HA. 1175 c.c. Engine. Bliss. Loved the little 500 which was totally reliable.

[@kiwitrainguy]

"55 - 60 m.p.h. depending on wind direction" - brilliant !

[@davidjesus2840]

Man when ever i watch ur videos i go into deep sleep ur voice is so comfortable 😊 thank you for the great content. ❤

[@davidpistek6241]

Great material and footage once again, big car makes a wonderful video

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

I loved this one! Thank you! I am now reading about the VW Variant and the 411/412. I remember them from my childhood. Back then my father drove a Opel Rekord 1900 1967 2D white with a black vinyl roof, and a 1970 VW K-70. The gradfather of the Passat.

[@misolowy3929]

Wonderful, thank you!

[@pissmyasslynch5325]

James May would be so proud of your work.

[@johnschlesinger2009]

Thoroughly enjoyable and informative - thanks!

[@igo470]

As always great video with a lot of information.Good job 👍

[@stevo728822]

I drove a Fiat 500 in the 1980's. Great fun in town.

[@jameslatimer1432]

Love your videos brings back so many good memories 😍❣️🙂 thanks Buddy 🙂

[@BigCar2]

Glad you like them James!

[@daraghmorrissey]

Great video again!. its a beatiful and timeless design.

[@CoryAtRandom]

Always loved their look, especially the first gen

[@jadams3427]

Nice presentation of a special little car.

[@avarelaq]

Just gave away my 2014 Fiat 500 sport car to my 16 yo daughter. It’s got less than a thousand miles on the odometer and plenty of life. Greetings from sunny ☀️ Mexico.

[@leno4920]

Yet another hugely entertaining and informative episode. Thanks.

[@BigCar2]

Glad you enjoyed it Andy!

[@zendonbuilds948]

You're right about the Italian mistranslation thing at the end. People talk about Chinese manuals as being amusing to read, but it's to the Italian manuals to which we must turn for truly inspired gibberish.

[@philiprodney7884]

Another absolute gem! Thanks.

[@isaacinfanti5915]

Best fiat 500 vídeo i’ve watched so far. Congrats for gathering all this informacional together

[@BigCar2]

Thanks Isaac!

[@paulsto6516]

Great vid! Thanks for posting.

[@Jack-lo1uc]

Love the channel brother! Keep them coming!

[@JadonAlexanderSchintu]

0:17 - lego fiat 500 behind you

[@Warekiwi]

Great! My first two cars were Fiat 500s. Initially a 500D then an "upgrade" to a 500F which I modified with VW Beetle parts to take the capacity to about 700cc-- lots of fun but not very reliable!

[@simondavies4603]

Great video and brought back many memories. My mum had one she bought new from a motorcycle dealer (obviously with a Fiat franchise) in St Albans on a C plate. I remember the suicide doors and the sun roof (white body and red sunroof/interior) and a 1:8 hill near us where the engine (I am pretty sure was aircooled) always overheated half way up on summer days and we had to stop and let it cool down before proceeding with the engine compartment louvred doors open.

[@vinibisetto]

Very nice video, congrats! The Fiat 500 is an awesome small car.

[@andredamasio5186]

Awesome guitar gig at the end, please more of this... Also thanks for another, specially interesting video!

[@BigCar2]

Thanks Mr/Ms Sun!

[@andredamasio5186]

It's Mr., but by all means call me Flower... By the way, I love to see the sparkles in your eyes when you mention Mrs Big Car, whose love for well engineered and organized smallI spaces I definitely share. You are a great match, loved the Escort video also. All the best .

[@GermanGreetings]

I love your british way of loving cars :) Thank you so much, Sir!

[@himanshudhillon7576]

Awesome video as always! Ending was superb 😃

[@BigCar2]

Thanks Himanshu. I like having a little fun with my videos from time to time!

[@tehnoob19]

Gotta say i loved the dutch Fiat 500 Station advertisement!

[@spudgunn8695]

I remember back in the '80's hitch hiking back the 3 miles from the pub I was offered a lift in an old early (eh?) Fiat 500L, that already had 4 people in it. At 6' tall I said I wouldn't fit in. "Yeah you will," came the reply from what turned out to be an old schoolmates mum (who was driving, I was 18 at the time, his dad was in the passenger seat, him and his older sister, who was 19, were in the back) Dubiously, I got into the back, and discovered that you could fit 3 adults in the back of one of those little cars, as long as you had no problems with being in close proximity to others. Don't think Jason was too happy with me when I started going out with his big sister a couple of weeks later, though!😉

[@pcno2832]

As Consumer Reports once said about a much bigger car, "If you're going to put 3 in the rear, better make sure they like each other."

[@spudgunn8695]

@@pcno2832 well, I sure as hell liked his big sister, lol!

[@tracypanavia4634]

The Jolly by Ghia! With the wicker seats!😍😍😍

[@herr_rudolf]

I just discovered your two channels and I love your work

[@BigCar2]

Thank you!

[@kabalu]

he was two? i c

[@herr_rudolf]

@@kabalu yes, «little car» and this one, «big car». Both are amazing

[@BigCar2]

@@kabalu kzbin.info

[@greteh92]

My all time favourite car ♥

[@Aviyel]

Love the Fiats. Fabulous to drive

[@ReinholdOtto]

Thank you for that story.

[@hisholinesslordpotato]

The magic word: Sport 🤣 Entire video is fun to watch

[@EmanueleDN]

I learned to ride on a 500 and I would never have had the courage to take it to top speed. When my mother in the 70s reached 80 km/h and took a curve I felt like a formula 1 driver driving to the limit :-)

[@ciaranchew]

Ah Big Car, yet another Gem, Bravo keep up the good work, such enjoyable content.

[@BigCar2]

Thanks Ciaran!

[@rizzulazzi]

I learnt driving on a Fiat 600 in 1968, It was my mother's car. When I needed a car for going somewhere with a girlfriend, my uncle gave me his Fiat 500D, and I went everywhere with it. I remember a trip to the seaside, in August. My uncle (he was 1.90 meters tall) was driving, I was on the front passenger seat, my aunt and my 8 yrs old cousin on the rear seats, luggage on the top. The 500 carried us everywhere. It was reliable, but you were advised to have a replacement belt for the engine's cooling fan with you. Lovely. My mother sold the 600 and my grandfather bought a Fiat 128 for her. It was too big, difficult to enter the garage. Italians cars were small because garage's doors were small

[@jorgefernandez-mv8hu]

Loved the video. One of my favorite cars.👍👍

[@theequaliser8026]

Great post as always 👍

[@Larkinchance]

In a word, darling... I saw one the other day and I was surprised to see that it had a manual transmission

[@christop997]

BTW my father was one of the first owners in UK of it's less popular bigger brother the then fiat 600 multipla (less than 2 feet bigger) which he ordered at the British motorshow I think 1956 or 57 ish because ..wait for it.. he wanted a new car with space to a get a pram in and a tent for four (with garage) on top for holidays! it was rare to buy foreign cars back then; everyone looked. In adult years I used to cringe when my mother got the baby photos out but I still could marvel at its space saving design. Every Sunday my dad would take us all driving in it and even later I'd have a stick on steering wheel on the passenger dash. Someone in the office has a new Multipla. Everyday I arrive with a smile on my face as it brings back memories of another time.

[@danb.3397]

GUITAR MAN !! Surprising info this time, thanks !

[@studiocalder818]

Congratulations, excellent documentary, very complete, for an exceptional car. Although I must admit that my love remains for the 600, which had no rivals: small on the outside, spacious as a Beetle on the inside, brilliant with its small 4-cylinder and excellent road holding.

[@bgyoung-rv6io]

Very well done video. Congratulations, and keep it up! :-)

[@rosefeltmate8596]

the newer fiat 500s is my dream car

[@shockthemonkey7046]

I own a brand new 500e la prima, watching this it’s amazing just how much of the character of its early design still resonates in what is a lovely modern up to the minute design.

[@user-ny4pr5zw4j]

ФИАТ-500 - автомобиль- микромыльница.Но замечательно симпатичный! Браво итальянским дизайнерам!