1939 Fiat Topolino

Not long ago different countries made 'different' cars. This simple automotive fact is best demonstrated in the inexpensive vehicles built to put wheels under the masses. In the United States, there was the Model A. Big, uncomplicated and cheap. More like road-going tractors than proper cars. They somehow mirrored the American spirit with their Puritan appearance and 'blacksmith' approach to engineering problems. Great Britain had its Austin 7. Small, with quick steering to make it nimble on twisting English lanes. They were scaled down versions of contemporary big cars—it wouldn't do to be seen driving something just up from a motorbike and sidecar, which speaks volumes about the very nature of the English character. Pre-war Germany had a number of People's Cars, long before the KdF-Wagen (Beetle). Though these top sellers were never as small as the 500 as they actually did have room for a family and luggage. In 1936 you had the DKW 'F' Series cars, the Opel Kadett, Ford Eifel and Adler Trumpf Junior, just to name a few. However, they were all Germanic in style and execution and reflected the personality of German citizens at the time.

And then there was Italy in 1933! A country in which more people knew the names of the entire Alfa-Romeo team than senior members of the government.

What was needed was a car that was all things to all men. A baby sports car for a budding Grand Prix driver. Something to replace a rich farmer's donkey for that rare trip into town. An object to be hungered after by every factory worker. A possession for which young couples would work six days a week in a distinctly un Latin-like frenzy. It was an impossible set of specifications around which to build a car. But engineer Dante Giacosa almost filled them.

Giacosa's approach to the problem was radical and conservative at the same time. Economy demanded a tiny car as both petrol and steel were expensive in pre-war Italy. The young Italian engineer marked out a rectangle 6 1/2 feet long by 3 1/2 feet wide as the minimum amount of space required for two (Italian) people, their luggage, and the necessary machinery to take it all down the road at over 50 mph. If the new little car was to be at all successful it had to have a ride at least equal to contemporary larger cars. This called for two small bucket seats mounted in the very centre of the car. With a wheelbase inches shorter than the average modern bath, the centre was the only place, if driver and passenger were to be protected from the combination of Italian roads and Italian verve behind the wheel. All of this was pretty radical for 1933. What was to come shocked auto purists of the '30s even more. The engine was placed low in the chassis and ahead of the front wheel centres with the tiny one-and-a-half gallon radiator mounted behind it. With the boot full of luggage and two up, fore and aft weight distribution was a sporting 50/50. Front wheels were independent by a low-mounted 'A' frame with transverse leaf spring serving double duty as both springing medium and upper control arm. Still in the radical vein were four-wheel hydraulic brakes, a fourâ€speed synchromesh gearbox, and hydraulic shock absorbers. Pretty daring for an age that had only shortly before accepted front wheel brakes and balloon tires!

Launched in 1937, the resulting Fiat 500 had a fantastic run remaining in production until being replaced by the familiar rear-engined 500 in 1955. The little car, with its 569cc four-cylinder engine and four-speed gearbox, soon earned the nickname Topolino, literally "Little Mouse", for its ear-like headlamps on the front wings.

Offered here is a 1939 Fiat 500 Topolino, No Reserve, "Barn find" in the truest sense of the words. Our vendor has stored this car since 2004 but never had the chance to get round to commencing its restoration. There is a V5 with this car and the registration number is "TAS 143".

This little Fiat is a little further 'down the road' than the other pre-restoration cars offered from the same collection, however, we understand parts are available and the diminutive nature of the vehicle makes it an approachable project on one of Italy"s most beloved cars.