1965 Fiat 1500 Cabriolet

• A delightful example of the Pininfarina-styled Fiat 1500 Cabriolet, rarely seen in the UK
• UK-supplied and registered to the first of just three owners on the 15/03/1965
• Owned for 38 years initially and bought directly from the second owner by our vendor in 2011
• Over the years the car has been re-trimmed and the body was restored and repainted in 2014
• A Very attractive little Fiat that requires some light fettling and detailing

Based on the new 80hp engine the Fiat 1500 Cabriolet was a conventional sports car with its engine laid out longitudinally, driving the rear wheels with disc brakes on the front axle. The standard Fiat 1500 was a mid-market saloon car, but the Coupe and Cabriolet variants were treated to elegant Pininfarina-designed coachwork. The fully-trimmed cabin featured roll-up windows, courtesy lights, finely detailed instrumentation, adjustable bucket seats, a locking steering column, clock, cigarette lighter and gave the little Fiat a distinctly upmarket feel.

This lovely example was delivered new in the UK and first registered on 15th March 1965 to a Mrs Louise Doran who owned it until 2003. During the later years of Mrs Doran's ownership, the car was laid up in hibernation in her garage until a Mr James Smyth discovered it, subsequently buying it directly from Mrs Doran. Mr Smyth retrimmed the interior in dark red leather and fitted a new hood. The Smyths used the car for continental touring and found the petrol tank to be inadequate on long runs so fitted a small LPG tank in the boot which of course, can be easily removed.

In 2011, our vendor purchased the Fiat directly from Mr Smyth, making this a true three-owner car. This was his first foray into classic car ownership and, presumably, it was an enjoyable experience as his current collection numbers around thirty. In 2014, our vendor retained the services of The Paint Shop Pros of Milton Keynes to strip, fit new panels, repair rust issues using bronze brazing and a full repaint in white at a total cost of ú3,410. We understand that the car requires some fettling in relation to some of the gauges and dashboard lights with further attention required to the brakes which may benefit from stripping and reassembly.

With a busy property development business, an increased interest in motor racing, and a substantial car collection our vendor has regretfully offered this delightful little Cabriolet to auction. The odometer was reading some 67,000 miles at the time of cataloguing and the car is accompanied by a set of chrome hubcaps, a box of various spares and parts, and its history file containing the aforementioned invoice and older MOTs etc.

Well balanced and very pretty, these Pininfarina-designed, mid-sixties Cabriolets are becoming harder to find and will continue to be sought after for the foreseeable future.