Fiat 500

–Tuned versions and interpretations–

The Abarths

Abarth is an Italian firm famous for tuning car engines for regular road use and racing. At the 1957 Turin Motor Show, Carlo Abarth exhibited a version derived from a model just launched by Fiat which boosted the standard delivery of 13 bhp to 20 bhp, and the top speed from 85 km/h to 100 km/h, without altering engine capacity. And at the same Show, Abarth teamed up with Pininfarina to exhibit a delightful coupe version of the 500. In 1958 the car-maker, who was Austrian by birth but lived in Turin, built a 500 GT with Zagato. In 1963 the 595 saloon 1st series appeared, with an engine derived from the 500 D and a power delivery of 30 bhp. It was a bullet, totally re-engineered compared to the basic version, and could be ordered as a ready assembled car or as a kit for an extra 145,000 lire. Several evolutions of the 595 appeared in 1964, the 595 SS convertible saloon, the 695, and the 695 SS in 1965 and 1966. Over the years, 500 Abarths became icons and introduced the fashion of tuning one’s own car to Italy, to the point that people unable to purchase an Abarth would at least try to get hold of the styling accessories. As a result, there were a number of very normal 500 D on the road that resembled the 595, stylistically at least. This may make us smile today, but it was fairly common in the unsophisticated Italy of the 1950s and 1960s.

The 500 Giannini

If we mention the tuned versions of the 500, we cannot overlook Domenico and Attilio Giannini, two brothers from Rome. Their company, which was created as a mechanical repair shop, was linked to the Itala in the 1920s, and in the 1930s began to modify Fiat cars, including the Topolino, and the Nuova 500 from 1957. The years up to 1960 were the best for Giannini, which even opened branches and workshops, and launched several tuning kits, in addition to ready models for everyday use and racing.

The coach builders and the ‘modified’ 500

Numerous coach builders and stylists also worked on the 500, including Vignale who launched the Gamine model based on the 500 F, Moretti (who also worked on an electric engine), Francis Lombardi with his 2-seater coupé the Coccinella, and Fissore, who tried his hand both with a coupé and, in 1966, with an off-roader, the 500 Ranger, which fitted sturdier engineering borrowed from both the 500 and the 600, but still had two-wheel drive to the rear wheels.

Below is a video of Abarth/Giannini modified Fiat 500 models