la nostra machina
We have a Fiat 500. She’s baby blue, she’s very cute and we love her. Almost every time I take the little treasure out, somebody comments and I often see people smiling and pointing as we go past. When I am stopped at traffic lights other drivers will wind their windows down to ask questions about her. In Brisbane Fiat 500s are not all that common. In Italy that is not the case and we see them everywhere.
For a small car it is remarkably roomy inside
The original Fiat 500s, or Fiat Bambino, as they became known, were produced from 1957 until 1975. They were made in Torino and became hugely popular. The car was designed by Dante Giacosa and intended to be cheap and practical. It measured only 3 metres and was originally powered by a 479cc 2 cylinder, air cooled rear engine. There were several models produced between 1957 and 1975, including a tiny station wagon.
Lately we have seen lots of the original Fiats on the road in Italy. Many have been lovingly resored and zoom around the Italian streets like lady bugs. They are incredibly tiny and make the new model look huge by comparison.
Jim standing beside a Bambino in Bologna – I didn’t have a matchbox
Fiat previewed the new 500 in March 2007 – exactly 50 years after the first car. They are now produced in Poland. Within 3 weeks of their launch 58,ooo were sold. Perhaps this is why we see so many in Italy.
a Fiat just like ours in Forte dei Marmi
We drive our Fiat in Australia. In Italy we drive a Toyota Corolla.
According to an Italian friend it stands for – Fix it again Tom
We have had our little car for 2 years now and she doesn’t have a name . We are open to suggestions. Let me know in the comment section if you think of something suitable.
For more on lovely Fiats click here and here .
PS. Our lovely little Fiat has gone! After 13 years of faithful service we reluctantly said goodbye. We now have a shiny red Mazda 3. I hope she is as well behaved as the baby blue Fiat.