1962 Fiat 500D

Description

The Fiat 500 Cinquecento has been rated as the sexiest car in the world by Top Gear and it is no surprise that apart from a Ferrari the Fiat 500 Cinquecento draws the most attention than any other Italian brand. Today, it is found in major car collections around the world.

The Fiat 500 D variant was produced from 1960 to early 1965 and with it’s rear hinged suicide doors and the Transformable long roo, is the most collectible and desirable from the Fiat 500 Nuova range. Due to pressure from the Catholic church, Fiat was forced to discontinue the iconic suicide doors as they were considered to be too revealing of Italian female drivers in skirts and in 1965 the F variant was introduced with front hinged standard doors.

The Fiat 500D was powered by a 499cc engine that produced 17hp and was really considered a car suited for town driving . The Transformable option( full length convertible roof) allowed the soft top to be folded all the way to the top of the engine bay.

This particular Fiat 500D is a 1962 model that was produced on Feb 28, 1962 and has only had two owners until it was taken off the road in 1987. It was then bought by a friend in 2020 and had a nut and bol, ground up restoration. The bodyshell was stripped and sandblaste, with new floor panels fitted. New body panels were sourced, where original ones needed to be replaced . The car was then imported to the United Kingdom where the present owner Faisal Jamali, sought to upgrade the car mechanically in 2023. The car has the original Italian Carta D Circalazione and a copy of the Italian Libretto( Logbook) The car is finished in the desirable colour of Verde Chiaro with total restoration costing USD 60,000. This car is also supplied with its original factory fitte, restored engine( 75miles covered in new condition ( as per photo before upgrade)with gearbox and starter motor . The UK owner had collected a few Fiat 500D cars over the past many years and as beautiful and nostalgic these D variants were, he found the standard 499cc could only be utilised for town driving. It was determined that for highway driving, disc Brakes were required and an engine that was strong and reliable enough for long distance driving.

He therefore undertook a physically and mentally taxing D’Angelo restoration to create a car that was a practical and useable classic for daily driving for town and motorway/ highway driving.

The restoration features discreet upgrades to improve performance, reliability and safety without affecting the original appearance and character of the car.

D'Angelo Motori in Italy is a leading global supplier of upgrades for the Fiat 500 range. D’Angelo Motori upgrades worth USD 26000 including transportation and labour costs. Receipts available and costs can be cross-referenced on the D’Angelo Motori website . 1.D 'Angelo Motori 650c, 42 hp engine for continental touring and optimum power withoutcompromising the structural integrity of the car. Please note, this is not a standard 650cc 28cc or32hp engine and the car has superb acceleration from a standstill and mid range pull is phenomenal.The car has only covered 50 miles . The Lavazza exhaustwas changed to a quieter exhaus, so as to not alter the characteristics of the Fiat 500D model2.5 -speed synchromesh gearbox by D’Angelo Motori to accommodate increased power. No need todouble clutch, which is required on the original gearbox. Most drivers struggle with the original crash

gearbox ( non-synchromesh and requires double clutching), so this upgrade is absolutely necessary . 3.4 piston calliper Disc brake conversion. Both Front and Rear Drum Brakes converted to Disc Braketo provide superb Braking performance and safety when driving.4.Electronic ignition. No hassle with point gap etc and cold start issues.5 . Electronic fuel pump6.Uprated suspension that improves ride quality and comfort.7.The design and pattern of the original Vinyl seats were replicated and the finest Italian Nappaleather was fitted to keep appearance as original. The seats come with matching floor mats withivory piping. The door cards are alsoleather.8.The car features the ‘ Transformable extended softop that folds down to the top of the enginebay. This is a desirable feature for collectors . The original Vinyl soft top material was replaced with aItalian manufactured Mohair softop matching the interior of the car.9.Picnic hamper carrier with a wicker basket set for 4 people10.Toolkit with jack11.Uk registered supplied with Classic Italian Style Plates.12.12 inch white wall Tyres13.Rare Fiat 500 Model Dashboard decal14.One of the best sounding Bang and Olufsen wireless speaker with Bluetooth that offers 16 hoursof non-stop paying time on a single charge. The speaker can be put discreetly under the seat.If provenance is important, the selling price includes the followingADDITIONAL, FULLY RESTORED items in excess of USD 6,000. This can be used to convert the car toits original specification.1.Original factory supplied, matching number 499cc engine used for 75 miles (like new condition)2 4 speed non -synchromesh gearbox3 Starter Motor4 Fuel pump5.Drum Brakes6.Suspension items that were removed to accommodate upgrades.. The roof rails were a difficult item to replac, so when the car arrived in the UK it was taken to Classic Car Specialist ‘ Prestige Restorations’ in Chertsey, Surrey who fabricated new metal rails and fitted them. Photographs of the restoration are also available.

For anyone wishing to acquire a Fiat 500 D version, this a fantastic opportunity to acquire the very best available anywhere and would suit a collector or equally someone who would want to use the car as a daily driver or for touring.