Fiat 500
Fiat 500 was produced in Italy from 1936 to 1955. It is also kindly known ‘Topolino’ which means little mouse in Italy. Topolino was made with 3 different models with slight changes during this period. The car was one of the smallest of that time and was also loved by the people.
An ideal car for town, it had a four-cylinder engine with big wheels and had independent front suspension; the body, the body of the car was although totally disconnected from the framework yet it added to its firmness. The turning- circle of the car was so small that it required almost its own length to park.
The Fiat 500 came in 3 different types these were:
Fiat 500: It was produced from 1936 to 1948, it was the first model about which the whole description has been given.
Fiat 500B: It was produced from 1948 to 1949; it was introduced at the 1948 Geneva show. The engine was same as the previous one but it now had overhead valves. There was a new steering wheel and the brakes, suspension and electrical equipment were improved. There was only one exterior difference which was the new bonnet lock. Maximum speed was up to 95 kph (59 mph), fuel consumption was improved to 5 litres per 100 km.
Fiat 500C: It was produced from 1949 to 1955it was again introduced at the Geneva show in 1949 the ‘C’ version had an completely new body form with a separate extra wheel compartment at the rear. Automatic details were significantly modified and a new heating system was the first fitted as a paradigm by FIAT. Performance and fuel consumption were as the 500B.
ENGINE
- 4 cylinder, petrol, bore and stroke 52mm – 67mm
- Cubic capacity 570cc
- Brake horse power 13 (side valve engine)
- Brake horse power 16.5 (over head valve engine 500c)
- Firing order 1-3-4-2
- Valve clearance 500A inlet .004″
- exhaust .008″
- Valve clearance 500c inlet .004″
- exhaust .004″
- Contact breaker gap .018″ – .021″
CAPACITIES
- Engine and filter 4 pints
- Gearbox 11/2 pints
- Rear axle 11/2 pints
- Cooling system 8 pints
- Petrol tank 4.6 gallons
TYRES:
15″ – 4″ pressure 21lbs. Per sq. in.
HISTORY:
In 1934 Senator Agnelli the head of FIAT foresaw a small heap produced ‘peoples car’ which would be traded for 5,000 lire and will be able to carry two people comfortably alongwith 50Kg (110 lbs) of luggage.
29 years old Dante Giocosa who was an aeronaughtical engineer who joined Fiat in 1928 was given the chore to make this car. He had to cover the mechanical part of the car which included the engine, the transmission and the frame. Another Fiat’s worker who was the coachwork engineer had to design a body for the car. He also at the same time had to design two units which when bolted had to form a strong structure.
Fiat 500 was not only manufactured in Italy but in various other places, this was because of the export, import charges which were very high. Thus it was also made in the following countries:
- France: It started on 15 April 1937 and continued till 1950. In all 52,507 cars were produced. In France the car was called Simca 500A. And the later models were called Simca 5 and Simca 6 for Fiat 500B and Fiat 500 C respectively.
- Poland: Here it was known as Fiat Polski and it was produced from 1936 to 1939. Only the first model that is Fiat 500 was made.
- India: In India only Fiat 500 C was produced and the license for the same was granted in 1950.
- Germany: In Germany all the three versions Fiat 500 A, Fiat 500B, Fiat 500 C all were made. A total of 9064 cars were made.
- Harveen Narula
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