Air Cooled 500cc 2 Cylinder/4-Speed Manual/Nifty Micro Car/Fun Driver

1970 Fiat 500L Coupe    

For consignment, one of the originals!  A 1970 Fiat 500L, (for Lusso), coupe.  True to microcars, it's hard to look at this car and not smile.  Things in miniature just make people grin…and this car is tiny, (but roomy inside, more on that later…).  This car came out of a microcar collection and is in very good original condition.  The back corner of your garage will have ample room to store this one as it awaits its forays into the world – whether that's a short trip for ice cream, (gelato?), or to post up at the local car show! 

Exterior
Antique white covers this little egg-shaped car and wide-set, round headlights look like whimsical eyes.  For 1970, the 500 sports a new Fiat logo on the hood for the first time as well as tubular bumper guards.  Window trim is black which blends nicely with the canvas soft top and 12-inch tires surrounding newly designed hubcaps for 1970.  Despite the car's size, the windows are “normal” sized and allow visibility and light to pass through.  The rear hatch is vented and finned, allowing the engine to both gather cool air and expel heat.  The chrome is in good shape and gaps are nice for an economy car from the 70's.  We notice just a few imperfections in the paint including some cracking and a chip. 

Interior
Vinyl door cards are very tidy, housing the window crank, door actuator, pull handle and storage bin.  Bucket seats model the same stitched pattern as the doors and are also black vinyl.  A back bench is coordinated as well.  The center console is home to the shifter and parking brake as well as a small plastic storage bin for your “centesimo”.  The original, two-spoke steering wheel provides a clear sightline to the dash…which has less features than some riding mowers we've seen…and it's fantastico in its simplicity.  Overhead is the retractable, (manually) canvas top in good condition.  The “frunk” holds the gas tank, reservoir, and spare tire with a little bit of room left for storage.  

Drivetrain
A 500cc inline 2 cylinder engine is mounted in the rear, topped by a Weber 1-barrel carburetor, and propelled by a 4-speed manual transmission to the 5.125-inch rear.  The engine looks clean as we lift down the back hatch which is hinged on the bottom. The powerplant is good for 18 horsepower which results in 30+ miles per gallon fed by a 5.8 gallon gas tank.  Drum brakes are at the wheels.  UndercarriagePeeking underneath, we see some grease and road grime but overall not too bad.  Some surface rust covers a few heavy metal parts such as the leaf springs and frame while more invasive rust is seen on thinner metal bits.  A transverse leaf spring is in front and independent swing arm suspension in back. 

Drive-Ability
Once you sit down in the seat, it doesn't feel cramped as you might expect.  The rounded roof line and big windows provide a comfortable environment and with a pump of the gas and a turn of the key, the little 2 banger fired up.  You row through the 4 speeds fairly quickly and then the engine pushes the car with decent acceleration over our level test loop as we hummed along at 30 mph.  Braking is best done with some anticipation as they are not power assisted and because the horn is currently inoperable so it's up to you to stop for crossing geese rather than honking at them.  

One cannot help but to imagine tooling around the streets of Italian villages in the 70's and the nostalgia is part of the appeal of this little Fiat.  Well, we have narrow streets and little towns too…and this car would be a unique mode of transportation.  Just be prepared to talk to people because everyone…and we mean everyone…will comment and want to know more!  This is a great way to step into the car hobby!  Molto bene! 

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.

With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy listening. You can also watch on YouTube!