Fiat · 1936–1955

Fiat 500 Topolino

The Fiat 500, commonly known as "Topolino" (pronounced [topoˈliːno]), is an Italian city car produced and manufactured by Fiat from 1936 to 1955. The name Topolino is Italian for 'little mouse', and is also the Italian name for Mickey Mouse.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Fiat 600|Fiat 500

All Fiat 500 Topolino data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

History

The Topolino was one of the smallest cars in the world at the time of its production. Launched in June 1936, three models were produced until 1955, all with only minor mechanical and cosmetic changes. It was equipped with a 569 cc four-cylinder, side-valve, water-cooled engine mounted in front of the front axle (later an overhead valve motor), and so was a full-scale car rather than a cyclecar. The radiator was located behind the engine which made possible a lowered aerodynamic nose profile at a time when competitors had a flat, nearly vertical grille. The shape of the car's front allowed exceptional forward visibility. Rear suspension initially used quarter-elliptic rear springs, but buyers frequently squeezed four or five people into the nominally two-seater car, and in later models the chassis was extended at the rear to allow for more robust semi-elliptic springs. With a power output of around 10 kW (13 bhp), its top speed was around 85 km/h (53 mph), and could achieve fuel consumption levels up to an estimated 6 l/100 km (39 mpg‑US). The target price given when the car was planned was 5,000 lire. The price at launch was 9,750 lire, though the decade was one of falling prices in several parts of Europe, and later in the 1930's, the Topolino was sold for about 8,900 lire. Despite being more expensive than first envisioned, the car was competitively priced. Nearly 520,000 were sold. Three models were produced. The Model A and B shared the same body, but the engine of the model B had a 12 kW (16 hp) power output compared to the 9.7 kW (13 hp) power output of the Model A, produced from 1937 to 1948, while the model B was produced in 1948 and 1949. The Model A was offered as a 2-door saloon, 2-door convertible saloon with a folding roof and a 2-door van, while the Model

In popular culture

La Topolino Amaranto is a 1975 song by the Italian artist Paolo Conte. The song's lyrics are about the summer of 1946 (″È l'estate del '46″) so probably the mentioned car is the first model Fiat 500 A in amaranth color. After its initial run, the Topolino became a popular choice for hot rodders in North America beginning in the 1950s, due to their lightweight size, rear-wheel drive, and ability to fit a V8 engine underneath the hood. In the 2011 animated film "Cars 2", the character Uncle Topolino is based on a first generation Topolino.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Fiat 500
Manufacturer: Fiat
aka: Topolino
Production: 1936–1955, 520,000 made
Assembly: Italy: Lingotto, Turin, Italy: Mirafiori, Turin (1947–1955)
Designer: Oreste Lardone, Dante Giacosa
Class: City car (A)
Body style: 2-door saloon, 2-door convertible saloon, 2-door van, 3-door estate
Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related: Simca 5, Simca 6
Engine: 569 cc I4
Transmission: 4-speed synchromesh manual
Wheelbase: 2000 mm
Length: 3215 – (saloon)
Width: 1275 –
Height: 1377 mm
Kerb weight: 550 -
Successor: Fiat 500, Fiat 600
sp: uk