Test drive Fiat 500 Topolino, Fiat 500, Fiat Panda: Little Italian

Three models that have provided mobility for generations at home

They were practical and, most importantly, cheap. With the 500 Topolino and the Nuovo 500, FIAT managed to put the whole of Italy on wheels. Later, Panda took on a similar task.

These two are very aware of their influence - Topolino and 500. Because they know that with their charm they definitely like women, who often look at them a little longer than usual on other cars. This, of course, is noticed by Panda, whose angular face seems to be throwing jealous glances today. As if he wants to shout: "I also deserve love." He is also a bestseller and has long been referred to as a design icon. And in general, it is almost identical to other children - an economical and affordable small car, completely in the original spirit of Topolino and Cinquecento.

A small car for everyone - whether it's an early 1930s idea from Benito Mussolini or Fiat boss Giovanni Agnelli, we may never know for sure. One wanted to stimulate the motorization of Italy for political reasons, and the other wanted sales data and, of course, the capacity utilization of his plant in Turin's Lingoto district. Be that as it may, under the guidance of the young designer Dante Giacosa, the Italian manufacturer created and introduced the Fiat 15 on June 1936, 500, which the people quickly nicknamed the Topolino - “mouse”, because the headlights on the wings resemble Mickey Mouse ears. The Fiat 500 is the smallest and cheapest car on the Italian market and lays the foundation for mass mobility - from now on, owning a car is not only a privilege of the rich.

Fiat 500 Topolino - four-cylinder mini-engine with 16,5 hp

The green Fiat 500 C by Klaus Türk from Nürtingen is already the third (and last) version of the former bestseller introduced in 1949 and produced until 1955. Although the headlights are already built into the fenders, the car is still called Topolino, and not only in its homeland. “However, the technical base is still consistent with the first version,” explains the Fiat fan.

If we first look at the engine bay, we can assume that the 569 cc four-cylinder engine. See installed incorrectly - a small unit with a capacity of 16,5 hp. (instead of the original 13 hp) is indeed in front of the front axle, with the radiator facing back and slightly up. "It's all right," Turk assures us. This arrangement allowed the 500 to have an aerodynamically rounded front end while at the same time eliminating the need for a water pump. However, on more serious climbs, the driver must monitor the engine temperature more closely.

The tank is also located in front, or rather above the legroom. Since the carburetor is located lower, the Topolino does not need a fuel pump. “After all, the designers of the third edition of the Topolino gave it an aluminum cylinder head and a heating system,” says owner Klaus Türk, who offers us a little test drive.

Despite the general claim that the Topolino is a marvel of interior space, with a cabin width of less than 1,30 m, the conditions inside are quite intimate. Since we have already opened the folding soft top, at least there is enough headroom. The gaze immediately stops at two round instruments, the left of which shows the fuel level and engine temperature, and the speedometer is in front of the passenger's eyes next to the driver.

With a rather loud roar, the four-cylinder bonsai engine starts to work and with a small jump the 500 starts unexpectedly quickly. While the car bravely climbs the narrow, steep streets in the old part of Nürtingen, the first two gears require some attention because they are out of sync. According to Turk, it was possible to drive at a speed of 90 km / h, but he himself did not want to subject his Fiat to such tests. “Power of 16,5 hp. you need to enjoy the outside world a little more calmly. "

Fiat Nuova 500: it's like driving a toy car

By the mid-50s, chief designer Dante Giacosa was once again faced with a major challenge. The concern is looking for a successor to the Topolino, as the main requirements include the minimum possible space to accommodate four instead of two seats, as well as a rear engine, as in the Fiat 1955, introduced in the 600. To save space, Yacoza decided to use an air-cooled two-cylinder in-line engine, originally 479 cc13,5 with 500 hp. The only similarity between the so-called Nuova 1957 and the model introduced in XNUMX and its predecessor is the fabric roof with a plastic rear window that could at first open all the way to the hood above the engine.

Felbach's Cinquecento Mario Giuliano was produced in 1973, and improvements, which were rarely introduced until the end of the model's life in 1977, included an engine with an increased displacement of 594 hp to 18 cc. ., as well as the roof, which opens only above the front seats, is called "tetto apribile". However, Fiat kept the out-of-sync four-speed gearbox until it liked the responsive bestseller.

However, with a single round speedometer, the Nuova 500 looks even more spartan than the Topolino. “But that doesn't change the driving pleasure of this car in the slightest,” enthused owner Giuliano, who, as a board member of the Fiat 500 in Felbach, recently organized an international meeting of model owners.

A handful of switches located in a row on the dashboard, a long and thin gear lever, and a fragile steering wheel give the person in the cab the feeling of being in a slightly larger toy model. However, this impression changes as soon as the engine starts. What a (cute) bouncer! Its capacity is only 30 Newton meters, but it publishes as big. Like a weasel, the nimble kid makes his way through the tangled streets of Nürtingen, which clearly resembles his Italian homeland, and the steering and chassis work directly, almost like a go-kart.

A smile instantly appears on the faces of those who see him on this tour, despite the roar from behind that would not forgive many other cars in our time. And while driving, you have no chance of avoiding the "good mood gene", which carries 500.

Fiat Panda also became a bestseller

We miss the Fiat 126, which on closer inspection would have turned out to be the perfect successor to the Cinquecento, and land on the Panda, installed in 1986, owned by Dino Minsera of Fellbach. There's no question that it's a minivan, but compared to the other two kids, this boxy bestseller, introduced in 1980, feels like you're sitting on an intercity bus. It has room for four people and a bit of luggage, but it still remains affordable - Fiat once again correctly assessed the needs of the country and commissioned Giugiaro to design a reduced to the most important wheel box - from thin sheet metal with flat windows and surfaces, and in the interior - simple tubular furniture. “The combination of utility and driving pleasure is unique today,” says Mincera, who has been a second owner for twelve years.

The narrow streets of Nürtingen become the scene of the third and final round. The panda jumps on the big asphalt, but with its 34 hp. (overhead camshaft!) Compared to its predecessors, it runs almost like a controversial car and impresses with its essence - at least this effect on the person behind the wheel. But few people care for her, probably because they once saw her on every corner and have long forgotten how ingenious this car is.

Conclusion

Editor Michael Schroeder: Once again, let's briefly highlight the main strength of these three small cars: thanks to their long production periods and large editions, they have provided mobility for generations of Italians. It's just not fair that, unlike the Topolino and the 500, the Panda is still far from a cult icon among small cars.

Text: Michael Schroeder

Photo: Arturo Rivas

technical details

Fiat 500 s.	Fiat 500C Topolin®	Fiat Panda 750
Working volume	594 cc	569 cc	770 cc
Power	18 k.s. (13 kW) at 4000 rpm	16,5 k.s. (12 kW) at 4400 rpm	34 k.s. (25 kW) at 5200 rpm
Maximum torque	30,4 Nm at 2800 rpm	29 Nm at 2900 rpm	57 Nm at 3000 rpm
Acceleration 0-100 km / h	33,7 sec (0-80 km / h)	-	23 with
Braking distances at a speed of 100 km / h	no data	no data	no data
full speed	97 km / h	95 km / h	125 km / h
Average consumption fuel in the test	7,9 l / 100 km	5 - 7 l / 100 km	5,6 l / 100 km
Base Price	€ 11 (in Germany, comp. 000)	€ 14 (in Germany, comp. 000)	€ 9000 (in Germany, comp. 1)

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