With fuel economy on everyone's mind nowadays, where is the car buyer to turn? Sure, you could buy a new car, possibly a hybrid, that might net you a tax credit and over 50mpg on the highway. But say you live in more urban, close quarters, don't want something as big, but seek a little style with your economy. One of the most chic city cars ever was the Fiat 500, or Cinquecento, produced from 1957 through 1975. Now that Fiat has returned to the US market with the Nuova 500 leading the charge, its an opportune time to make like a hipster, if you so desire, and tell people "I remember the 500 when..."

1971 Fiat 500L

Here is a very special 1971 Fiat 500L. Finished with an orange exterior and black interior. The odometer reads 47,268 kilometers (29,370 miles) which we believe to be accurate. This is the rare L or "Lusso" model which was the penultimate edition to the famed Fiat 500. These cars came equipped with a more modern and updated dashboard, extra chrome nudge bar, wheel covers and more. This Fiat 500L just underwent a complete oil and fluid service within the last 20 miles and it drives as it should. The two cylinder engine and 4-speed manual transmission make a great combination although no races will be won driving this car. The steering is precise and the brakes are working properly as well. This really is a cute little microcar to drive.

The interior is very nice. The black seats are in good condition (see pictures) showing just typical wear and patina to the seats. The dashboard looks good as well. The exterior is what really makes a vintage Fiat 500L stand out from the rest. The orange paint is in nice condition with some scrapes and wear showing here and there. The paint is bright and shiny although there are a few areas that could use attention (see pictures). Most of the chrome and brightwork are in great condition and even the wheels and tires look good. This really is a great looking Fiat.

The 1971 Fiat 500L really is the ultimate vintage microcar. It has timeless looks which puts smiles on the faces of not only the driver and passengers of the car, but others who watch it go by. This 1971 Fiat is a very nice example imported by a collector several years ago and it is not restored but rather original showing some imperfections and original patina. Please feel free to call me (Matt 516-658-4048) with any additional questions you may have. I am listing this car with a very fair reserve so please only bid if you intend to buy! Don't miss this one! Good luck!

A 500 in concours condition might run you around the $20,000 mark these days. This 500L for sale in New York is in good driver quality condition, which, to be honest, is the way I would want to buy one of these things. These were never meant to be museum pieces, so its nice to see a car like this that has been sympathetically cared for and can be used as intended. I'd suspect the seller is eyeing a reserve of around $10,000 somewhere; a car like this should typically fetch between that figure and about $15,000.

-Paul

With Fiat 500 sales gaining this year, I can't help but reflect on the car that started it all, the or almost 20 years, the Fiat 500 Cinquecento. Launched in 1957, this was the car that put Italy on the move and is still a popular choice with city dwellers and first time drivers to this day. This particular 500 for sale in Rhode Island is quite tidy and the medium blue hue suits its endearing character perfectly.

1968 Fiat 500L

This is a beautiful Fiat 500L imported a few years ago from Italy. This Fiat is a very nice denim blue with a solid black interior and both are in very nice shape. If you have driven one of these before you will know they are fun to drive but a little under powered. This Fiat we have has been equipped with a 650cc motor which makes it a blast and makes the car actually usable. We rescued this one from a new fiat dealer who was using it as a show piece--it's that nice!! The car is sitting in our showroom here at Oxford Motorcars in Pawtucket, RI.

At $16,500, this asking price isn't way off the mark, but represents the high side of vintage 500 values right now. The high price could either be that cars typically are a bit more expensive in the Northeast or the dealer is trying to cash in on some of the current 500 craze, or a combination of the two. I do a lot of urban driving and to be honest, my MINI Cooper S even feels way too big at times. I can't help but get drawn in every time I see a mint 500 Cinquecento. They aren't the fastest or most glamorous cars in the world, but they are a great combination of economy and fun and in small package.

-Paul

For almost 20 years, the Fiat 500, or Cinquecento, was the car of the people in Italy. At three meters long, this was a surprisingly commodious vehicle and paved the way for a number of small cars that Fiat would produce over the next few decades. Due to its simplicity, it also proved popular with the burgeoning car market in Eastern Europe. With a rear mounted, two cylinder engine, it was never the most powerful car out there, but automotive tuner Carlo Abarth worked his magic on this car and it became a giant killer. While not an Abarth version, this particular 500 is a nice example of the L model, or Lusso, which had a 17 horsepower engine and interior upgrades.

1965 Fiat 500L

1968 Fiat 500L 2 door. Great Car! One of the rare Micro Mini Cars. It measures only a little over 8 ft long. Parks easily on a 4X8 sheet of plywood. I've owned this car since March of 2005 and have had loads of fun with it. The serial number is 110D*1410516*. You won't believe the attention you will have when you bring this car to a car show! These are 2 cylinder air cooled cars, with 5 speed stick shift transmission. I understand that there were more than 4 million of these cars built in Italy, but they were never imported into the US for sale. The few old ones you find here are all cars that someone has had shipped over here at one time or another.

This is a very clean car as you can see in the photos. These cars are good for about 60 - 65mph, all day long and are advertised to get 55 miles per gallon. I'm far from an expert on these cars, I only bought it to have fun with it and that is just what we did. Now, other cars and other interests say that we should let someone else have it for a while. Comes with manuals and parts books, everything is available here in the US. Have some parts on hand that will go with the car. I have it advertised locally here in Minnesota also, so I reserve the right to remove this listing at any time, if it is no longer available for sale. $9,600.00 cash. Clear Minnesota title, priced to sell. This is a used car and I am not offering any warranty or guarantee with it. It runs and drives good and that is what you have. There are no known problems with the car.

At under $10,000, this car represents pretty good value when it comes to a Cinquecento. These days, mint condition 500s can be seen trading on a regular basis for between $12,000 to $17,000. While it may not be as safe as some modern day vehicle, for someone that needs a fuel efficient runabout, this would certainly be a unique, attention getting way of conserving fuel and having fun while doing it.

-Paul

With the reintroduction of Fiat to the United States market in the form of the 500, let's take a look at the car's spiritual predecessor, the (original) Fiat 500, or Cinquecento. Designed by Dante Giacosa and introduced in July 1957, the 500 was Italy's answer to the Volkswagen Beetle. It was designed as a car for the masses and to be simple to maintain and repair. With a 479 cc air cooled two cylinder engine, it produced a paltry 13 horsepower.

By the time the L, or Lusso, version arrived, the engine was pumping out 17 horsepower. This doesn't sound like much, but keep in mind these vehicles weighed slightly over 1,000 lbs. The L included a redesigned dashboard and other interior upgrades. In 1975, the original 500 was eclipsed by the Fiat 126, but this diminutive little car was emblazoned in the hearts and minds of the Italian car buying public. It's a testament to their staying power that you still see Italians driving them around city streets and collectors the world over clamoring for well preserved examples.

This 1970 500L is for sale from a specialist in Boston and is in quite good shape and looks sharp in cream white.

1970 Fiat 500L

This is a very clean, classic Fiat 500 L. This car was hand-picked in Parma, Italy and vetted by mechanics in both Italy and Boston. It comes with a new interior and a clear Massachusetts title. We have been importing vintage Fiat 500s for over 15 years. We take the necessary time and expense to go through each of the cars we import to not only make sure that they run properly when they are purchased but for the long term. Our cars are not the least expensive.

What most people don't realize is that these cars are 40+ old. Even though Fiat manufactured 4 million of them and built them to be driven "into the ground" just because they seem fine and look nice and shiny when you drive them away, doesn't mean that they will remain that way for long. There are several components of the engine, transmission, suspension and brake system that have to be checked and there are almost always worn or cracked parts (most commonly rubber components) that must be replaced for both the safety and long term enjoyment of the car.

Certain areas of these cars are also prone to rust. Rust that can be easily hidden by new "under carriage coating" or painted over. We make sure that all of our Fiats are safe for their new owners and if properly maintained will remain that way for the foreseeable future.

The asking price of $16,000 is a bit dear for what was originally intended as a people's car. These aren't the most ideal cars for long haul travel, so use would be rather limited to around town trips and short jaunts on the highway. The recent service and restored interior certainly makes this an attractive piece, but this car is approaching new Fiat 500 money. What price nostalgia, then?

-Paul