Fiat 600 ~ £4,995

Standard Equipment

Red Paintwork with Black Vinyl Seats and Black Rubber Flooring. 4 cylinder water engine with 4 speed manual gearbox.

Additional Equipment

I was struggling to think of standard equipment!

Model history

The Fiat 600 was a slightly larger city car than its diminutive and better known brother the 500. It was produced between 1955 and 1969 and was remarkably popular with the total production from the Mirafiori plant being 2,604,000 before production was taken on by SEAT. During 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the car became very popular in countries such as Spain (as SEAT 600), Argentina, where it was nicknamed Fitito (a diminutive of Fiat) and former Yugoslavia where it was nicknamed Fićo (pronounced [fee-cho]).

The car had hydraulic drum brakes on all four wheels. Suspension was a unique single double-mounted leaf spring, which acts as a stabiliser, between the front wheels coupled to gas-charged shock absorbers. At the rear the car had independent coil-over-shock absorber setup coupled to semi-trailing arms. All 600 models had 4-speed gearboxes with syncromesh on 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Unlike the Volkswagen Beetle or Fiat 500, the Fiat 600 is water-cooled with an effective cabin heater.

The top speed ranged from 59 mph with the 633cc inline-four engine to 68 mph with the 762cc version. A year after its debut, in 1956, a soft-top version was introduced, as well as a six-seater variant — the Fiat 600 Multipla. It was a precursor of current multi-purpose vehicles.

Retrospectively the water-cooled Fiat 600 is sometimes over-shadowed by the air-cooled Fiat 500, but the 600 was a remarkably fast seller in its time: the millionth 600 was produced in February 1961, less than six years after the car’s launch. At the time when the millionth car was produced, Fiat reported it was producing the 600 at the then remarkable rate of 1,000 a day!

Exterior

This cracking little car has stood up to the tests of time very well.  The body has been restored at some point in its life, but it must have been a while ago.  The paint finish is consistent, has a deep lustre and looks fantastic with a little polish from a few yards away, but is beginning to show its age close up.  There are various age related little blemishes – but they really just adds a little character rather than take away from the overall condition of the car and none are going to cause structural issues in the future. The body and chassis are in very good condition with no visible rust in the floors, arches bulkheads or other difficult too see areas.  It has also been well wax-oyled on the underside, the cavities and shuts which will help it in the future too.

Wheels Tyres and Brakes

Four tiny wheels and four good quality tyres with over 5mm of tread left help tame the 21 BHP and try as I might I have not been able to overwhelm the grip that they produce!  The drum brakes slow what is a very light car efficiently and are yet to give me a hart stopping moment in the same way that so many classics have before!  We have given the brake system a good check over and all the friction parts, pistons etc are in good working order.

Engine and Transmission

The water-cooled 4 cylinder engine in the 600 produces a massive 21 BHP and looking at the figures you would think that it a tragically slow car but the power headline is only a small part of the story.  The car is very light, one of the few we have in stock that won’t give you a hernia if you have to get out and push,  and the engine has plenty of torque.  It never feels lacking in the same way that an untuned 500 does.  The four speed transmission is slick and easy to use, just remember to double de-clutch if you need to get away quickly in first because there is no synchromesh.  This car is mechanically very sound it starts easily and has used less than a thimble full of oil and water in the 400 miles I have been driving it.

Interior and Equipment

Basic is the word that is best used to describe the interior of the Fiat 600.  The black vinyl seats and rubber mats are all in good condition and the little dash pod gives you all the information you will ever need at 60 MPH.  The steering wheel is beginning to look its age, but otherwise all is well inside.  There is plenty of room for two adults and I have managed four up during a quick blat into Oxford.

Road Test

The 600 has wormed its way into our hearts very quickly.  It is very cute, quite practical around town and sits on A roads and motor ways quite comfortably at 60 MPH. The four cylinder water cooled engine is far less temperamental than the air cooled V-Twin tht you find in the 500 which seems to have a mind of its own and can be a total pain to start when it is hot or has been laid up for a few weeks.  There is also a good amount of torque which means that gear changes aren’t as critical to keep moving forward!

History File

This car was imported into the UK in 2004 from Holland and has had three keepers since.  There is a file with basic services and MOT’s over this period which show that it really is a classic that you can run on a shoe string budget.  It was manufactured in 1972 which means that it is tax exempt.  It comes serviced, with a fresh MOT and a clear HPi certificate. There is also a photocopy of a Fiat 600 manual to help you with routine maintenance.

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