Velvet Magazine February 2017

Motoring
The timeless
Fiat 500
Chloe Gimblett of
Newmarket Motor
Company explores the
timeless qualities and
history of the Fiat 500
Cars, like many things tend to evolve, both
in terms of their technology and design. It
is often difficult to say why some designs
are timeless and why others come to look
dated. One such timeless design is the
Fiat 500 - a car we sell all the time and
a personal all-time favourite of mine. I
decided to look into the background of the
Fiat 500 and I have been thinking about
why this little car is still regarded as such a
pretty design in the 21st century.
For those of you who like to know a bit
of the history of cars, the current Fiat
500s have their roots in the original model
launched in 1957 and were produced
until 1975. The original 500s had a tiny
479cc engine and just 13 horsepower,
a fabric roof and the Nuova 500 had
suicide doors! The 500 was given a racing
pedigree when Carlo Abarth began his
relationship with Fiat in 1952, producing
performance exhausts and other speed
enhancing add-ons.
By the time production of the original
Fiat 500 ceased in 1975 it had made
an indelible mark on motoring history,
and many people across the world had
very fond memories of whizzing around
in these enchanting little cars. With the
more angular car designs of the 1980s as
computers started to be used in the design
process, for many there was nostalgia for
cars designed with curves, by real people.
Production of the Fiat 500 began again
in 2007 and it has been loved ever since.
For me the timelessness of the 500 is
its rounded shape and endearing facelike
front end, combined with the 500’s
compact size and overall cheeky character.
The latest Fiat 500’s offer far greater
performance, comfort and road holding
than the originals but the essential timeless
design and characteristics have been
carefully preserved. The racing connection
too has been given a new lease of life
in the modern Fiat 500 Abarth, a truly
outstanding pocket rocket with a 1.4 litre
turbo charged engine and sports exhaust,
these cars produce a great soundtrack.
Amazingly a little car born in the 1950’s is
Newmarket Motor Company
Exning Road, Newmarket, CB8 0EA
Tel: 01638 666404
www.newmarketmotorcompany.co.uk
still as relevant today as it was then, that is
surely design at its best?
We always have a selection of Fiat 500s in
stock and if you love timeless design and a
sense of history, the feeling that something
has evolved, a truly modern take on a classic
piece of motoring, then the Fiat 500 is
worth a closer look. Best of all, they are
cheap to run, cheap to insure and they will
bring a smile to your face every time you
drive them. Call us, visit us or view us online,
and we will do our best to find the perfect
Fiat 500 for you.
Velvet Magazine | February 2017 77