What Model Classic Fiat 500 Do I Have?

Fiat 500N Series 1 (1957) 110

The series 1 Fiat 500N is the first of the 500 range. It has a large amount of difference compared to the later 500N. However it also has all of the features listed for the other 500N. The series 1 500N has features such as:

• 3 Bolt 17mm driveshaft flanges and coupling
• Exhaust heater system (seen in photo b)
• One piece air filter lid and pipe (seen in photo  c)
• Fixed windows

1. Factory Photo (Fiat 500N)                                        b. Heater System (Fiat 500N)                            c. Air Filter Assembly (Fiat 500N)

Fiat 500N (1957-1959) 110

A 500N would have features like:

• Suicide doors
• Air intake grilles in the front panel (seen in photo d)
• Tear drop indicators (seen in photo d)
• Tapered petrol tank
• Aluminium starter/choke lever
• Smaller rear lamps
• Smooth door cards, with no lines on them
• Metal, one piece rear view mirror
• Wafer style sun visor

            d. Front Panel (Fiat 500N)

Fiat 500D (1959-1964) 110D

The 500D is the last of the Fiat 500’s with suicide doors and also shares a small amount  of similarity with the 500N.

Features of a 500D:

• Suicide doors
• No intake grilles on the front panel
• Round side repeaters
• Square fuel tank
• Larger rear lamps (seen in photo e)
• No inner speedo bezel
• 17mm or 19mm driveshafts
• 4 Bolt driveshaft flanges

              e) Rear Lamps (Fiat 500D)

Fiat 500F Otto Bulloni (1966)

The Fiat 500F was the first Fiat 500 to have standard opening doors. This model 500F was only made for one year as they realised they no longer required the main characteristic of this car due to the light weight doors.

Features of the 500F Otto Bulloni:

- The door hinges will have 8 bolt instead of 4 like all the models after (seen in photo f)

                     f. 8 Bolt Door Hinges

Fiat 500F Series 1 (1966-1968)

There was two types of Fiat 500F’s which are classed as Series 1 and Series 2.

Features of a 500F Series 1:

• Standard opening doors
• Bullet connections on the wiring loom (whereas the Series 2 has mostly spades)
• A bakelite fuse box which has a screw through the middle to hold it down (seen in photo g)
• Aluminium based front indicators lamps
• Long fuel tank
• May have rear inner arch covers which are card and vinyl
• Later style rear lamps (seen in photo h)
• First of the engines with the number starting with 110F

   g) Fusebox (Fiat 500 N/D/F Series 1)            h) Rear Lamp (Fiat 500 F/L)

Fiat 500F Series 2 (1968-1970)

Features of a Fiat 500F Series 2:

• Mostly spade connections on the wiring loom (seen in photo i)
• Plastic fusebox with a clip down cover
• Plastic based front indicator lamps
• Plastic rear inner arch covers
• 22mm driveshafts

                       i) Spade Connections

Fiat 500L (1969-1973)

The Fiat 500L was the ‘top of the range’ model that you could purchase. The L in the model stands for Lusso which means Luxury. There was many differences between this  model 500 and the others.

Features of a Fiat 500L:

• Front badge was changed to an rectangular type which sits in an indentation on the front panel (seen in photo j)
• Front and rear bumper over-riders
• Black plastic oblong/rectangular speedo cluster (seen in photo k)
• Black plastic dashboard covering
• Steering wheel was not a full bakelite wheel, it had metal spokes (seen in photo k)
• Carpet instead of the rubber floor mats
• Vertical lines stitched into the vinyl of the seat covers and the door panels (seen in photo k)
• Chrome beading inside the front and rear screen seal
• Ignition switch on the column (which was also a steering lock)

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                     k) Interior (Fiat 500L)                                                      j) Front Panel (Fiat 500L)

Fiat 500R (1973-1974)

The Fiat 500R was the last of the standard 500 range. Although it came after the 500L t actually shares most its similarities with the 500F Series2 however there is still a few  different features.

Features of a Fiat 500R:

• Horizontal rectangular front badge (seen in photo l)
• Black round speedo cluster
• Rear panel different for the change in engine mount (seen in photo m)
• The only 500 to have a factory fitted 594cc engine starting with engine number 126A00..

Have I got a different engine in my Fiat 500?

There is various different engines that could be in your 500. From factory the 500’s would have a 479cc (Fiat 500N/D), 499cc (Fiat 500D/F/L) and 594cc (Fiat 500R) however due to the lack of power out of these engines, many 500 owners change out their engines for a large 650cc engine which derives from the Fiat 126. The best way to check what engine you have in your Fiat 500 is to check the engine number. You can find this stamped into the block next to the fuel pump (seen in photo ). Another way to check what engine you have is to measure the diameter size of the barrels.

Engine Numbers:

479cc (Fiat 500 N/D) - 110.000 (66mm Barrel Size)

499cc (Fiat 500 D) - Fiat 110D.000

499cc (Fiat 500 F/L) - Fiat 100F.000 (67.4mm Barrel Size)

594cc (Fiat 500 R) - Fiat 126A.000 (73.5mm Barrel Size)

650cc (Fiat 126) - Fiat 126A1.000 (77mm Barrel Size)

Fiat 500 Giardiniera (Estate)

There is two types if Giardiniera and they differ based on the engine.

Fiat 500 Giardiniera D (up to 1965)

Fiat 500 Giardiniera F (1966-1972)

Fiat 500 Furgoncino

The Furgoncino is a Fiat 500 panel van that is based on a Giardiniera (estate).

Other Models of Fiat 500’s

Fiat 500 Gamine (Noddy Car)

Fiat 500 Jolly (Beach Buggy)

Fiat 500 Francis Lombardi

Fiat 500 Steyr-Puch (Austrian Model)