Barga this morning woke up to the sound of multiple FIAT 500 engines as the first Barga FIAT 500 RALLY roared into town. Once more it was the ever energetic Paolo Gas and friends who had organised this feast for the ears and eyes as the FIAT 500’s, that most classic small car of the 60’s and 70’s arrived in all shades of colours from the traditional , white, beige and coral to racing Le Mans green.
A Barga domenica 3 ottobre si terrà il 1° raduno delle 500 e auto storiche “Città di Barga”.
Il programma è il seguente: ore 8:30 ritrovo sul piazzale del Fosso, con colazione al” Bar del Paologas”; ore 10:30 visita guidata del centro storico (facoltativa); ore 12:00 partenza e giro turistico con sosta aperitivo offerto da Caffè-Pasticceria De Servi a Fornaci di Barga; ore 13:00 pranzo al ristorante “Il Bugno” a Fornaci di Barga con premiazioni dei partecipanti.
The Fiat 500 is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975, with limited production of the Fiat 500 K estate continuing until 1977. The car was designed by Dante Giacosa.
Launched as the Nuova (new) 500 in July 1957, it was marketed as a cheap and practical town car. Measuring only 3 meters (~10 feet) long, and originally powered by a tiny 479 cc two-cylinder, air-cooled engine, the 500 redefined the term “small car” and is considered one of the first city cars.
To meet the demands of the post-war market which called for economy cars, the Fiat 500 was rear-engined on the pattern of the Volkswagen Beetle, just like its bigger brother, the 1955 Fiat 600. Several car makers followed the now uncommon rear engine configuration at the time and were quite successful.
Despite its diminutive size, the 500 proved to be an enormously practical and popular vehicle throughout Europe. Besides the two-door coupé, it was also available as the “Giardiniera” station wagon; this variant featured the standard engine laid on its side, the wheelbase lengthened by 10 cm (4 in) which yielded a usable rear seat, a full-length sunroof, and larger brakes from the Fiat 600. Sports models were produced by Abarth. Production of the 500 ended in 1975
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT8dqh4Mp2o