1960 Fiat 500 N

This highly desirable & very early 1960 model is an N / D cross over example (110 chassis & 110 motor number), so an N model & chassis number. So indeed the most sort after & collectable model in the classic Nuova 500 range, it has the very rare ‘suicide doors’, matching numbers 110 (N) motor, full length convertible sunshine roof - ‘trasformabile’ & ‘round speedo’ – Plus its factory UK Right Hand Drive & has only 5 UK owners & a fantastic history from new.  In fact, let’s face it, it’s got it all!

It’s an original early example manufactured on 1^st October 1960 & is a genuine RHD UK example which we originally purchased from the 4th UK owner in December 2020.

The car believe it or not was first registered by the suppling Rolls Royce dealer Jack Barclay, Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London. This was for a short time in the early 1960’s when Jack Barclay were Fiat & Rolls Royce franchise agents, so you could order a new Fiat 500 for zipping around London, whilst you could order your new Rolls Royce & leave it at your country retreat! Those were the days!

So on 1^st October 1960 Jack Barclay registered this charming little Fiat as their demonstrator car & thus were the first registered owner. They used it sparingly around Mayfair zipping potential clients around the city’s busy streets & after the year was out, believe it or not sold, it to its second owner whom was the Jack Barclay receptionist or as we would say now Front of House!

So Joan whom obviously new the car well as she saw it every day purchased it ex - demo from Jack Barclay in October 1961. She kept the stunning vehicle until March 2011.

Indeed she recalls the Fiat was mainly used as her family second car & kept garaged until 1972 when the car was 12 years old. At this point the car was taken off the road & placed on SORN & back in her garage where it rested peacefully until she sold it to its Italian 3^rd owner, whom bought it as a rolling restoration project in March 2011.

There is a charming letter on file from Joan, stating that she had got married whilst owning the car & changed her surname & she also warranted the mileage which is 100% genuine at 48,954.

So in March 2011 the little Fiat was transported from East Sussex to West London with its new proud Italian owner whom knew the early model well & could see the potential in the car if it underwent a concours restoration.

The car sat in his garage unused until he set about the lengthy process of restoration in 2014 giving the car to the right people care of the Fiat 500 Club, of which he was a member, as he was also restoring a Fiat 500 Giardiniera at the same time.

It underwent a sympathetic body restoration, full internal refurbishment, engine & gearbox rebuild & rewire to bring it up to a superb show quality standard in circa 2014/15.

On detailed inspection it appears the specialist whom undertook the works embarked on a full sympathetic restoration to a high UK standard. Basically all the key elements been reconditioned or replaced correctly, but in a sympathetic way keeping all original components where possible. Originality was key to the owner’s requirements it seems. He didn’t want a car that was 1960 in name only!

So in brief: Complete strip to shell, new floor pans & cills along with some other panels were required. The new metal work is to a very high UK standard.  The car was fully rewired. The 110 engine was fully rebuilt with invoice to prove by a renowned Italian engine builder recommended by the Fiat 500 Club Italia in Garlenda, Italy. The invoice amongst other things notes: Barrel & piston set,  Abarth camshaft, Front pulley securing lock plate, Front main bearing, Carb spacer, Air filter, Recon dynamo, Oil pressure switch, Cooling fan, Sump & cooling plate, Gasket set, Points, rotor arm, Distributor insulator kit, Sundries, paint etc. The receipt shows a very reasonable £977.01 charged. That’s not including the costs to get the motor to Italy & back, which I was told formed the owner’s summer holiday!

The gear box was also fully rebuilt by a recommended specialist from the club. The handbrake cable was changed, all pedals restored, the petrol tank was fully refurbished and flushed. The interior was also fully and expertly retrimmed to match the existing period correct factory interior, along with the complete door card set. All interior trim was renewed as required, including the sunroof & roof frame. All other items of interior trim were refurbished. All lights were refurbished as required & the correct aluminium surrounds were machine polished, all rubber items were replaced including the door seals, windows, new bushes,  new struts, complete brake system overhaul, reconditioned starter, a new exhaust, in fact every mechanical item was refurbished or if that was not possible replaced.

The bumpers & brackets were refinished by a specialist, a new wing mirror fitted, fully shot blasted & refurbished original Fiat steel wheels, new matching tyres fitted. The car was fully bare metaled, primed & painted whilst stripped to bare shell (Inside & out) at this time by Paint Tec of Dorchester on Thames, with receipt on file for £1900.

When in our in our possession for the first time in December 2020 after purchasing from the above noted owner, which was an arduous task, we were meticulous in our further preparation prior to offering this exceptional example to the market by undertaking the following works: Conducted a full glass out external repaint in the original 1960 shade of Fiat Celeste Chiaro 461 – Light sky blue paintwork to UK show standards. The car had picked up several light storage scratches since completion in 2015 as it hadn’t been used & only sat in the owner’s warm garage. So we decided to do it right, on a no expense spared basis & even used our favourite PPG paint that we use for our Pagodas. We did the complete car, including the boot void, engine bay, cockpit, wheel arches & externals.

We also painted the 5No. original steel wheels both sides to a show finish along with the original petrol tank whilst it was on the bench being flushed & also the original engine covers, whilst they was also on the bench being checked over.

Our associated trimmer made a fantastic new grey long Trasformabile soft top & we also fitted the correct roof frame & associated hold back clips & even the leather belt to hold it down. We fitted a complete new premium interior finished in red patterned cloth & piped cream with matching door cards. New rear parcel shelf cover. Premium Italian full mat set. We fitted a chrome wing mirror, new hub caps & bolts, new premium Italian front & rear bumpers, new premium Varta battery, new flexi ducts, & new premium Italian coil. Fitted a new Italian 3 piece clutch set & new main oil seal. New front wheel bearing. New choke cable, exhaust system including all gaskets along with the correct exhaust heat shield shroud. New plugs, HT Leads, New Weber Carb, points, condenser, fuel filter, full engine service & a brake overhaul. We flushed & tested the system on completion.

We fitted the correct D engine decal set, spare tyre strap, Jack straps, boot seal, engine rubber seal, premium heat shield pad, adjusted the steering geometry, new wiper blades. Chrome washer jets & washer bag set, Fuse box cover, supplied a fresh MOT and conducted a multipoint check. Replaced the fuel with £25 of new super unleaded. Supplied a period leather 500 Key ring, Rear period Italian front & rear number plate holders, Wheel brace, We even fitted a period luggage rack & period picnic hamper for 4 persons.

Because of the pedigree of this car, we did it right & spent in excess of £9,000 on this stunning vehicle (January 2020).

We then sold the car to a vineyard in Camarthenshire for £26.750, where it was placed on static display for several years!

The vehicle has again picked up minor cosmetic paint defects where it was stored inside over winter, but with a non-breathable cover in the damp Welsh climate. 

The vineyard sold the car ironically in December 2024 to a collector whom resides near us in Kent & was known to us. He kept the car in his static display area until our repurchase in May 2026.

So this little gem is now back with us & we have again put it through the workshop & brought it back up to a great standard. So to be clear the external paintwork has some minor cosmetic defects from bad winter storage, but doesn’t warrant painting as 9 out of 10 people wouldn’t notice. But the paint work is now not classed as concourse, which the rest of the car still is.

We have fitted a complete new premium interior finished in tan patterned cloth & piped cream with matching door cards & orca Italian full mat set.

An electronic ignition, full service & check over along with a new fuel sender unit has been fitted after the tank was removed & flushed through properly. The carb was also cleaned, adjusted & tuned, so the little car is starting stopping & driving as new again!

We have done a forensic cleaning & detailing program internally & externally & the paintwork has been treated to a full Swizzvax machine polish & finishing regime.

This impressive example is UK Tax & MOT exempt & along with fully comprehensive insurance at a UK average of £125 p/a makes this a very cheap car to own & ULEZ compliant!

The vehicle comes with a history file & contains: UK V5C, Previous V5C’s, Joan’s letter as mentioned, Engine rebuild invoice, Engine running in instructions, Paint Tech invoice,  Parts invoices from Ricambio International Ltd along with copious pictures of our current repaint & previous one!…

The car presents extremely well. It’s probably one of the prettiest examples in Europe with low mileage (49,0043) since its sympathetic restoration & hence this cheeky chappy is looking for its next long term caring owner.

Fiat Celeste Chiaro 461 paintwork with a fantastic new tan piped cream interior, including matching door cards & a full length grey mohair convertible sunshine roof, with matching strap to hold back & associated clips.

Free historic road tax.

Keys on Italian 500 key ring, original 500 jack refurbished to the correct factory specification, original Fiat toolkit, spare wheel with great tyre.

Fully refurbished Fiat steel wheels, all shod with new matching tyres with white bands.

Period boot rack with wicker hamper basket for 4 persons.

These models are ever increasing in value & are a great investment. Our Fiats come recommended by a leading authority on Fiats & parts specialists – Ricambio International Ltd. I actually have a light blue 1965 500D that makes up part of my own private collection & everybody loves it! It always puts a smile on my face, plus you don’t need to worry about the rising petrol prices – Just enjoy!

As we are a Mercedes Pagoda and R107 specialist we are always happy to part exchange one of these type of cars or indeed any classic car of excellent quality, so please don’t miss this most fastidious example of the iconic Fiat 500D. This vehicle is exceptional value, try & find another as original & tax exempt – Please remember ‘you get what you pay for’.  Our cars are handpicked by a marquee expert & we turn down 8 or 9 out of every 10 cars offered. The cars we sell, are we believe the best of their type & are here to be viewed & driven in the UK. This takes the gamble out of buying a car direct from Europe sight unseen. Our stock comes fully de-registered from the country of origin with the ACI fee paid, UK MOT’d, test driven, serviced & detailed. Don’t confuse them with other cars on the internet which have had dubious restorations & are offered with a low asking price. We have had 2 clients bring such cars to us recently bought direct from Italy & both were severe MOT failures with a list of faults ranging from no reverse gear to an undercarriage that requires total replacement. You have been warned! There is always a reason why a car is being sold cheaply! Again ‘you get what you pay for’…

This vehicle is we believe the best in Europe don’t settle and ensure you view this stunning example…

More photos available upon request, PX always considered.

We will always buy back cars we have previously sold…

Delivery by road, or shipped are all possible by arrangement at excellent rates, car is ready to drive away today or be delivered to your door…

We are always keen to purchase Mercedes Benz Pagoda’s (W113) or late 300SL (R107) models, so please give us a call for a friendly chat if you are considering selling, we would love to hear from you. We also hold many parts in stock for the above models & have our own restoration facilities, where we restore these glorious old Mercedes to Stuttgart factory standards.

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