1937 Fiat Topolino 500 A Cabriolet

Highlights

• Restored by Fiat's own technical director in 1970, with certified factory provenance

• Over £18,000 spent on a comprehensive mechanical rebuild in 2021 to 2023

• Under 27,000 miles indicated

• Extraordinary documentation including the original 1937 registration book and wartime petrol ration stamps

• A charming pre-war cabriolet ready to be enjoyed on a sunny afternoon

Overview

Before the 500 that everybody knows, there was the Topolino. Fiat's tiny masterpiece put Italy on wheels in the late 30s, doing for Italian motorists what the Austin Seven had done for Britain and the Model T for America. With its 569cc engine, independent front suspension, and hydraulic brakes, it was a remarkably sophisticated little car for its day, all wrapped up in a body so compact and endearing that it earned the nickname "Topolino" (Mickey Mouse). This is a 500 A, the original side-valve iteration from the very first full year of production, and it comes with a story that few pre-war survivors can match.

This particular Topolino was acquired by Fiat Ltd themselves in 1970 and restored by their technical director, a fact certified by the Fiat Motor Club (GB) in a 1992 letter declaring the car to be of historical importance. During that restoration, the original red paintwork was replaced with the deep blue it wears today, the original colour no longer being available at the time. After its Fiat restoration, it was displayed in the showroom of Jack Barclay Ltd, one of London's most prestigious dealerships, before passing into the hands of a former Fiat employee. We think that qualifies as proper factory heritage.

The current owner has invested heavily in the mechanicals, commissioning a ground-up rebuild by specialists that took the best part of two years to complete. Over £18,000 has been spent bringing every major component up to scratch, and the file of invoices and specialist parts receipts tells its own story of genuine care.

What makes this Topolino particularly special is the documentation. The file contains the original 1937 registration book, wartime petrol ration stamps from the 50s and 60s, the Fiat Motor Club provenance letter, a complete set of rebuild invoices, the original Fiat parts catalogue, and period service data from 1938. For anyone who appreciates the romance of pre-war motoring, this is a wonderfully complete package with genuine factory roots and the confidence of freshly rebuilt mechanicals beneath it.

History and Documentation

• First registered 27 August 1937

• Three former keepers, in current ownership since August 2020

• Acquired by Fiat Ltd in 1970 and restored by their technical director, later displayed in the Jack Barclay showroom

• Fiat Motor Club (GB) provenance letter (1992) certifying historical importance

• Purchased from a specialist classic car dealer (Enstone Airfield, Oxfordshire) in August 1997

• Comprehensive rebuild and service history by T Clarke Automotive Ltd (Weston-super-Mare): May 2021 @ ~26,581 miles, Sep 2021 @ ~26,581 miles , Aug 2023 @ ~26,581 miles , Sep 2023 @ ~26,581 miles

• Specialist parts sourced from Topolino Casagrande AG (Switzerland), including master cylinder and brake cylinders

• 12 recorded MOT tests between 2005 and 2020, all passed (one failure in September 2007 for steering box free play, retested and passed October 2007)

• Now MOT exempt as a pre-1977 historic vehicle

• HPI clear: no finance, no write-off, no stolen marker

• Documentation pack includes original 1937 registration book, record of licences and petrol ration book stamps (1950s/60s), Fiat Motor Club provenance letter, 1997 purchase invoice, complete T Clarke Automotive invoices, Topolino Casagrande AG parts invoices, original Fiat parts catalogue, workshop manual pages, Motor Trader service data sheet (March 1938), Solex carburettor documentation, historical photographs, and keys

Interior

• Red leather seats in good condition with light creasing consistent with age

• Red leather door cards with map pockets, matching the seats

• Original-style dashboard with red/maroon painted metal panel housing a fuel gauge, ammeter, and electronic tachometer (fitted during the 2021/22 rebuild)

• Bakelite steering wheel, toggle switches, and pull-knob controls

• Rubber floor mats over carpet

• Canvas folding roof mechanism with frame visible from inside

• Rebuilt sills in good condition beneath blue-painted sill plates

Exterior

• Deep blue paintwork (resprayed from original red circa 1970 during the Fiat Ltd restoration) in good overall condition with consistent colour and good shine

• Small area of bubbling visible on the rear quarter panel near the roof line

• Light surface scratches on the front wing near the wheel arch

• Chrome bumper, grille surround, and hubcaps in good condition

• Period-correct headlamps in working order

• Trafficator (semaphore indicator) arms present and repaired

• Canvas folding roof in fair condition, showing age-appropriate wear at the attachment points

• Running boards refinished with new ribbed rubber covering

• Rear-mounted spare wheel with Fiat hubcap

• Original EGT 384 number plates front and rear

Mechanical

• 569cc side-valve four-cylinder producing approximately 13 bhp, paired with a four-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive

• Complete engine rebuild by T Clarke Automotive (2021/22): engine stripped, block re-bored, new camshaft fabricated, crankshaft balanced with conrods and flywheel, cast white metal bearings, radiator re-cored, carburettor rebuilt and set up on a rolling road

• New prop shaft with universal joints, rebuilt rear axle torque arms with new rubber bushes (2023)

• Braking components renewed with parts from Topolino Casagrande AG (master cylinder and brake cylinders)

• New dynamo and regulator, spark plugs, piston rings, air filter, throttle cable, and electronic tachometer fitted during rebuild

• Most recent service (August 2023): oil change, head bolts re-torqued, suspension greased, ignition timing adjusted

• The vendor tells us the car starts on the button and has no obvious fluid leaks

Summary

This 1937 Fiat Topolino 500 A Cabriolet is a genuinely rare thing: a pre-war Italian city car with factory provenance, a comprehensive modern rebuild, and documentation stretching right back to its original registration. With over £18,000 invested in the mechanicals alone and a file that would make any concours judge smile, it offers a wonderful entry into the world of pre-war motoring. These are cars built to be driven and enjoyed, and this one's ready to do exactly that.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.