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FIAT 500 Giardiniera, a family compact

We traveled to Tuscany to test drive a FIAT 500 Giardiniera, a roomier alternative to the popular diminutive "Cinquecento." A variant that is rare today on Italian roads, despite the fact that its manufacture survived that of the car on which it was based, with minimal updates throughout the 17 years it was in production.

The origins of FIAT 500 dates back to the 30s, when Italy sought to create a popular small car for the middle classes, which would result in original FIAT 500, born in 1936 designed by Dante Giacosa, and a model that was known as Mickey mouse, name by which Mickey Mouse was known in the country.

The FIAT Topolino of 1936

The tiny two-seater of just 3,2 meters in length had a great success in the country, with a production that would continue once the Second World War ended. It would be precisely 1948 in the post-war context when the familiar variant of the model, called FIAT 500 Gardener, characteristic for its body made partially of wood, and that from 1952 would change his name to FIAT 500 Belvedere.

In total they would be made more than 520.000 of the beloved Topolino but also 1955. That same year another design of Dante Giacosa el FIAT 600, which, with a similar size, managed to accommodate four adults, this was achieved by housing the water-cooled four-cylinder in-line mechanics in the rear of the vehicle.

La New 500

El July 4, 1957 presented in Turin a new FIAT 500, which is named New FIAT 500. The newcomer model of the firm from Turin was the successor to the popular Topolino, further reducing its dimensions to below three meters in length, and like the 500 original, the first series in the late 50s was also from Double bed.

Again, this FIAT 500 it was the work of Dante Giacosa, in a design that is particularly noteworthy for its solutions that allowed economical production, such as a canvas roof that allowed the manufacturer to save a significant percentage of sheet metal per car, a scarce and expensive material during the 50s. 

El 500 de 1957 It had a modern monocoque construction, a characteristic that differentiated it from the old Mickey mouse. Another difference was the air-cooled twin-cylinder engine located in the rear vehicle. 

But this first series of the new 500 buyers were not wowed. the engine of 479 cubic centimeters developed only 13 horsepower which allowed a maximum speed of 85 kilometers hour, figures similar to those of Mickey mouse, but with a price similar to that of the new FIAT 600. 

A few months after the presentation of the model, the new versions of the car that increased their potency and cheaper price. It wouldn't be until 1959 when the little one FIAT 500 is finally approved for four seater.

The Cinquecento Giardiniera

Despite the recent addition of the 500 of four occupants, one of the biggest criticisms that continued to be attributed to the FIAT was its little sizea zero space for luggage and large packages. 

Precisely in 1959, Francis Lombardi develops a family variant of the 500, which would end up being very similar in form to the Giardiniera, but not in its technical solutions, such as the vertically located engine, which left little cargo space in the rear of the car.

Lombardi station wagon developed on the 500 in 1959

For this reason, and coinciding with the market release of the FIAT 500D, born in 1960 a three-door station wagon version of the model that would recover the name of Giardiniera that the Topolinos premiered. Next to the Giardiniera a commercial version with paneled rear windows was born called Giardiniera Furgoncino. 

La Giardiniera would employ the same mechanics as the 500 D, the two-cylinder engine was now 499,5 cubic centimeters and developed 17,5 horses. But the creation of a station wagon with a rear engine, located in the cargo area of ​​the vehicle, is striking. 

But surprisingly the engine of the 500 garden it does not subtract hardly any space from the trunk, because unlike the rest of the versions of the 500 mechanics was placed on its side and in the lowest part of the vehicle. Another difference with respect to the other models of the Cinquecento family was the rear suspension, stiffer and reinforced for loading in a vehicle of only 560 kilos of weight.

The eye-catching twin-cylinder engine placed horizontally

El canvas roof characteristic of the 500, increases its size in the Giardiniera, extending to the rear seats, and surprising for the ease with which it opens and closes, requiring this operation just a few seconds.

In order to provide air to the engine, some C-pillar air vents of the vehicle, located in a high position with respect to the ground to prevent as little dirt as possible from entering. 

Obviously, the biggest difference from the 500 normal is the interior space, with very small seats, but which allow to accommodate four adults with ease. In addition, the rear seats fold forward, thus multiplying the load capacity of the Giardiniera, which already has a generous trunk for a vehicle of its size, a boot accessed by a side opening door.

This amplitude is achieved by lengthening the length of the vehicle, which is located Meters long 3,181. To compare with the 600, the 500 garden it is still 11,4 centimeters shorter.

The Giardiniera and the 600 together

E Giardiniera from inside 

once inside the car everything remembers the 500. The metal dashboard has two light indicators, and two small switches that operate the lights and the windshield wipers. Above these is the ashtray and in the middle of the board there is a plug that covers the hole in which the key was in the first versions, since in this unit it is housed in the steering column. 

Next to the key there is a rubber button that activates the cleaning water as it is pressed. On the steering wheel that houses the horn is picture, which follows with minimalist philosophy of the 500, which marks a top speed of 120 and it has indications at each speed on how much the marches can be lengthened.

Surprising, for example, absence of a fuel gauge needle, instead there is a light on the box indicating "benzine" that comes on when the reserve is reached. Next to this there are other indicators for the lights, another for the dynamo and a last one for the oil. 

As the last part of the equipment in the front seats is a small storage tray located between the driver and the passenger. 

The rear windows are provided with compasses that allow them to be opened slightly.

In the rear the rear windows can be opened a few millimeters thanks to a compass, a feature of the latest Giardiniera, as the first units used sliding rear windows.

The 500 that did not evolve 

Despite what seems to be the Giardiniera of the report was made in 1977, and is one of the last units manufactured from the last year of production, when el FIAT 500 in its tourism version production had ceased two years earlierIn 1975. 

In fact, the main unit it was not even manufactured by FIATIs a Autobiachi, manufacturer of the FIAT group that was in charge of produce the Giardiniera from 1968 to 1977, a brand that at the end of the 60s manufactured the Autobianchi Panorama, a vehicle of very similar conception.

What makes the striking Giardiniera being a car 1977 They are your reverse opening or suicide doors, and more if one takes into account that the FIAT 500 in its tourism version offered normal opening doors from the presentation of FIAT 500F in 1965. 

But for some reason the FIAT 500 Gardener, and later the Autobianchi Giardiniera, they remained stuck in the finish of the 500 FIAT 1960 D: same doors, same engine, same displacement, same power…

The doors in the Giardiniera were always suicidal opening

Finally, in 1977 the production of the 500 Giardiniera ceases made by Autobianchi, leaving some 330.000 units of the model sold from 1960. An important and successful figure even when compared to the total of 3.893.294 FIAT 500 sold between 1957 y 1975.

Una Giardiniera in tuscany 

The environment chosen for the test could not be more appropriate for the Giardiniera, Toscana, on a road surrounded by vineyards near the town of San Gimignano. 

As an example of the popularity of these cars today is that during the photo report Several classic FIAT 500s passed each other on that road. Many of these cars survive to this day as collector's cars, but many of these are used almost daily, making finding a 500 in Italy is easy anywhere.

One of the 500 that appeared during the report

But curiously, in front of the dozens of 500 in use that we meet during the trip, none of these were a Giardiniera, which makes evident the rarity of the model today. 

Driving the 500 Giardiniera

Once seated in 500 draws your attention procedure to start it. After activating the contact, the driver must place his hand between the front seats, where there are two levers. The left is the choke, and the right is the starter., a mechanism that in Spain was seen in the SEAT 600 more primitive, and that in Italy they would inherit the FIAT 126. 

With the car already started, start driving, immediately striking the small pedals, which are also located very close together. This is only accentuated by the front wheel arches that invade a large part of the passenger compartment, something common to many products of FIAT of the time, but which is especially apparent in the 500 due to its small size.

The gear change is four speed, With the first out of sync. The operation of this can be somewhat hard, and a common practice to these FIAT 500 is double clutch when reducing, to prevent the gears from scratching. 

But despite what it may seem, the 500 garden has a very cheerful behavior, especially in urban environments. However, on steep mountain roads, they forced the little car to stop completely to put it in first gear and continue slowly until the end of the slope. 

Thus, the FIAT 500 forces the driver to speed up the gears when traveling by road, this being the best option if you don't want the vehicle to come down. 

Remember the small size of the motor two cylinders and its power 17,5 horses, attached to extra weight of the ranchera version, factors that undoubtedly affect its performance, but that allow the stroller to travel at a rate of 85 kilometers per hour with enough ease, and we even managed to exceed 100 kilometers per hour on a downhill section of the autostrada, an achievement considering that the manufacturer announced the maximum speed in the Giardiniera as 95 kilometers per hour. 

Although during the trip it became clear that the high survival of the 500 compared to other Italian models, apart from her status as an icon, is because many of these cars were limited to making journeys through urban routes, thus avoiding the punishment of highway speeds.

But the apparently limited performance of the car did not prevent him from making a journey of hundreds of kilometers from Piacenza, in the north of Italy, to Rome and Civitavecchia, to take a ferry back to Barcelona, ​​where Erik Alarma can show off one of the few examples of this nice and rare model that already circulates around the city. 

Lastly, I would like to express my reiterated thanks to Erik Alarm for organizing the wonderful trip to Italy that has served as the background for the photos in this report, and to all the fantastic people and lovers of the classics who have accompanied us during it. Thank you! 

Photographs: Javier Ramiro / FIAT

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Written by Javillac

This thing about cars comes to one since childhood. When other kids preferred the bicycle or the ball, I kept the toy cars.
I still remember as if it were yesterday a day when a black 1500 overtook us on the A2, or the first time I saw a Citroën DS parked on the street, I have always liked chrome bumpers.

In general, I like things from before the time I was born (some say I'm reincarnated), and at the top of that list are cars, which, together with music, make the ideal combination for a perfect time: driving and a soundtrack according to the corresponding car.

As for cars, I like classics of any nationality and era, but my weakness is American cars from the 50s, with their exaggerated shapes and dimensions, which is why many people know me as "Javillac".

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