The Fiat 500 was introduced in 1957 as a small, affordable car for everyday use. It was simple, lightweight, and compact, but above all, it had a design that everyone instantly recognized. In a parking space that holds just one SUV today, you could fit two of them, so to speak. And you’d probably still have room to walk between them. The 500 F debuted in 1965 and became the most-produced version of the classic Fiat 500. Among other things, this model featured conventionally hinged doors and various technical improvements to the powertrain. It came standard with an air-cooled 499.5 cc two-cylinder engine producing 18 pk. Not fast, but that wasn’t the original idea at all.According to documented information, this Fiat began its life as a Fiat 500 F and was completely rebuilt and redesigned during a full restoration. As part of this process, the roof behind the windshield was completely removed. The doors and the entire sides were retained, meaning it is emphatically not a standard Fiat 500 with an open fabric roof. This is, therefore, a custom-built, fully open Fiat 500, for which “Apri”—Italian for “open”—is used as a fitting name for the final result.It naturally brings to mind the famous beach cars from that era. The Ghia-built Jolly was also fully open, but lacked conventional doors and was typically equipped with wicker seats and a removable roof. This particular example, however, has retained its doors, windshield frame, and recognizable 500 body. So it’s not a Jolly, nor is it an attempt to secretly replicate one. It’s simply a unique interpretation of the concept behind an open-top Fiat. And it didn’t stop there.In the rear lies a powerful 650cc engine, built using components from Nanni. The Italian company Nanni has been producing performance parts and technical upgrades for vehicles such as the Fiat 500 and Fiat 126 since 1960. As a result, the name is now well-known among enthusiasts as a specialist in this field. Of course, the “F” didn’t originally stand for “Fast.” But with this Fiat, we might as well pretend it does. Thanks to the larger engine, this 500 drives considerably more smoothly than a standard model. And that’s exactly what you want, because an open-top Fiat shouldn’t just be fun when it’s standing still. It should feel light, respond enthusiastically, and give you the impression at every roundabout that you’re going much faster than you actually are. No corners were cut on the exterior either. More than 5,000 euros was spent on the paint job alone. The result is almost too beautiful to drive. Almost, because keeping a Fiat 500 without a roof inside just because it’s turned out so beautifully would, of course, be a bit strange.The restoration has been documented, and the car comes with a Dutch license plate. A completely rebuilt Fiat 500 F, equipped with a 650cc engine featuring Nanni components and configured as a permanent convertible. This Fiat has simply decided that a roof is no longer necessary. Are you interested? Please contact Gallery Aaldering. We export our vehicles all over the world—ask about the possibilities.
