1997 Fiat Cinquecento S

When you think about the Italian car industry over the last 50 years, the handsome chisel-edged Alfas and Fiats from the 1970s through to the late 80s stand out as the next style icons being championed, and this is no different. The designer of such sharp-edged designs such as the Alfa Romeo Alfetta, Alfa Romeo 75, and later the beautiful Fiat Coupé, Ermanno Cressoni, was chosen to design the continuation of the Fiat 500, the Fiat Cinquecento. Launched in 1991 to replace the Fiat 126, the Cinquecento featured independent suspension front and rear, front disc brakes, side impact beams, crumple zone, and galvanised body panels. Steering was an unassisted rack and pinion.

The interior carried the expected Italian retro flair designed by Claudio Mottino and Giuseppe Bertolusso, with a 2-spoke sport steering wheel and push-button dash. Complementary blue pattern cloth with grey vinyl seats and interior panels adorned with lightweight manual door window mechanisms, pop out rear side windows, rear wiper.

This particular example is a non-sunroof original UK-supplied car. A 1997 Cinquecento S with low owners and equally low miles, with just 32k on the clock. Recently lowered on coilovers with the original steel wheels refurbished with an MOT until April 2026. The interior has been brought up to date with the addition of a Kenwood compact disc player with bluetooth handsfree & audio streaming.

The ideal first car with just 899cc to insure, manual transmission. Or maybe the perfect cars and coffee choice, or country lane hack. Either way, with its new improved stance and weighing just 710kg, it’s an absolute hoot to drive, well-maintained and rust-free, now that’s something you don’t hear very often about Fiats from the 1990s.