What I used to think looked silly now looks way COOL! It hasn't changed so I must have!
When I was a young man and I saw the Fiat 500 (nicknamed "Topolino", which translates in English as "Little Mouse") in European films I thought that they looked embarrassingly silly!
Who would ever be caught driving that little piece of........ I thought. After all, in North America we've got our mammoth, 8 cylinder, gas guzzling, cruise machines. Bigger is better and that little Topolino is nothing other than a ridiculous toy!
Fast forward almost 50 years and I wouldn't mind having one of them!
This guy pulled up in the piazza to display his prized little mouse just as we were enjoying dining by the Lake Como.
Was It The Ambiance That Made Me Desire That Car? I Wondered!
How did this car go from being a piece of ........ in my mind to being a highly desirable collectible? Was it just the atmosphere of a beautiful summer evening in the gorgeous village of Cernobbio?
This was our view from the outdoor restaurant as the sun set. This quaint village, about 15 minutes from our home is near both the city of Como and the famous town of Belaggio!
We got lucky to get these seats without a reservation on such a beautiful Friday evening!
In such as spectacular setting would just about anything look good?
The History of The Fiat 500. Lovingly Known as Topolino (Little Mouse)
- It was produced by Fiat between 1936 and 1955 and was one of the smallest cars in the world.
- It was powered by 569 cc straight side valve engine.
- The engine has 13 bhp and a top speed of about 85 kph (53 mph)
- It was highly successful in both pre and post war with nearly 520,000 sold!
- This tiny 3.2 m long car has an amazing amount of interior space and exceptional all round vision!
Here Are A Few More Shots of This Little Beauty!
Can you see that the rag top has been folded back? Do you notice the suicide doors?
I love the leather bucket seats. To see some studio shots of this car check it here!
So what do you think? Was it just the ambiance that had me smitten with this little car! No! It's a cute, little, fun, funky car! I think that it's way cool and I'd love to buzz around the little towns in my area in it. I'd have a blast!
What About You?
- Are there items that you used to think were sill that now seem cool?
- Are there any antique cars that you'd like to drive?
- Does the setting often change your perception of what is beautiful or cool?
- What was your first ever car?
I hope that you enjoyed this article about a "Mouse That Ain't no Rodent!"
Until next time,
