1958 Fiat 600 Trasformabile

Italy's answer to putting a country on wheels was not a large car. The 600 was Fiat's first rear-engined model, and the Trasformabile added a full-length roll-back canvas roof to a shape already small enough to park sideways. Seventy years on, it remains one of the most charming ways ever devised to travel slowly.

This 1958 Fiat 600 Trasformabile was fitted with a 747cc inline-four and four-speed manual gearbox from a later model, along with four-wheel disc brakes, before being acquired in the mid-2010s by its current owner, automotive designer Stewart Reed. Finished in pistachio green with a retractable canvas roof panel, it rides on a lowered suspension with 13" steel wheels at all four corners. The five-digit odometer shows 41,000 miles. The car is offered on dealer consignment with spare parts and a California title.

Background

Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1955 as the successor to the 500 Topolino, the Fiat 600 was the company's first rear-engined car and remained in production through 1969 at the Mirafiori assembly facility in Turin. The Trasformabile variant added a retractable fabric roof panel running the length of the cabin.

Exterior

The car is finished in pistachio green with a retractable canvas roof panel. Further exterior details include rear-hinged doors, a vented engine cover, and polished bumpers with overriders. The selling dealer notes evidence of prior paintwork. The 13" steel wheels wear Fiat-branded hubcaps and are mounted with 165/65 Bridgestone Potenza RE92 tires. The suspension has been lowered, and braking is handled by retrofitted discs at all four corners.

Interior

The seats have been retrimmed in black leather and are accompanied by color-coordinated door panels and carpets. Further appointments include a cabin heater, manual hand-crank windows, and front lap belts. A two-spoke steering wheel fronts a 70-mph speedometer with suggested shift points, flanked by gauges for fuel level and coolant temperature.

Engine & Drivetrain

The 747cc inline-four and four-speed manual gearbox were installed under previous ownership. The engine breathes through a single downdraft carburetor.

Condition

Rust is visible on various underbody components, and additional underside photographs are presented in the gallery.

Note: Additional details including VIN, service records, and further photography will be provided to serious inquiries.