Fiat 500 D

Make	FIAT
Class	Motor Car
Production	From 1960 to 1965
Produced	5,231,518
Wheel base	76.38 in, 1940 mm
Length	125.34 in, 3185 mm
Height	53.15 in, 1354 mm
Width	51.97 in, 1323 mm
Dry weight	1190 1b, 540 kg
Assembly	Turin and Termini Imerese, Italy

The FIAT 500 D is a small car from the Turin company, produced from 1960 to 1965.

History

In October 1960, shortly after the Giardiniera, a renewed version of the sedan, the 500 D, was presented. This replaces all previous models of the 500, including the Sport. From now on there are no more variants of the sunroof and convertible roof as the new the measurements of the sunroof go up to the middle of the roof. Although the other half is a piece of removable sheet metal, it is not possible to mount the long soft top as on the 500 N Economica as the crossbar that divides the roof from the soft top is part of the structure and if it is removed, it is no longer possible to drive on Street; everything is unified in the new D version which, with the Giardiniera, makes up the 1960 range of the Fiat Nuova 500.

This version derives directly from the 500 which it welcomes the latest innovations from 1959 but adopts the 499.5 cm³ engine of the 500 Sport, refined in terms of delivery and maximum power to deliver 17.5 HP at 4400 rpm instead of the original 21 HP, also through the adoption of a different carburettor (Weber 24IMB) to reduce emissions. It is approved for four people. The standard equipment is enriched with a few details: better padded rear bench seat with folding backrest to create a useful loading surface; padded under-plank edge to cushion any knocks with the knees; flashers and main beam lights to the left of the dashboard (with adjustable brightness); switching on of the internal courtesy light when the driver's side door is opened; onion tank (21 litre capacity), positioned only on the driver's side to Favor the dimensions of the front trunk; headrest pads on both rear inner columns for bench seat passengers. The air filter box is no longer closed with three bolts, but with two more practical pressure wing nuts. The white sidewall tires and the radio are still available as options. The front suspension independent, wishbones, transverse leaf-spring lower arm, telescopic dampers at the rear also independent, swinging semi-trailing arms, coil springs and telescopic dampers.

PERFORMANCE:

• Engine capacity: 30.55 cu in, 499.5 cu cm;
• Fuel consumption: 54.3 m/imp gal, 45.2 rn/US gal, 5.2 1 x 100 km;
• Max speed: 62-1 mph, 100 km/h;
• Max power (SAE): 21.5 hp at 4600 rpm
• Max torque (SAE):26 1b ft, 3.6 'kgm at 2800 rpm
• Max number of engine rpm: 4600
• Specific power:43 hp/l
• Power-weight ratio: 55.1 lb/hp, 25.1 kg/hp
• Acceleration 0—80 km/h) 40 sec
• Standing 1/4-mile 30.8 sec

During 1961 the padded sun visors, the ashtray in the centre of the dashboard, the manual windscreen washer with pump, the courtesy light with automatic switching on controlled by the driver's side door were offered as standard. In 1964 the windscreen wipers became self-returning, the mouldings on the sides at the height of the handles became a little shorter at the rear .

Accessories of the time, widespread and also produced outside FIAT, were: the servo horn or horn ring, produced by the Vitaloni Brothers of Turin (to allow easier use of the horn without taking your hands off the steering wheel rim); the vinyl leather steering wheel cover, a typical accessory found in many cars, to facilitate gripping the crown while driving; the sun visor with built-in mirror on the passenger side; the Giardiniera-style passenger handles; the frieze for the dashboard surface with the writing "FIAT NUOVA 500" in gold on a cream background, or with the writing "Cinquecento" and plastic handle for the front passenger; the rubber mats of various colours (red, black, ochre, havana, grey, green, blue) and in different pieces (from 2 to 6); the front grille entirely in aluminium or plastic but with an aluminium mustache; locking the bonnet with a key; the closure of the front bonnet with an enamelled red FIAT emblem, triangular, in polished aluminium and fitted with a key; the key-operated anti-theft BLOSTER to lock the steering knuckle (applied along the light switch with a spring clamp that acts from below); the petrol tank cap equipped with a key; bumper overriders with rubber reinforcement to cushion the daily shocks due to the harmful actions of inattentive or inattentive parking attendants; the chromed tailpipe to be applied to the final pipe of the muffler, used both for aesthetic reasons and to direct the exhaust smoke further down; the "shelf" in black plastic, FIAT 600 style, to be applied under the dashboard, along its entire extension; the coat hook (which could also be incorporated in the passenger handles); seat covers in fabric or wicker; the hook to keep the soft top partially open while the car is moving, in order to ensure greater ventilation of the passenger compartment (at the time it was applied between the centre of the front rod of the frame and the upper part of the windscreen). 

• Chassis code: Fiat 110 D Berlina 500
• Engine code: 110 D 000