1967 FIAT 600D (D208)

Superb example of the innovative, charming, practical and fun “Fiat City Car”. A design revolution from the early 1960’s. The original Fiat 600 was the Italian alternative to Volkswagen’s Beetle and a huge success all over Europe. This 1967 example of the upgraded Fiat 600 D is a cheerful reminder of a free spirited era.

Charming in Robin’s Egg Blue over a Red/White vinyl interior, this unique collectable presents very well indeed. Very nice paint and body redone recently, no significant rust ever, fresh interior and upholstery. Complete and very original. Chrome, trim and badges in very good condition. All mechanical systems inspected, rebuilt as necessary, no issues, no problems, well sorted. Starts and runs great, lots of fun to drive. A very fine example.

Imported from Italy in 2019, purchased from the personal collection of a meticulous enthusiast. The car was then inspected by our Fiat specialists in Italy prior to importation and received a full going over and mechanical refresh. Front and rear suspension reconditioned including new bushings, alignment, wheel bearings, tie rods and new U-joints. The complete brake system has been rebuilt. The gas tank and gauge have been reconditioned and recalibrated. Speedometer cable has been replaced. Chassis had protective wax applied after reconditioning.

The original motor has been rebuilt with an overbore and new pistons so current displacement is approximately 800cc with a commensurate boost in power. Engine also features a rebuilt carburetor, new throttle cable, thorough detailing, valve adjustment and tune up, all new fluids including engine oil and filter. Transmission was removed, disassembled and reconditioned. Fitted with new tires, new battery, plugs, wires and rotor. It’s fully sorted and ready for new adventures.

The Fiat 600 was first produced in 1955 and the 600D is a very desirable model introduced in 1960 with many factory updates from the earlier versions.

The shapely body sits on a 78.7” wheelbase and is a trim 126.6” long, ideal for parking in the city. With a svelte curb weight of only 1,290 lbs and powered by a spirited 4-cylinder 767cc engine, performance is lively around town and adequate for country lanes. Racing versions, modified by legendary tuner Carlo Abarth, were very successful during the period, often winning against many larger and more powerful rivals. Fuel economy is outstanding.

A 4-speed manual transmission provides a wide range of gearing for climbing steep urban hills to an open road top speed around 65-70 mph. The ride is notably supple, and the handling crisp and accurate.

The 600 D is quite simple mechanically and considered to be reliable, durable, and easy to maintain. Parts are readily available and relatively inexpensive.

The car comes with a valid California registration and title. It also retains its original Italian plates and paperwork. The car is in great condition inside and out. It has been professionally repainted at some point and there are a few dings but overall it looks great. The interior is bright, cheerful and perfect with no rips or tears. Drives like new (early 60’s style). Only ten feet long - fits anywhere, super EZ to park, even in San Francisco - and still has room for 4.

Odometer 1293 Km - actual mileage unknown

MODEL HISTORY

Created as a clean sheet replacement for the evergreen Topolino, the 600 was an innovative city car, primarily the work of designer Dante Giacosa, that formed the basis for several successful Fiat models that followed. Launched in 1955 as the Fiat 600, this compact runabout offered room for four passengers, reasonable performance and outstanding value. Significant design features included Fiat’s first rear-engined chassis and use of unibody construction. Clever engineering provided outstanding interior space, fully independent suspension and nimble handling at a very attractive price. The model received a significant upgrade in 1960 as the 600 D with a larger engine, revised gearing and many detail improvements.

Variants of the 600 were produced from 1955 thru 1969 and production reached over 2 million units. Despite the large number made, these cars were typically driven often and hard, prone to rust, and remarkably few clean, original 600s remain today.