• The Fiat 500 was created to meet the postwar demands for economical cars.Red Car image by Kavita from Fotolia.com
  
  Categorized as a minicar, the Fiat 500 was introduced in 1957. It was produced in Italy for more than 20 years, with production ending in 1975. It had an egglike shape similar to the Volkswagen Beetle, with a rear-end engine location. Economical to operate, the Fiat 500 could travel up to 55 mph and got as much as 52 mpg. Available in a two-door coupe and a wagon, during its production the Fiat 500 was a very popular mode of transportation in Italy.
  
  

Main Features

• The 1975 Fiat 500 was produced with a manual four-speed transmission. It ran on gasoline and had seating for four. The Fiat 500 was equipped with rear-wheel drive.
  
  

Engine and Transmission

• Equipped with a carburetor fuel system, the 1975 Fiat 500 had a maximum torque of 18.00 PS (13 kW or 18 HP) at 4600 revolutions per minute. The maximum torque was 27.00 Nm (2.8 kgf-m or 19.9 pound-feet) at 3,200 revolutions per minute. The bore-and-stroke was 67.4 by 70.0 mm (2.7 x 2.8 inches).
  
  

Dimensions and Weight

• With a width of 52.4 inches and height of 52.4 inches, the 1975 Fiat 500 was very compact. The length was 117.3 inches. It weighed 1,124.4 lbs., and the wheelbase was 72.8 inches. It could hold 5.81 gallons of gasoline. The ground clearance was low at 5.1 inches.