Documentation
The original Fiat brochure for the 500 Sport, Stampa N. 1493: the cover and the inside page with the engine photograph and the data sheet.
The factory figures from the brochure
The inside page of the brochure carries a short introductory text and a cut-out photograph of engine and gearbox on the left, and the column «dati tecnici» on the right. In the reproduction above the type is small, so the figures are set out here as well. They are the factory’s own.
The introductory text: «La Fiat “nuova 500” sport unisce alle doti di maneggevolezza e di ottima tenuta di strada, che sono proprie della “nuova 500”, maggiore velocità e più brillanti accelerazioni.» – The Fiat «nuova 500» sport adds to the handiness and the excellent roadholding that are the «nuova 500»’s own a higher speed and more brilliant acceleration. And further: «La potenza del motore, che nella vettura normale è di 16,5 Cv, nella “nuova 500” sport sale a 21 Cv. Velocità oltre 105 km/h.» – The output of the engine, which on the normal car is 16,5 Cv, rises to 21 Cv on the «nuova 500» sport. Speed over 105 km/h.
The column «dati tecnici» item by item:
- Body of load-bearing structure. Wheelbase 1.84 m. Track 1.12 m front, 1.13 m rear.
- Engine 2 cylinders in line. Displacement 499 cmc. Bore 67.4 mm. Stroke 70 mm. Max. output 21 CV. Aluminium crankcase, cast-iron liners. Aluminium cylinder head. Crankshaft on 2 bearings. Overhead valves. Downdraught carburettor with starting device. Fuel fed by mechanical pump. Forced lubrication by gear pump. Centrifugal oil filter. Air cooling by centrifugal fan. Power unit placed at the rear of the car.
- Clutch single dry plate.
- Transmission to the rear wheels by 2 half-shafts connected to the differential by sliding-block joints.
- Gearbox 4 speeds and reverse. 4th an overdrive ratio. Gears of 2nd, 3rd and 4th in constant mesh, with quick-engagement dogs.
- Differential and final drive incorporated in the gearbox casing. Ratio 8/39.
- Steering worm and helical sector.
- Front suspension independent. Transverse leaf spring attached to the body at 2 points; on asymmetric wheel movements the spring also acts as a stabiliser. Hydraulic telescopic dampers.
- Rear suspension independent. Coil springs and hydraulic telescopic dampers. Swinging arms with flexible attachments to the body.
- Brakes hydraulic on all 4 wheels. Automatic take-up of the clearance between shoe and drum. Safety brake acting on the shoes of the rear drums.
- Wheels disc wheels with 3 1/2 × 12" rims. Tyres type 125-12.
- Fuel tank in the front of the car. Capacity about 21 litres.
- Heating of the interior by warm air taken from the engine cooling circuit.
- Electrical system 12 V. Dynamo 180 W. Battery 32 Ah.
- Speed over 105 km/h.
The brochure itself enters a reservation: «Le descrizioni ed illustrazioni del presente foglio s’intendono fornite a semplice titolo indicativo e non impegnativo.» – the descriptions and illustrations of this sheet are given by way of indication only and are not binding.
A report from the time
A magazine cutting from before the car was shown. Under the headline «Abbiamo la Fiat “500” Sport» – we have the Fiat 500 Sport – the paper reports that Fiat already has a series of one hundred «500» under construction, specially prepared for sporting competition, and that the first two cars of this series will almost certainly take part in the «6 Ore» di Hyeres. Outwardly the sporting «500» differs from the ordinary ones in its rigid roof and its two-tone paintwork.
The technical data the report anticipates, and says so itself: «Non si conoscono ancora le caratteristiche tecniche» – the technical specifications are not yet known. It nevertheless already gives 21 CV against the 16,5 CV of the normal «500», an attainable speed of about 115 km/h and a price of 625,000 lire.
The output agrees with the 21 hp credited to the 500 Sport; the speed does not – there it is 105 km/h, as in the works brochure above, and the road test further down this page measured almost 106 km/h. That is no contradiction but the point of this cutting: it records what was known before the car was shown, and what was anticipated – the measuring came only afterwards.
The photograph shows a light-coloured car with a rigid roof and a dark band running along the flank at door-handle height – the two-tone paintwork the text speaks of. The cutting says neither when nor in which magazine it appeared. Click the cutting to enlarge it.
The Quattroruote road test
A second magazine cutting, this time a road test. It appears under the heading «Impressioni di guida» – driving impressions –, carries the page number 33 and is signed «F. M. P.». The headline reads «La Fiat “Nuova 500 Sport”». The magazine names itself in the text: Quattroruote.
The opening gives the reason for the test: «Era naturale che dopo aver così a lungo provato la “Nuova 500”, Quattroruote volesse constatare almeno le prestazioni fondamentali della “Nuova 500 Sport”. Questa vettura è una trasformazione della normale con caratteristiche nettamente sportive.» – It was only natural that, after testing the «Nuova 500» for so long, Quattroruote should want to establish at least the basic performance of the «Nuova 500 Sport». This car is a conversion of the ordinary one with distinctly sporting characteristics.
Little was measured, but it was measured exactly: «Naturalmente la nostra prova si è limitata alla determinazione della ripresa e della velocità massima. I valori sono risultati buoni: come velocità abbiamo raggiunto quasi i 106 km. orari e nella ripresa, con l’uso del cambio, il km. da fermo è stato compiuto in 49 secondi e 8 decimi.» – The test was limited to acceleration and maximum speed. The figures turned out well: almost 106 km/h, and the standing kilometre, using the gearbox, in 49 seconds and 8 tenths.
Two observations follow. On the speedometer: «Notevole l’esattezza del tachimetro; dimostra che quando si vuole i tachimetri possono essere esatti.» – The accuracy of the speedometer is remarkable; it shows that speedometers can be accurate when one wants them to be. And on noise: «Abbiamo osservato che la rumorosità nell’interno di questa vettura è inferiore a quella che si riscontra nella vettura normale. Poiché non si riscontrano altre differenze di carrozzeria, se ne deduce che il tetto in lamiera rappresenta per la rumorosità un vantaggio.» – The interior of this car is quieter than that of the normal one. Since no other differences in bodywork can be found, they conclude that the sheet-metal roof is an advantage as regards noise.
The road test thus explains what the fixed roof was good for, which the report above names only as an outward distinguishing feature.
Three speed figures now stand side by side: the report from before the car was shown announced about 115 km/h; the works brochure above gives «oltre 105 km/h» – over 105 km/h, the same figure that stands on the Fiat 500 Sport page; the road test measured almost 106 km/h. Nothing is reconciled here – the figures come from different sources and from different moments: announced, stated by the factory, measured.
The cutting says neither when, nor in which volume, nor in which issue the test appeared. Click the cutting to enlarge it.
