1970 FIAT 500 L Giannini TV

Replacement for FIAT's much-loved 500 'Topolino', the Nuova 500 debuted in 1957. A radical departure from its predecessor's essentially pre-war design, FIAT's new baby featured unitary construction, an opening fabric roof and all-independent suspension while carrying its engine at the rear. Introduced in 1968 alongside the standard 500F, the deluxe 500L, while mechanically identical, came with exterior cosmetic enhancements and an improved interior featuring new instrument panel, seats and floor covering. An immense success for FIAT, almost 3,000,000 of these adorable little cars had been sold when production ceased in 1975. The original FIAT 500 remains as popular today as it ever was, and recently was voted 'Sexiest Car' by the readers of Top Gear magazine.

This FIAT 500 incorporates various performance enhancing products made by Giannini. Founded in 1920 by the Giannini brothers - Attilio and Domenico - as a garage, the company began tuning the little FIAT 500 Topolino in the 1930s and secured 12 world speed records with one of its modified cars. In the early 1960s the original company closed, the brothers going their separate ways to found new enterprises. Attilio's new design company lasted only until 1971 but that founded by Domenico - Giannini Automobili SpA - survives today as part of the FIAT Group. In 1963 Giannini Automobili began modifying cars and selling tuning kits. That same year it introduced its own modified version of the baby FIAT - the 500TV - and throughout the decade and into the 1970s Giannini-tuned cars battled with those of its rival Abarth on the racetracks of Europe. In 1966 Maurizio Zanetti became Italian Champion driving a Giannini-tuned FIAT 500. In more recent years Giannini has specialised in the production of limited-edition versions of FIAT production models.

This attractive Giannini-modified FIAT 500 has formed part of an exclusive Italian collection in recent years and is finished in white with a contrasting dark red interior. Described by the vendor as in generally very good condition, with good body and paint, the car is offered with a copy of the Italian Estratto Cronologico recording the first two owners as residents of Tivoli near Rome. There are no documents with this Lot.