One litle bundle of joy

The Andrews family loves going ga-ga over a Fiat 500 Bambino, writes STUART INNES.

CUTE, fun, cheeky and almost toy-like, the Fiat 500 Bambino was minimalist motoring. It made even the Mini feel like a powerful limousine, but priced accordingly at 35 per cent more, and the Fiat 500 was the last word in small-size, low-cost motoring.

Road testers of the day had a puzzle with the Fiat 500. The 0-100km/h acceleration run could not be timed. It did only 94km/h flat out.

But Tony and Meredith Andrews, of Seacliff, get a great deal of use and enjoyment out of their 1970 Fiat Bambino. The baby two-door car was made with a 500cc, two-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled engine in the rear.

"The pistons go up and down together, so it vibrates tremendously," Mr Andrews says.

Fiats last sold new in Australia in 1989, with the Regata. But the 500 ceased in 1971, although a Polish version of the Fiat 126, the FSM Niki, was a 650cc version selling from 1989 to 1993.

"My first car was a Fiat 500 I bought brand-new in 1960 as a student from Miles Motors in Morphett st," Mr Andrews says.

"We had another one when we got married and lived in Bendigo, so we did a lot of trips from Bendigo to Adelaide. You'd get in, put your foot flat to the floor and not take it off until you got there.

"They have an overdrive top gear and would do about 90km/h."

Mr and Mrs Andrews have had this 500 F for seven years and painted it red, plus upgraded the engine to the 650cc of the Fiat 126 as well as its wheels and brakes, so its performance is not an embarrassment in traffic.

"They are tremendous fun to drive. Going around a roundabout is as much fun as Michael Schumacher in a Formula One," Mr Andrews, 60, a retired maths lecturer, says. "They are light, economical and nimble and you can park them anywhere."

Economical? The Fiat 500 Club of SA (see www.thespareplace.com.au/fiat500sa) had an economy run and the winner achieved 66 miles a gallon or 4.31itres/100km. But Mr Andrews says the driver can feel a bit vulnerable in traffic.

"There's no modern safety gear, no side bars or airbags and the petrol tank is over your knees behind the dashboard," he says. "You really have to drive defensively, like a motorbike."

According to Glass's Guide, the 1970 Fiat 500 sun-Roof was priced at $1278, when even the standard Morris Mini (albeit with an 1100cc engine) was substantially more at $1731.