1959 Fiat 500N Trasformabile Saloon

Registration no. 893 XUG Chassis no. 079825

Footnotes

The immediately preceding owner purchased this iconic FIAT 500N Trasformabile from Sweden in 2007, much of the provided paperwork showing 'FIAT 500N De Luxe'. The car had been fully restored between 2003 and 2005, including a re-upholstered fabric interior and full folding hood. Since then it has undergone restoration to a higher standard, with the engine and gearbox removed, which included full under-sealing and a re-spray in Medio Blu (in 2013). The then owner's husband, who had more than 10 years experience with FIAT 500s, and a specialist mechanic undertook most of the work, with close attention being paid to retaining originality.

Believed to be rust-free, this Trasformabile benefits from being manufactured from higher quality steel than 1970s models. The body panels are believed to be almost all original. A fully overhauled 499cc (17bhp) engine, with original 'N' tin-ware and exhaust, was fitted in 2015 (the 479cc engine previously installed comes with the car). Before it left Sweden the FIAT was featured in the July 2004 edition of the Swedish motoring magazine, Klassiker.

Kept in a heated garage and lovingly looked after, the car has been driven a mere 1,415 kilometres (fewer than 900 miles) since arriving in the UK. During that time it has become very well known, appearing in various photo shoots and commercials. In September 2011 the FIAT appeared in an episode of the BBC TV series 'Body Shockers', in which a woman pulled it along by her hair (there was a brass band inside the car at the time!) while in April 2012 the 'X Factor'-winning band 'Little Mix' chose the car for a photo shoot at a London studio for their autobiography and 2013 calendar. In December 2014 '893 XUG' drove in convoy with new FIAT 500s around Chelsea, London for the 'EatDrinkLoveItalia' event promoting Italian food and tourism, and in February 2014 it was used on a promotional day in Islington, London for the ASK Italian restaurant chain. The highlight of its media career (so far) was the September 2015 photo shoot where this classic FIAT 500N was photographed alongside the new FIAT 500x 4x4 for UK billboard advertising. The current vendor purchased the FIAT at Bonhams' Goodwood Members' Meeting sale in March 2016 (Lot 92). Apart from having had an inner wing replaced, the car remains as bought.

Accessories fitted include mud flaps, whitewall tyres, and a front passenger safety handle, while the car also comes complete with tool box, spare wheel, jack, lightbulb holder, handbooks, and other publications. The car comes with a box file containing a V5C registration document and history relating to repairs and restoration.