Jose Luis Herrera sent me this sweet message and these pictures of his neighbor’s Fiat 600:
Hello Curbs !
that’s my neighbour’s mechanic garage area , they’re trying to restore this beauty a circa 1968 Fiat 600 E , actually at least for Latinamerican’s taste the Fiat 600 was far more important and beloved than overrated Fiat 500 .
With best greets from around Buenos Aires’ suburbs in Argentine
( plus big thanks your website is the biggest goal of journalism ) ,
Jose
Here’s a closer look at that message on the Fiat’s nose and some more pictures of it.
I’m always a bit surprised to find out just how many loyal readers we have around the globe, but especially in Argentina and Brazil. We’ve had some terrific posts over the years, but I do feel that I sometimes neglect the obscure South American cars posted at the Cohort. I really need to give them more attention.
As to the claim that the 600 was much more important and beloved than the overrated 500, I quite agree. The 600 was historically significant, as the first in a long line of water-cooled four cylinder rear engine Fiats, and as such was more capable than the 500, which was designed to the lowest possible price point and as such was rather compromised, with its noisy, feeble inline air cooled twin.
There was lots of hop-up potential in the 600, by using the larger versions of the same basic engine as used in the 850, as well as just the usual tricks of bigger carbs, cams and exhaust. These little mouses could roar.
In Argentina, the 600 was built locally from 1960 all the way to 1982, in a number of series (600, 600 D, 600 E, 600 S), with various improvements and power increases. The 600 R used a 773 cc version and and 600 S had an 843 cc version of the four.
It looks a bit lost among the other cars there, but it’s good to know it’s getting the love. As are we.
Saludos a nuestro CC amigos en Argentina!
When I first met my “later-to-be-a-wife” in Germany (courtesy of 60’s Uncle Sam), she drove a Fiat 770, which I assume was one in a long line of “bigger is better” four banger Fiats. Her prowess in whipping that little beast all over the cobblestone twists in a small town endeared me to Fiats, as well as the driver. She later bought an 850 Coupe, as did I; mine eventually running nose first into the biggest truck I could find one snowy day.
Dear Jose, Thanks for the greetings from Argentina. Tom in Valley Cottage, NY, USA. Good luck with your restoration.
Thanks to you as well
Dear Jose and our other Argentinian friends, greetings from deepest darkest locked-down Victoria, Australia!
I remember seeing a lot of 600s around when I was a child, and a friend had an 850 for a while. I built this little one a few years back.
That model looks very well-built! 1/25? What manufacturer?
Thanks Jon, it’s Gunze 1/24, from about 25 years ago. Not sure whether it’s available now. Gunze can be hard to find, and quality/detail can be a bit hit and miss. Their Fiat 500 is a bit basic and not-quite-right in the shape, but this 600 is great.
Paul, a small correction. In Argentina (and Uruguay, where they were assembled) the 600R was a 797 CC and the 600S was a 843 cc. The next step of the same engine, the 903, was used for the Fiat 147 (Brazilian version of the 127)
Thanks. I was a rushing, and mixed up my cc’s. 🙂
THANKS Mr. Niedemeyer , You are the Bentley of all journalists
Sr. Herrera, I loved reading this – and great pictures of a beautiful FIAT 600. Thank you for sharing these.
You are so welcome !
The 600s can become quite a weapon theres one that plays Targa every year, it flies and seeing it two wheel thru corners is great to watch, 850 coupes were great while they lasted, but I wouldnt pay 20c for the best 500 ever built they were a joke as a car.
Great to see how enthusiasts from all over the world land here at CC! Hope the 600 project goes well and brings lots of enjoyment.
This very efficient little machine presumably assembled in Fiat Concord of Argetine’s facilities plant was such a successful model built ’til 1982 .
Infact Fiat 600 in the Latin configurations E , R and S was usually the first bought car for every family in Chile , Uruguay and obviously in their land of Argentina
Gorgeous find , wonderful color enhances its shape which isn’t as glam as the tiny Cinquecento. This pictured 600 hasn’t the number license plate .
People in South America don’t call ’em Fiat 600 but its traditional name is
Fitito . A cult’s car in Uruguay as well.
Fiat 600 from 1968 ? Great find for Curbside Classic , bring a trailer hasn`t
Lived in Alicante Spain in the last years of the Franco dictatorship. SEAT 600’s were the most common car it seemed. I rode in my neighbors 600 to school one year. She was not a defensive driver and I realized that it wasn’t difficult to avoid some crashes with just a bit more caution. Fortunately no one was injured in the two that I experienced in her car that year. Our banker was a family friend. He described driving us home in his 600, “La velocidad era 120, todo silencio, nadie dijo nada”. I can’t imagine that a 600 can actually go 120 kmh, but that is what he was saying. It is true, nobody said a word. The Santander a Bilbao Blues Band had a song whose refrain went “Adelante hombre del seiscientos, la carretera nacional e tuya…” Forward man of the 600, the national highway is yours.
A nice survivor, I hope it gets driven and enjoyed when finished .
There are a lot of weird small cars and pickups that I never heard about until I moved to Centro – America in 1976, good to see some are being saved and used .
I think this Fiat is cute as all get out .
-Nate
Good sample of the venerable Fiat 600 ! I agree with Niedermayer , the “600” has more significance than the “500” .
Figure out nevertheless the Fiat 600 was the true origin for the final development of Sovietic infact Ukraine`s success called ZAZ 966 . After all both ZAZ 966 and its improving ZAZ 968 is certainly a Fiat 600 in Russian disguise . Part of the industrial deal between Fiat italiana and Avtoexport UdSSR was to avoid doing a clon of the original 600.
Nice car, I especially like the bumpers, headlights, etc in black, for a change.
I have a 1966 600, built in Argentina; it was originally gray, but when it came to the States someone painted it bright red, with a big Italian flag on the roof[like some put Union Jacks on Mini’s], gave it Chromadora wheels, and badged it as an Abarth 850TC. Oh, and a 903cc engine[!]. I bought it on eBay a few years ago and really like it.
I removed the replica badges, and wish it was the original color, but it gets super compliments and attention wherever it goes. Plus it is FUN.