1964 Fiat 500 Coupe

After the legendary Fiat 500 'Topolino' (launched in 1936; water cooled four-cylinder in front) had been replaced by the genius rear-engined Fiat 600 in 1955, the Turin concern saw big potential for an even smaller model. So the chief engineer Dante Giacosa developed the new ('Nuova') 500 N with an air-cooled 479cc four stroke straight-twin in the rear. Introduced on July 4th, 1957, the 500 N soon became Europe's best-selling car in its class by far and settled Fiat as the world's most successful maker of small cars for the decades.

Yet in late 1957, engine output rose from 13.5 to 15 horsepower. When production of the last version 500 R ended in 1975 (the station wagon 500 Giardinera continued until 1977), 3,702,078 cars were produced. The 500 R came with a 18 horsepower 594cc twin, good enough for 100 kph (62 mph).