Fiat Seicento
The Cinquecento’s replacement, the Seicento (Italian for “600” - see what they did there?) carried over most of the defining aspects of its predecessor but, this time, housed in a slightly less angular body. Over 1.1million Seicentos were built during its seven year run between 1997 and 2004 in the UK (it was still sold new in other territories after this, but rebadged as a “600”). The choice of engines was restricted to either the 899cc OHV or the 1108cc FIRE that had been so giggle-inducing in the Cinquecento Sporting. Originally, the larger engine was fitted only to the body-kitted, slightly lowered Sporting, but in 2001 the 899cc was dropped from all models due to tightening emission restrictions. Inexpensive, fun, simple to repair and uncomplicated to live with - we’ve lost count of how many Sei’s we’ve sold to first-time or newly passed drivers.
Fiat seicento Sporting soleil
This was something else. A rare special edition ”Soleil”, it boasted a full length, electric sliding sunroof in sardine-can style. That alone would have been enough to pique our interest (yes, we’re Fiat anoraks) but it was also a genuine, one-lady owner vehicle, finished in gleaming Giallo which, wait for it, had just 10k miles on the clock. Sold within minutes of us advertising it, it found an appreciative home nestled within a collector’s garage in a well-heeled area of London.
