WHAT IS IT?
Fiat returned to the United States in 2011 with their reentry spearheaded by the cute Fiat 500, a larger and more modern homage to the tiny cinquecentos of the 1960s. Originally offered only as a normally aspirated 100 hp 1.4 liter inline 4-cylinder hatchback, the lineup expanded to a cabriolet version (500C) and hotter Abarth turbocharged version the following year. The Abarth is a roarty little beast. The turbocharger gave the engine a 60% boost in power and the muffler-free factory exhaust produced a fantastic noise incongruent with the look of the car.
WHY THIS ONE HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
This 2013 Abarth 500C was a top-of-the-line as one could get in a Fiat that year, combining the canvas roof option with the Abarth performance trim. The open top was again an homage to the original large sunroofs of the classic 500s but also let in more of that glorious Italian exhaust note. With only 17,000 miles from new, this car looks showroom fresh despite being 12 years old. These are fuel efficient and fun and require a relatively small investment to have something rare, eye catching, and Italian. Having driven many of these, we can say that it’s honestly impossible to drive one without grinning from ear to ear.
Having driven many of these, we can say that it’s honestly impossible to drive one without grinning from ear to ear.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2013-fiat-500c-abarth-3/
As you can probably tell, I own a Fiat 500 Abarth. Many of these cars were modified and driven hard. This 12,000-mile example has been well taken care of and appears unmodified.
It seems like the cat is slowly escaping the bag on the Abarth 500s, and we will see prices go up soon. I would not be surprised if some more really nice examples come out of the woodwork.
I had the pleasure of owning a 2013 example, still the most fun I ever had behind the wheel and made my intolerable commute into DC back then worth it. I LOVE the white wheels on this one. LOVE.
This is truly a nice example of the 500 Abarth, a car that hot hatch lovers are likely going to collect in the future. It’s hard to find much to fault, there’s some surface corrosion on the exhaust and some of the underside fasteners, but that’s about it. Still, these cars only went out of production a few years ago, and there are probably a few somewhere still new on the MSO, so it seems unlikely that this one is the best to be found anywhere.