‘Not many were sold and they are rare’

In recent columns I’ve mused on both the withdrawal symptoms from not having bought a car for some time and the likelihood of ‘retro’ cars like the Fiat 500 leaning against an open door for entry into the classic world.

While the latter remains an open debate, those thoughts got together in the country pub of my subconscious and hatched a plan. One that kicked out the conscious idea that my next purchase would be a Morris Minor. Which meant that, one morning, I awoke with the strong desire to replace my faithful early (2004) Fiat Panda II daily driver with a 500. Sorry, Morris fans. But which model?

These days, I follow the new car market about as closely as I do Love Island, which is to say not at all. But I did recall at some point having seen 500s with added chrome and classic-style wheels. Couldn’t see any like that for sale though, but as often happens in such situations fate stepped in. On a day trip to Lavenham, I spotted the answer when pulling into the car park. A pastel-and-white vision with hubcaps, leather seats and a white steering wheel that turned out to be the Vintage 57 special edition of the Fiat 500.

Not many were sold and they are rare – I could find just two for sale in the whole country, both too far away. Then another popped up only 40 minutes away and I was there with a deposit before the dealer had even added photos to the ad. Mine!

The above is a kind of confession to buying a non-classic. But in defence, my other two cars – a ’72 Alfa Spider and a ’93 Volvo 940 Turbo – definitely are. And that’s not a bad ratio.

‘The Vintage 57 is a pastel and white vision with hubcaps’