Fiat - 500 Topolino - 1949
14
days
15
hours
34
minutes
55
seconds
Current bid
€ 2,400
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Franco Vigorito
Seasoned classic car expert with COO experience at Ferrari Hill Climb Racing Team.
Estimate € 90,000 - € 110,000
 | €2,400 | |
|---|---|---|
| €2,200 | |
| €2,000 | |
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Fiat 500 Topolino A, 1949, powered by a 569 cc side-valve engine delivering 20 hp, manual transmission, petrol, red, with 4000 km, matching numbers and colours, CoC present, Italian registration papers, valid MOT, service book, in very good overall condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
IN RISALTO:
• Rarissima Fiat 500 Topolino A "Maestri Berlinetta" of 1945 with an aerodynamical aluminum body
• Historic example that competed in three Mille Miglia editions (1947, 1948 and 1949)
• Engine boosted with side-valve configuration to 20 HP on Fiat 569 cc mechanics
• Fully documented restoration carried out in Florence in 1994 and preserved in splendid overall condition
• Black vintage leather sport interiors with red-toned dashboard and exposed aluminum central tunnel
• Supplied with original plates, Italian documents, Italian FIAT Registry membership and Japanese FIVA certification
STORY/OVERVIEW:
In 1939, Enrico Maestri was commissioned by the driver Paolo Butti to build a competition aerodynamics car for the under-749 cc category for the Mille Miglia. Designed and built at the Via Roma plants in Piacenza on the basis of Fiat 500 Topolino A’s long leaf-spring chassis, the car was fitted with a closed aluminum body (10% lighter than standard) and refined mechanicals. The project was completed in 1945, and Maestri’s overall effort counted only two berlinettas and four boats.
This historic example boasts a prestigious competitive career:
* 11 May 1947: Participation in the post-war Mille Miglia on the Piacenza Municipal Circuit (historic debut for Ferrari with Franco Cortese, in the presence of Nuccio Bertone, Elio Zagato and Fissore).
* 1948: Present as the Mille Miglia muse car.
* 1949: Official participation in the Mille Miglia driven by the Guarnaschelli crew.
Officially registered in 1949, the car was sold in July 1951 to painter Carlo Luigi Giglio of Ivrea (Turin), keeping its original plates. Later passed to Mario Bemer of Florence in 1994, it underwent a complete restoration lasting 18 months. Purchased by the current owner in January 2022 in Brescia, the car was shipped to Japan in 2023 for refinishing of the paint and removal of minor scratches, returning to Italy in 2024. The latest periodic service dates to February 2025, and the car is today presented in splendid overall condition.
BODYWORK/PAINTWORK:
The aerodynamic aluminum berlinetta body is in excellent general condition, finished in the classic red shade with vintage racing details. It benefited from conservation refinishing work in Japan in 2023 to remove minor scratches. At the time of the 1994 historical restoration, the car was equipped with rectangular front fog lights. The door glass, wind deflectors and overall glazing remain sound and well preserved.
INTERIOR:
The cabin presents a sportier, period-correct setup. The anatomically contoured seats and matching door panels (with a stowaway pocket) are upholstered in black leather. The dashboard is painted to match the body and houses the original Jaeger analog instrument cluster (with Veglia odometer), choke control, vintage toggle switches, and a fold-out storage drawer. The steering wheel with metal spokes, the roof lining and metal/aluminum exposed structure, the brushed aluminum central tunnel with gear lever, and the period pedals complete the interior.
MECHANICS:
The 569 cc side-valve engine has been boosted to a maximum of 20 HP (versus 13 HP in the standard version). The mechanicals have been fully restored and are operable. The braking system features a mechanical/hydraulic pedal and the driver’s compartment reveals the mechanical components in order. The latest periodic service was completed with normal results in February 2025.
DOCUMENTS:
The car is supplied with the following documentation:
* Italian transfer documents in order for ownership change
* Original old-plates (Turin province)
* Certificate of registration with the Italian FIAT Registry
* FIVA certification issued in Japan
The car can be viewed and picked up in Bergamo, Italy, by appointment.
IN RISALTO:
• Rarissima Fiat 500 Topolino A "Maestri Berlinetta" of 1945 with an aerodynamical aluminum body
• Historic example that competed in three Mille Miglia editions (1947, 1948 and 1949)
• Engine boosted with side-valve configuration to 20 HP on Fiat 569 cc mechanics
• Fully documented restoration carried out in Florence in 1994 and preserved in splendid overall condition
• Black vintage leather sport interiors with red-toned dashboard and exposed aluminum central tunnel
• Supplied with original plates, Italian documents, Italian FIAT Registry membership and Japanese FIVA certification
STORY/OVERVIEW:
In 1939, Enrico Maestri was commissioned by the driver Paolo Butti to build a competition aerodynamics car for the under-749 cc category for the Mille Miglia. Designed and built at the Via Roma plants in Piacenza on the basis of Fiat 500 Topolino A’s long leaf-spring chassis, the car was fitted with a closed aluminum body (10% lighter than standard) and refined mechanicals. The project was completed in 1945, and Maestri’s overall effort counted only two berlinettas and four boats.
This historic example boasts a prestigious competitive career:
* 11 May 1947: Participation in the post-war Mille Miglia on the Piacenza Municipal Circuit (historic debut for Ferrari with Franco Cortese, in the presence of Nuccio Bertone, Elio Zagato and Fissore).
* 1948: Present as the Mille Miglia muse car.
* 1949: Official participation in the Mille Miglia driven by the Guarnaschelli crew.
Officially registered in 1949, the car was sold in July 1951 to painter Carlo Luigi Giglio of Ivrea (Turin), keeping its original plates. Later passed to Mario Bemer of Florence in 1994, it underwent a complete restoration lasting 18 months. Purchased by the current owner in January 2022 in Brescia, the car was shipped to Japan in 2023 for refinishing of the paint and removal of minor scratches, returning to Italy in 2024. The latest periodic service dates to February 2025, and the car is today presented in splendid overall condition.
BODYWORK/PAINTWORK:
The aerodynamic aluminum berlinetta body is in excellent general condition, finished in the classic red shade with vintage racing details. It benefited from conservation refinishing work in Japan in 2023 to remove minor scratches. At the time of the 1994 historical restoration, the car was equipped with rectangular front fog lights. The door glass, wind deflectors and overall glazing remain sound and well preserved.
INTERIOR:
The cabin presents a sportier, period-correct setup. The anatomically contoured seats and matching door panels (with a stowaway pocket) are upholstered in black leather. The dashboard is painted to match the body and houses the original Jaeger analog instrument cluster (with Veglia odometer), choke control, vintage toggle switches, and a fold-out storage drawer. The steering wheel with metal spokes, the roof lining and metal/aluminum exposed structure, the brushed aluminum central tunnel with gear lever, and the period pedals complete the interior.
MECHANICS:
The 569 cc side-valve engine has been boosted to a maximum of 20 HP (versus 13 HP in the standard version). The mechanicals have been fully restored and are operable. The braking system features a mechanical/hydraulic pedal and the driver’s compartment reveals the mechanical components in order. The latest periodic service was completed with normal results in February 2025.
DOCUMENTS:
The car is supplied with the following documentation:
* Italian transfer documents in order for ownership change
* Original old-plates (Turin province)
* Certificate of registration with the Italian FIAT Registry
* FIVA certification issued in Japan
The car can be viewed and picked up in Bergamo, Italy, by appointment.
Details
Brand
Fiat
Model type
500 Topolino
Year
1949
Located in
Italy (North)
Mileage reading
4000 km
Registration papers
with Italian registration
Transmission
Manual
Fuel
Petrol
Colour
Red
Horse power
20
Cubic capacity
569
Matching numbers
Yes
Matching colours
Yes
Service book/history
Yes
Valid MOT
Yes
CoC (Certificate of Conformity) present
Yes
Certificate available
No
Condition (Paint & body)
Very Good: minor chips or scratches, minor conventional body and paintwork
Condition (Interior)
Very Good: clean, showing minimal wear. May require replacement of minor missing or broken parts
Condition (Frame & underbody)
Very Good: frame/structure is in a well preserved condition, minor signs of usage/wear
Condition (Mechanical)
Excellent: mechanically sound, no work to be done, no leaks, no service needed
Condition (Overall)
Very good condition: minimal signs of wear
Vehicle registration
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Catawiki always aims to offer you the best possible buying experience. Our experts virtually review and select every vehicle in line with our submission guidelines and we require our sellers to provide the most accurate description of the vehicle. However, providing a fully detailed analysis of the vehicle is extremely difficult, and close to impossible. To guide you, we ask our sellers to provide information about the vehicle’s condition. Please consider that most vehicles for sale are classic vehicles and they often already have a whole life behind them, meaning that even a condition 1 or 2 vehicle might need maintenance to be ready for the road. It is advised to carefully read our submission guidelines that further describe details about the condition grades and types to manage your expectations. Cars are sold “as is”, meaning as described and in the condition they are in at the time of the sale and without any representation, warranty or assumption of liability of any kind as to the condition by Catawiki or by the seller. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from yours, your local garage, or the dealer’s opinion. This does not automatically mean the car does not conform to its description. Before bidding, please check your local legislation regarding vehicle registration. Neither the seller nor Catawiki is responsible for the registration of the vehicle in your country and will not accept a cancellation for your failure to register the vehicle. We also recommend that, if possible, you arrange a viewing with the seller before placing a bid.
Catawiki always aims to offer you the best possible buying experience. Our experts virtually review and select every vehicle in line with our submission guidelines and we require our sellers to provide the most accurate description of the vehicle. However, providing a fully detailed analysis of the vehicle is extremely difficult, and close to impossible. To guide you, we ask our sellers to provide information about the vehicle’s condition. Please consider that most vehicles for sale are classic vehicles and they often already have a whole life behind them, meaning that even a condition 1 or 2 vehicle might need maintenance to be ready for the road. It is advised to carefully read our submission guidelines that further describe details about the condition grades and types to manage your expectations. Cars are sold “as is”, meaning as described and in the condition they are in at the time of the sale and without any representation, warranty or assumption of liability of any kind as to the condition by Catawiki or by the seller. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from yours, your local garage, or the dealer’s opinion. This does not automatically mean the car does not conform to its description. Before bidding, please check your local legislation regarding vehicle registration. Neither the seller nor Catawiki is responsible for the registration of the vehicle in your country and will not accept a cancellation for your failure to register the vehicle. We also recommend that, if possible, you arrange a viewing with the seller before placing a bid.
