Fiat 500 Camping

Vehicle Overview

The Fiat 500 Camping by Moretti was a limited-production leisure-oriented variant of the Fiat Nuova 500, constructed by Carrozzeria Moretti between 1957 and 1961. It was developed in response to the demand for compact vehicles adapted for light utility and seasonal recreational use, characteristic of the Italian spiaggina genre. The vehicle was based on the mechanical underpinnings of the standard Fiat 500, but modified with estate-type coachwork and revised interior accommodation. The chassis was derived directly from the Fiat Nuova 500, featuring a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration. Power was supplied by an air-cooled, two-cylinder inline engine mounted at the rear. Displacement was 499 cc, delivering between 18 and 22 horsepower depending on the model year and carburetion. The gearbox was a four-speed manual unit, transmitting drive to the rear wheels. Suspension consisted of independent front and rear systems with coil springs. Braking was by hydraulic drums on all four wheels. Performance was modest, with a top speed of approximately 90–95 km/h under standard conditions. The coachwork executed by Moretti transformed the base Fiat into a compact station wagon or estate format. The body featured large glasshouse proportions, with expanded side windows and an elongated roofline. A canvas folding roof was incorporated to allow for open-air operation. The vehicle was often configured with wicker or spartan utilitarian seating and exposed wheel arches. Rear cargo space was accessible via a side-hinged rear opening or a liftgate, depending on the build specification. The design emphasized practicality for beach or countryside use, with minimal ornamentation. Production of the Fiat 500 Camping by Moretti was highly limited. Precise production figures are not recorded, but contemporary sources and surviving documentation suggest that only a few dozen units were built. The vehicle was presented at the Turin Motor Show in late 1957, alongside other Moretti-bodied Fiat variants. It did not enter widespread circulation, and most known examples remained within Italy. Chassis numbers are not comprehensively documented. The Fiat 500 Camping by Moretti exemplifies the practice of post-war Italian coachbuilders repurposing mass-market platforms for niche uses. It remains a representative example of artisanal adaptations in an era of increasing automotive industrial standardization.