The little Fiat not only has the talent to break women’s hearts, it also impresses with numerous tangible qualities. The 500 D is equipped with the engine of the sports version, a folding roof and several variations on the side front indicators and rear lighting. The so-called “suicide doors” were quite impressive when not in use, but were later more or less banned because you could fall out of the car if you opened them unintentionally while driving. And that was usually fatal.

Getting into the car is easier with the door opening to the rear and the opening door would probably also be less dangerous for a cyclist approaching. Opening the door when you are sitting in the car also seems to require less force and getting out of the car is no problem anyway. Today, rear-opening doors are extremely rare, with the exception of the rear door of the former Mini Clubman, the rear doors of the Mazda RX8 and the driver/passenger doors of the new Rolls-Royce Cabriolet. Of course, they are all secured in such a way that they cannot open unintentionally. And that was probably not so easy in the past…

Well-preserved 500s are in short supply, and a trip to Italy only helps sometimes. Because the country is sold out, prices are at the local level and above. The Giardiniera estate models are very rare and the supply of spare parts is precarious. With patience, you can find something for every taste, but the prices for top models are all in five figures.