The versatile Fiat 500 Topolino and the debut of Nuccio Bertone

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The pre-war Fiat 500 "Topolino", introduced in 1936, was one of the smallest cars in the world at the time and quickly became popular due to its compact size and accessibility. Its name—Italian for "little mouse"—perfectly captured its character. While Fiat produced three main versions (500A, 500B, and 500C), the platform soon inspired a wide range of derivatives.

The little Fiat served as the foundation for sporty coupés, commercial vans, military adaptations, and international licensed builds. One of these would even mark the beginning of the reputation of a legendary coachbuilder: the Fiat 570 Barchetta, a personal project by the young Nuccio Bertone.

Shortly after World War II, Bertone took over the family business from his father, Giovanni. His first creation was a lightweight racing car based on a 1936 Topolino Balestra Corta chassis. With the help of two mechanics, he worked after hours to build a barchetta featuring an aluminum body, designed in collaboration with Luigi Rapi. The distinctive “fish mouth” front end was an early sign of Bertone’s future style.

Powered by a 570 c.c. engine with a modified cylinder head from Officina Marino, the car delivered remarkable performance for its size. Bertone raced it himself at events in Vercelli, Piacenza, Asti, and the legendary Mille Miglia, achieving class successes including a second place finish in the Aosta-Gran San Bernardo hill climb.

After Bertone stepped away, the barchetta continued to race under engineer Carlino Francesconi, who secured an impressive 46th overall (second in class) at the 1948 Mille Miglia and reached speeds of up to 69 miles per hour in the Giro dell’Umbria. The car remained active through 1949 and 1950, now driven by Gino Zordan of Mestre. This little barchetta completed an impressive four consecutive Mille Miglia campaigns.

In 1996, the story came full circle when Bertone rediscovered his original creation and began a full restoration. Sadly, he passed away in 1997 before the project was completed. The car remained in the Bertone family and was later honored at prestigious events such as the Concours d’Élégance Villa d’Este.

In 2021, the car found a new owner. Today, it awaits the next enthusiast—perhaps once again on the starting grid of the Mille Miglia, where its story first began.

This 1936 Fiat 570 Bertone Barchetta Special will be offered for sale on May 24th, 2025, during the Villa d’Este Auction by Broad Arrow Auctions. More information can be found here.

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