1920 Fiat 501 Torpedo
Fiat 501 Torpedo 1920
Italy
Cylinder number / capacity - 4/ 1460 cc
Power - 23 bhp at 2600 rpm
Max speed - 70 kph
Period of production - 1919-1926
Numbers built - 66.864 (with different bodies)
Type body - 3 door tourer
Marque bodywork - Fiat
The 501 was the first car designed by Fiat after the Great War and the first step towards the economy car. Produced to fulfil the requirements of the average family, the 501 was cheap, sturdy and easy to maintain. It was successful all around the world even because of its many body versions (tourer, roadster, landaulet, limousine, saloon, cabriolet, taxi, sports torpedo).
The car shown in the museum, as the other exhibited example, is fitted with a tourer body; it was probably the most popular version at that time. Its body was slightly modified to widen the rear seats and create enough space to host three passengers. It's interesting to note the registration plate: VR 921. It is original but probably it wasn't the car's first registration plate. Indeed, until 1927 the registration plate was only numerical: the first two numbers, in red, identified the province, the others, in black, were the car registration numbers. In 1927 the new alpha numerical system was introduced: the province was identified by letters (on this car VR is for Verona) and the car registration numbering restarted from 1.
Italy
Cylinder number / capacity - 4/ 1460 cc
Power - 23 bhp at 2600 rpm
Max speed - 70 kph
Period of production - 1919-1926
Numbers built - 66.864 (with different bodies)
Type body - 3 door tourer
Marque bodywork - Fiat
The 501 was the first car designed by Fiat after the Great War and the first step towards the economy car. Produced to fulfil the requirements of the average family, the 501 was cheap, sturdy and easy to maintain. It was successful all around the world even because of its many body versions (tourer, roadster, landaulet, limousine, saloon, cabriolet, taxi, sports torpedo).
The car shown in the museum, as the other exhibited example, is fitted with a tourer body; it was probably the most popular version at that time. Its body was slightly modified to widen the rear seats and create enough space to host three passengers. It's interesting to note the registration plate: VR 921. It is original but probably it wasn't the car's first registration plate. Indeed, until 1927 the registration plate was only numerical: the first two numbers, in red, identified the province, the others, in black, were the car registration numbers. In 1927 the new alpha numerical system was introduced: the province was identified by letters (on this car VR is for Verona) and the car registration numbering restarted from 1.
