1971 Fiat 500 Berlina F review from UK and Ireland

Engine needed some work on purchase, but the car was a bargain at €2,000! Can't remember the exact details - lots of little bits basically.

Will need de-coking next year.

New starter motor cable.

These are cracking little cars with bags of character. They're slow as hell, so don't expect to go anywhere quick - average speed in hilly surroundings is 30mph, flat out is about 55mph (with a tail wind) and you have to stop every 80 miles or so to give the little air-cooled engine a breather.

That said, we drove ours from Milan to London in 4 days without any dramas. It's comfortable enough, surprisingly roomy, the engine has a pleasant two cylinder four stroke "putt putt" sound to it, like an old boat engine, so isn't hard on the ears.

And most importantly this car is the cutest thing on four wheels! We originally bought it to sell on at a profit (our €2,000 would have converted into about £3,500!) but it was so much fun we kept it. It's such a head turner. We drive it around London sometimes and people go mad for it. It's so funny. God knows how many photos we're in without even knowing it.

Anyway, economical, fun, cheap (ish) to maintain (though it's advisable to join the local owners club and know a specialist mechanic unless you're already that way inclined yourself) and cute as a button. The only thing is you won't be wanting to do long journeys in it!