Fiat wedding car hire

The Fiat 500 as a charming wedding car

Fiat comes from Turin and is the largest Italian car brand. In the 1950s Fiat launched the Nuova 500, a small rear-engined car that was built until the mid-1970s. It got Italy moving and grew into an icon of the Italian street scene. Think of Rome or an Italian village square and you often picture a Cinquecento.

As a wedding car, the 500 is the opposite of a limousine. It is small, cheerful and looks almost like a toy. It draws just as much attention as a large classic car, but in a different way: people smile. For a couple who does not want grand gestures but does want a car with character, that is exactly right.

What you need to know about the classic 500

The classic Fiat 500 is a very different kind of car from the modern version with the same name. It is a simple classic car with a small air-cooled engine, a light body and little comfort. You can find more about the model on the page about the Fiat 500 as a wedding car.

The open roof

Many classic 500s have a fabric roof that you can fold back. This gives you a convertible feel without the drawbacks of a fully open car. A bride with an upswept hairstyle or a veil will be much more comfortable with the roof open, and guests can look inside as you arrive.

Space: honestly, a tight squeeze

The 500 is very small. There is room for two in the front, while the back is in practice mainly luggage space or room for the train of the dress. A slim or short dress fits perfectly well, but a large ball gown will be a challenge. Many brides deliberately choose a narrower dress or have the train detached for the journey. If you are in doubt, try it beforehand.

Tips for your wedding day with a Fiat 500

The classic 500 is slow and has little power. On a country road, through a village or along a dyke it is a joy to drive, but it does not belong on the motorway. Choose a short route with beautiful stretches and do not let the distances between the ceremony, the photo location and the party get too long. Longer journeys or transfers are better done on a trailer.

The 500 suits a wedding with an Italian theme, a city wedding with photos in narrow streets, a garden party or a picnic after the ceremony. Because it is so small, it can get to places where larger cars do not fit. In a historic city centre, that is a great advantage.

Driving a classic 500 yourself takes some getting used to. Changing gear is different from a modern car and takes patience and feel. Ask the rental company to explain it and take a test drive beforehand. If you are looking for more classic Italian cars, have a look at the Alfa Romeo wedding cars, and for more small classics with an open roof, at the convertibles as wedding cars.

Decorating works best in small format on a 500: a little bow on the nose, flowers in the colour of the paintwork or a sign on the back. Anything large quickly looks out of place on such a small car. A light paint colour such as cream, mint green or light blue goes beautifully with white flowers, while on a red 500 a simple white ribbon works best.