At the start of the 1960s, Fiat wanted to market a sports car to compete in the American market; the Italian automaker knew, however, that it needed a relatively powerful engine if its offering was to be a success on the United States’ wide-open roads. In 1963, Fiat introduced a new 1.5-liter overhead-valve engine with a two-barrel Weber carburetor that delivered 80 horsepower and 86.8 pound-feet of torque. At last, Fiat had an engine to power its new sports car.

To create Fiat’s new 1500 cabriolet, Pininfarina borrowed styling ques from its elegant Ferrari 250 GT design. The result was a beautiful car with no wasted lines, delivering a spacious interior, large luggage area, and a top that could be raised or lowered in seconds. The 1500 cabriolet also featured a stunning interior with a padded dash, crisp instruments, and a lovely assortment of elegant dash items. Fiat added deep bucket seats with adjustable rake that provided travel to accommodate a six-foot tall driver.

The upmarket styling, combined with a standard equipment list that included roll-up windows, locking steering column, interior day-and-night mirror, side mirror, clock, cigarette lighter, electric wipers, windshield washers, courtesy lights, and a passenger-assist grip, ensured the 1500 cabriolet was an extremely well-appointed sports car.

This is a rare opportunity to acquire a stunning Fiat 1500 cabriolet, nicely presented classically finished in red with red interior and a black convertible top. With power balanced by front disc brakes and precise steering, it blends very respectable performance with gentle handling and ample luxury. Service records dating back to 2011, which accompany the car, detail years of exacting upkeep. Recent highlights include new tires in late 2017, a brake system overhaul in 2018, and transmission service in September 2019, with chrome refinishing later that year; all attest to a car maintained in excellent mechanical condition.

A fine, attainable taste of La Dolce Vita in a striking, Pininfarina-styled package, this 1965 Fiat 1500 cabriolet would be a pleasure to drive in classic mid-century Italian style.