1919 FIAT 505 2.3L 4MT (33 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The Great War was over, and Fiat got back on its feet with the first new design after WWI, and it wasn’t a small vehicle; just the opposite.

Fiat didn’t waste too much time to start its production again. Italy needed to be reconstructed, and there was a high demand for mobility solutions. The Italian carmaker already had a small-sized vehicle, the 501, but there was a high demand for better vehicles. So, the engineers rolled-up their sleeves and came with the 505.

The 505 was built more or less a scaled-up 501. With bigger exterior dimensions, a longer wheelbase, and rounded shapes of the hood, it impressed the market. Since it built it on a ladder-chassis, Fiat offered the vehicle as an empty chassis, convertible, roadster, and four-door sedan. Other coachbuilders made several variations, including a Coupe de Ville. For the convertible and roadster versions, the carmaker placed the spare-wheels outside the bodywork behind the fenders. The multi-spoke wooden wheels were not uncommon for those times.

The interior featured a flat dashboard with the instrument panel positioned in the middle. The steering wheel was on the right side of the car. Depending on the version, there were one or two doors for the front passengers, who were sitting on a bench. A second bench was placed in the back for another two occupants.

Fiat installed the same suspension system as on the 501 with two axles and leaf springs. But it improved the vehicle with an electric starter, brakes for all four wheels, and a four-speed manual gearbox. Under the hood, the 505 featured a 2.3-liter four-pot engine with side valves that provided more torque than the 501, and due to that, the chassis was used as a platform for utility vehicles.