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THE ITALIAN COACHBUILDER SITE

Fiat 500 Ziba

1961Coachwork by Ghia

THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE

Model dossier

Production period
1961
Body style
Pickup / Van
Engine
Inline-2
Type
Prototype

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR

Coachbuilding, design & conversions

PRICE & SALES RECORD

Vehicle value

Original price
Not documented
Latest recorded sale
Not documented

01 / THE STORY

History & context

The Fiat 500 Ziba by Ghia is an interesting and quirky creation from 1961 that blends the charm of the iconic Fiat 500 with the practicality of a small pick-up truck. Designed by Sergio Sartorelli at Carrozzeria Ghia, the Ziba is based on the Fiat 500 Giardiniera, a rear-engine estate car variant of the Fiat 500. This miniature pick-up truck was designed to be compact, functional, and distinctive, offering a charming solution to urban transport needs with its unique, cargo-carrying capabilities. While it retained the same rear-engine layout and rear-wheel-drive configuration of the Fiat 500, the Ziba had a functional bed at the back, making it capable of carrying small loads. The design is extremely compact, with the small truck maintaining the same fun, approachable look that the Fiat 500 is known for. The Ziba was powered by a 499.5 cc inline two-cylinder engine, which produced a modest 17.5 hp, enough to reach a top speed of 95 km/h (59 mph). Despite its small engine and low power output, the Ziba was an efficient and practical vehicle for light hauling, and its small size made it particularly suitable for city driving or for smaller rural tasks. With its cute and functional design, the Fiat 500 Ziba remains a unique curiosity in the Fiat 500 family and a special piece of automotive history.

02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY

Specifications & construction

Production & construction

Production type
Prototype
Production notes
Fiat 500 Club history supports the Ghia Ziba as a 1961 Fiat 500 Giardiniera-based pick-up prototype shown at Turin, later Geneva 1962. Preserve prototype identity and Sergio Sartorelli candidate; clear one-off/Units=1 because exact uniqueness is not independently stated. NO_AUTO_INHERIT.
Body & configuration · Recorded
Giardiniera

Engine & performance

Engine configuration
Inline-2

Design & manufacture

Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
Ghia
Manufacturer · Documented
Fiat
Designer · Candidate
Sergio Sartorelli

06 / EVENTS & AWARDS

Events & awards

43° Salone Internazionale dell'Automobile – Torino General · legacy_preserved
Date
1961
Chassis
General

Preserved CI 1.0 relation. Evidence field: _yoast_wpseo_primary_events. No award inferred.

08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Archive

References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.

ReferenceSource type
Fiat 500 Club — Ghia Ziba www.fiat500.ch Marque club derivative history

10 / CONNECTED HISTORY

Timeline

Chronological history1 dated records

THE CONVERSATION

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