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.
07 / THE VEHICLE IN DETAIL
Photo gallery 2 photographs
08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE
Archive
References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.
| Reference | Source type |
|---|---|
| Fiat 500 Club — Ghia Ziba www.fiat500.ch | Marque club derivative history |











THE CONVERSATION
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