One of those green cars does not have the side marker lights on the front fenders. Did the early cars not have them?
The small round sidemarker lights were likely added later (early cars did not have them originally). This was probably done to conform to later Motor Vehicle Code laws that went into effect in several European countries. My Viotti 600 didn't originally have them, but had them added later due to this very reason (Italian law). I took that into consideration when viewing these 2 cars
And the other car has alloy drip rails. I am not sure I have seen this before.
Common C-shaped metal or chromed-plastic door edge &/or rain gutter moulding, likely added by the owner (or dealership). I took that into account, as well.
I have to say that I really love this green color (sometimes called seafoam green). My 600 has it.
It's a popular & well-liked paint color, & compliments the 600 body shape very well. It's common-ness is why I
won't have it on my car, haha. (i JuSt LiKe To bE DiffEreNt)
I saw Greg Schmidt's Abarth in San Diego one year when it was for sale. I think it was a 68-ish car, and that car had the same green color and it looked outstanding IMHO.
Are you sure his car wasn't the Corsa light blue/gray color? (sorry, I haven't seen that car for a good 15+ years) Yes, it was a very nice car. I wonder where it went to?
Did the early cars have matching interior colors? The interior in my 58 600 is still in pretty good shape and I plan to re-use it as-is (except for replacing door panel backing). J.S., does the color choice of your car affect the interior color for an early car?
Well, there were factory-Fiat interior colors, and then there were "other options" (customer choice). Most of the very early cars had the houndstooth or plaid type materials in a color(s) that complimented the paint color, which I tend to prefer. Unfortunately, I don't have early "factory" paint/interior color documentation (yet?), except for a few 1955-56 600 sales brochures. Later cars had the typical 2-color seats you often see now (the second color was often on the top 1/4 &/or front 1/4 of the seats). Upholstery materials/colors are listed in the back of the later 600D factory Bodywork Spare Parts Catalog. There are also many optional-color upholstery kits available in the aftermarket (like on eBay these days).
Though I haven't seen documentation to verify it yet, I would think that certain paint colors got paired with certain upholstery colors from the factory. I have this info for the 850 series, but not the 600's. My own car will likely have a "period correct" upholstery type in colors that will compliment the paint colors, paired at my discretion (I do well with aesthetics, haha).
-JS.
