Following on from our recent look at Italy’s iconic scooter, La vespa, we’ll look at a brief history of another iconic vehicle, the much loved Fiat 500. The Fiat 500, or cinquecento is unmistakably Italian, like the Vespa, its image is universally linked with Italy.  Deriving from the original Fiat 500 Topolino, meaning little mouse the 500 was produced to be an affordable, small car for everyone.

Designed by Dante Giacosa and launched in July 1957 this tiny car that evolved for use in the narrow city streets very quickly earned the name of, ‘the people’s car’. Measuring just over 2.5 metres long (9 feet) and powered by a 479 cc two-cylinder, air-cooled engine, it was considered to be the first true city car for the Italian driving population.